The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About03-06 Potential Impact Anaylsis0 • POTENTIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS OF MINING OPERATIONS AT THE MIDDLEMARSH AND RESERVES PROPERTIES FREDERICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA SAIC Ref. No.: 01- 1633 -00- 2190 -000 Prepared for: G.W. Clifford Associates, Inc. 117 E. Piccadilly Street, Suite 200 Winchester, Virginia 22601 Prepared by: SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION 1129 Business Parkway South, Suite 10 Westminster, Maryland 21157 August 2002 Reviewed by: Submitted by: Eric S. Andreus, P.G. 73� Michael D. Haufler, P.G. Zi Project Hydrogeologist Senior Technical Manager SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION 0 • TABLE OF CONTENTS Pa" 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................. 1.1 Scope of Study .............. 2.0 WETLANDS.. ................................................................ ..............................1 2.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................ ..............................2 2.2 Potential Impacts ................................................................................ ..............................2 3.0 FORESTS ................................................................................................ ..............................4 3.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................ ..............................4 3.2 Potential Impacts ................................................................................ ..............................5 4.0 STREAMS ............................................................................................... .............................. 4.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................ ..............................6 4.2 Potential Impacts ................................................................................ ..............................6 5.0 GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ........................................................ ..............................8 5.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................ ..............................8 5.2 Potential Impacts ................................................................................ ..............................9 LIST OF FIGURES Figure1, Wetland ................................................ ............................... ......................Following Text Figure 2, Forested Areas ..................................... ............................... ......................Following Text Figure 3, Streams and Floodplains ...................... ............................... ......................Following Text Figure 4, Hydrogeologic Map .............................. ............................... ......................Following Text SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Potential Impact Analysis — 01 Chemstone t 1.0 INTRODUCTION Rezoning of the two Global Chemstone (GC) parcels north of the existing facility from the exist- ing agricultural use to future mineral extraction requires approval from Frederick County, Vir- ginia. The approval process, as outlined in the Rezoning Application Package from the Depart- ment of Planning and Development, requires assessment of potential impacts resulting from this change in land use. Potential groundwater impacts are of particular concern to local constituents and are a key focus of these assessments. There are two parcels included in this study, named by convention in accordance with a mining reserves report (Southeastern Geoscience, 1990, for Chemstone Corporation). The parcel to the north is termed the Middle Marsh property and the one to the south, adjacent to Cedar Creek, is termed Chemstone Northern Reserves property. 1.1 Scone of Study The potential impacts addressed by SAIC include wetlands, forests, streams, and groundwater. Our tasks coincide with County rezoning requirements and are completed at a level similar to that of an environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Specific details of the work are provided in each section. SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Potential Impact Analysis — Oal Chemstone 2 v 2.0 WETLANDS The assessment of the affected environment and potential impacts to existing wetlands includes the following: ➢ Use of applicable National Wetlands Inventory Mapping. > Use of applicable USDA soils mapping. Use of applicable 100 -year floodplain mapping. Field examination of potential wetlands. > Mapping of the potentially affected environment. > Comparison of the mapping with potential open -pit mining areas. 2.1 Affected Environment Potential wetlands areas include those mapped as wetlands in the National Wetlands Inventory Mapping and as hydric soils in USDA soils mapping. Flood -plain areas (based on 100 -year flood -plain mapping) and stream -side areas that could be considered waters of the United States were examined but are assessed in the Streams Section of this report. Based on field observations, true wetlands areas may be somewhat different than indicated in the mapping. Detailed, formal delineations are required as part of a separate permitting process. As indicated on Plate 1, the Middle Marsh and Northern Reserves properties contain approxi- mately 0.3 and 1.9 acres, respectively, of potential wetlands. 2.2 Potential Impacts Areas of potential impact include those where actual reserves exist and mining can take place. These areas are delineated in the reserve evaluation for the Middle Marsh property (Southeastern Geoscience, 1990). The potential impact area for the Northern Reserves property is estimated in this study from existing geologic mapping. The potential impact areas also include estimated stockpile, berm, spoils, and plant footprints. SCIENCE APPLICA TtoNs INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Potential Impact Analysis — * Chemstone 0 3 As shown on Plate 1, overlay of these zones on the affected environment indicates the potential impact areas for each parcel. This results in less than 0.4 acres of total potential wetlands that could be affected by the rezoning. This area should be considered an estimate, since formal wet- land delineations have not been completed. SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Potential Impact Analysis — AlkaI Chemstone 4 1 W 0 3.0 FORESTS The assessment of the affected environment and potential impacts to existing forest areas in- eludes the following: ➢ Selections of appropriate forest stand criteria were selected based on the existing land cover, including pasture and fallow fields, cedar, cedar (grazed), cedar /osage, and oak/hickory stands. ➢ Use of the oak/hickory forest community as an equivalent to the "mature woodlands" as considered by the County (these are not true biologically mature or virgin forests). ➢ Field examination of forest area zones (without field marking). ➢ Field mapping of the potentially affected environment on aerial photographs. ➢ Comparison of the mapping with potential open -pit mining areas. 3.1 Affected Environment The five different vegetation covers found on the two parcels are shown on Plate 2. There is an area in the southern portion of the Middle Marsh property that can be described as an Oak - Hickory Forest. Species observed in this small forest island include red oak (Quercus ru- bra), white oak (Quercus alba), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), mockernut hickory (Carya to- mentosa), and white pine (Pinus strobus) in the overstory, and sassafras (Sassafras albidum), dogwood (Cornus florida), and hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) in the understory. This is likely a re- growth of abandoned farmland, as there is an almost complete lack of old dead snags, and/or decomposing trees, which would be indicative of an older, truly mature forest. Neverthe- less, this area provides habitat for Oak - Hickory biota, which likely include blue jays, wild tur- key, scarlet tanager, rose - breasted grosbeak, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, Northern flying squirrel, and Eastern chipmunk. The remainder of the Middle Marsh property is clearly agricultural and includes sharp delinea- tions between fallow agricultural and active agricultural land. Much of the fallow agricultural land is dominated by Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), which is an invasive, early- successional species that is relatively shade intolerant. Other species observed in these sections, SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Potential Imoact Analvsis — Aal Chemstone is 5 particularly along the creeks, include black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), black walnut (Juglans nigra), osage orange (Maclura pomifera), Eastem redbud (Cercis canadensis), and honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.). The area just to the north of the intersec- tion of Route 627 and Middle Marsh Creek is predominantly Eastern red cedar and is heavily grazed. The Northern Reserves property is difficult to access due to lack of roads, steep slopes, and heavy vegetation. The site contains a larger Oak - Hickory Forest community, as described above. This site offers a larger and more contiguous forest than the Oak - Hickory Forest on the Middle Marsh properly, and likely offers better biotic habitat for the variety of species described above. There are areas of dense Eastern red cedar on the upland portions of this site as well as Eastern red cedar pasture. 3.2 Potential Impacts Areas of potential impact include those where actual reserves exist and mining can t ake place. These areas are delineated in the reserve evaluation for the Middle Marsh propert y (Southeastern Geoscience, 1990). The potential impact area for the Northern Reserves property is estimated in this study from existing geologic mapping. The potential impact areas also include estimated stockpile, berm, spoils, and plant footprints As shown on Plate 2, overlay of these zones on the affected environment indicates the potential impact areas for each parcel. This results in a total of eight acres of potential mature forests that could be affected by the rezoning. This area should be considered a maximum, since the term mature forest could be applied more stringently and significantly reduce the affected environ- ment areas accordingly. SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Potential Impact Analysis — G0 Chemstone 0 6 4.0 STREAMS The assessment of the affected environment and potential impacts to existing streams includes the following: ➢ Identification of perennial streams in the area. > Estimation of watershed areas and potential flows using USGS data from local gauging stations. > Mapping of 100 -year floodplain areas. ➢ Mapping of the potentially affected environment. ➢ Comparison of the mapping with potential open -pit mining areas. 4.1 Affected Environment As shown on Plate 3, the major stream in this area is Cedar Creek, which flows southeastward adjacent to the Northern Reserves property. Two tributaries to Cedar Creek cross the Middle Marsh property before joining Cedar Creek. Middle Marsh Brook and Watson Run flow in a southwesterly direction and have contributing drainage areas of approximately 1,105 and 826 acres respectively. They are not true perennial streams (they had no flow during the October 2001 field inspections). Using the Opequon Creek gauging station records, these streams are es- timated to have average flows of 0.69 to 0.52 cfs, respectively. Each creek is impacted by the agricultural nature of the surrounding area. There is cattle grazing in and near the creeks and the channels are vegetated with forbs, bearing evidence to the fact that there has not been enough water to scour out the vegetation in recent weeks or months. 4.2 Potential Impacts Areas of potential impact include those where actual reserves exist and mining can take place. These areas are delineated in the reserve evaluation for the Middle Marsh property (Southeastern Geoscience, 1990). The potential impact area for the Northern Reserves property is estimated in this study from existing geologic mapping. The potential impact areas also include estimated stockpile, berm, spoils, and plant footprints. SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Potential Impact Analysis — C I Chemstone 7 As shown on Plate 3, overlay of these zones on the affected environment indicates the potential i impact areas for each parcel. This results in a total of 793 linear feet of potential stream channel that could be affected by the rezoning and a total of 13 acres of potentially affected 100 -year floodplain. These quantities should be considered maximums, since many potential impacts can jbe mitigated by avoidance. There should be little to no impacts to stream flow from the pro- posed operations since they will not use surface water for processing or dust control (provided by dewatering pumping). $c/ENCEAPPucATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Potential Impact Analysis —1*1 Chemstone 0 8 B 5.0 GROUNDWATER RESOURCES The assessment of the affected environment and potential impacts to groundwater resources in- cludes the following: ➢ Delineation of interconnected geologic formations based on existing mapping and field observations. ➢ Delineation of potential zones of surface water and groundwater contribution based on topographic drainage catchments areas. ➢ Identification of photogeologic fracture traces as potential zones of increased groundwater flow. ➢ Inventory of potential groundwater users and wells within 1,500 feet of the property boundaries through the Frederick County Health Department, by field observation, by aerial photo analyses, and use of tax mapping parcel boundaries. ➢ Estimation of groundwater pumping for the existing pumping records and quarry con- figuration based on interviews with Global Chemstone personnel and aerial photo analysis. ➢ Estimation of zones and magnitudes of groundwater drawdown surrounding the poten- tial mining areas using a digital groundwater model and pumping rates extrapolated from existing operations and mining areas, maximum drawdown from the proposed mine depth, and aquifer parameters from pumping tests in the carbonate aquifer. ➢ Identification of potential karst areas from existing State geologic publications and field inspection. ➢ Mapping of the potentially affected environment. ➢ Comparison of the mapping with potential groundwater impacts. 5.1 Affected Environment The parcels lie in the Shenandoah Valley portion of the Great Valley Physiographic Province. This area is underlain by carbonate rocks of the Great Valley sequence, which in this area in- cludes the Beekmantown, New Market, and Lincolnshire formations. The New Market Forma- SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Potential Impact Analysis — dal Chemstone _ _— 9 tion (Mosheim Formation) is a high calcium limestone and is the mineral resource identified for extraction. Where saturated, these formations constitute a local section of the carbonate rock aquifer system of the Great Valley. Recharge to the aquifer system is generally from local. precipitation. In general, the carbonate rock aquifers of the Great Valley are highly productive and have relatively high rates of recharge. Groundwater moves through the rock through cracks, fissures, solution openings, and bedding partings in the rock mass. Based on drilling records in the Great Valley, the groundwater system extends to at least 700 feet in depth in this area. Groundwater use in the area is limited. The aggregate quarry between the two study parcels withdraws approximately 84,000 gpd on an annual average basis. There are 30 on -site well and septic systems within 1,500 feet of the property boundaries of the two parcels. Of these, domes- tic water use is generally between 200 and 400 gpd per unit, approximately 10 to 30 percent of which is consumptive. 5.2 Potential Impacts Potential impacts from mining in the two parcels originate from the dewatering required in the mining operation itself, as the extraction process extends below the water table. In general, as the mining process exposes water - bearing fractures, groundwater enters the mine and is pumped out so that mining can continue. The resulting impacts are similar to those associated with a large- diameter groundwater well. Potential impacts are estimated using a single hydrogeologic computer model (Two Day). The parameters used in the model are as follows: ➢ Pumping rate ➢ Depth to water table ➢ Water table drawdown ➢ Aquifer transmissivity ➢ Aquifer thickness ScIENCEAPPucm - IoNs INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Potential Impact Analysis — I Chemstone 10 The depth of the mineral deposit (New Market Formation) determines the maximum potential depth of mining and water table intrusion. Based on geologic mapping performed for the min- eral resource study, the New Market Formation terminates at a relatively shallow depth, to an elevation of approximately 550 feet (Southeastern Geoscience, 1990), which greatly reduces the potential water table drawdown impact. The potential water table drawdown contour lines are shown on Plate 4. As shown, the estimated drawdown off -site in areas of existing wells is 10 to 20 feet. Since most wells in this region have in excess of 100 feet of available drawdown, the anticipated affect would likely be unnoticeable in such supplies. Therefore, based on this model and the assumptions therein, there should be few if any adverse impacts to existing water supplies in the Area. Since this is an area of poten- tial karst (sinkholes), changes in the water table cam accelerate the surface exposure of these ex- isting subsurface features. Although no mitigation measures appear to be warranted at this time, a groundwater and karst monitoring program should detect potential adverse impacts in advance such that appropriate mitigation can be provided. SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION ieouo xmx R n ChefiWwo Nodhom RMOM Twal Aw 9 six po�ba imp= PoWbal Wedand Am = 1.9 A� PoteMal Wedand IMP= = Mm W Eli ieouo xmx r �t MIDDLE MARSH PROPERTY TolalArea = 533AUs � - PdentiW hpecb4x .738 Aces /`. 1 /..... a Metere Woodlland AW -38ACro / ,.�. PoleMW lmganl Area =Worm / a te\ - a v . t \ � Z q Chemsb w Nmfhem Ravens \u Total ARe Pow" Irtpxt Arse - 45 AUes i � j� • `�� ' � °^C > � Mature Wood wa d Am = 83 Acres Potential Impact Area •8Aeree C j I u c wt— oasta!a. r r + 4 n MDDLEMMW TOW a = 529Acros , .:1 { 9r s po.b.1 Impact Mee = 138 PCras r � $treams = 10,980 Fee E� N = P93F4i Potential $Ilaam MpaC a FleoEPla A!ea = 89 A. ti Irk y1,c f� •` Po c_ 9..cCplaly az 1 1 re r •w�t v: " fo P i 3E v 1 4P 1 � aomrwcrcau �.e . w� «...an...�a.r,.ueeua..rn..ru wwa • • • • a �w.n.eaw.� _____._.. rcnxw.�wewc• n,/ uwxa.,r_.. • rum.,<.urar�w a.wau o :r..n... -. ebn w+ <c —4 � .+vo.a...ine OM r'�'• aernww. wia, agA�2�ti .. . evnm.m r .amr rvn�. January 2006 • W hemstone - Middletown APPENDIX A. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PO,WNTIAL IMPACT ANAI,T „• OPERATIONS AT THE MIDD x � RESERVES PROPERTIES am avlopm Cv f Y� O. � a "N ~ { i "ING 'M AND P"reparedfor ,. G.W. Cliffgrd Associates, Inc. 117 E. Pic hilly Street, Suite 200 �s Winchester, Virginia 22601 ,• .._ t 3 ,i,G'�a;etown August 2002' # Prepared by cience Applications.Inter_nn Corporation" l �3 'sirr9$ - i4kWay South, Suite 10 - Wes r[ftnster, Maryland 21157 a 2006 • • Chemstone - Middletown HISTORIC IMPACT ANALYSIS Prepared by: Lynn Sims Ph.D. Military Hutorian University of Richmond 0 • CEDAR CREEK REPORT The question is; " Will the quarry expansion interfere with the core battlefield of Cedar Creek or impair an understanding and interpretation of what happened there 19 October 1864 A problgm in Virginia is so much history happened here you could put a fence around the Valley as well as Eastern Virginia and call them both historical areas. We cannot, and have not, and do not want to save all land where history "happened." We can only save what we know to be significant. The property proposed for quarry operation was the land ridden over by Brig. Gen. George Custer's Third Division of the Cavalry Corps on the afternoon of 19 October 1864, part of the Federal counterattack against Confederates under Lieut. Gen. Jubal A. Early. The original morning offensive by the Confederates was a brilliant and complicated plan involving a three- column converging night attack supported by cavalry on both flanks. It was planned well, executed with force, gained the element of surprise, and pushed the Federals back. About 0930 the Confederate attack lost its momentum. The Federals were able to mount a counterattack about 3:30 that afternoon overwhelming the Confederates and reversing, not only Confederate success that day, but eliminating Confederate power in the Valley for the rest of the war. Part of the Federal counterattack was a cavalry charge of about 3,000 troopers under Custer which swept down on the Confederate left, or western, flank and mostly consolidated what Federal infantry already had captured in the way of wagons, cannons, prisoners of war, battle flags, and supplies. When the former head historian for the National Park Service, Dr. Edwin C. Bearss laid out the battlefield, he included everything this side of the quarry to the Valley Pike as the core battlefield. Since that designation individuals have built homes on the core battlefield, Interstates have obliterated part of the battlefield used by Confederate troops moving to the attack. Also business establishments now stand on land where the battle took place, and Lord Fairfax Community College owns over 100 acres. Among the famous Federal personalities at the battle, Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan the Commanding General operated in the middle and eastern part of the field near the Valley Pike. Two future presidents of the United States, Col. Rutherford B. Hayes, and Cpt. William McKinley were both on the eastern side of the field, again near the Valley Pike. Custer's name is known by most Americans. He was there, and performed perhaps his best during the war. His tactics were pretty much the same through out his career. That is without much preparation, planning, or consideration of tactics and terrain, "Charge in fast, throw the enemy off balance, then react to what happens." These were his tactics for 12 years, until he charged into a large group of Sioux and Cheyenne along the Little Big Horn in present day Montana. Still, Custer was in this battle and it was one of his finest actions. Aside from part of the Federal cavalry charging across a piece of this land, nothing of significance happened on the land. By October 1864, everyone on both sides was a professional. The outstanding points of the battle of Cedar Creek are the Confederate plan and execution, the personal leadership of Sheridan and other officers, the stubborn resistance of pockets of troops on both sides, and the rout of Early's troops, which ended Confederate power in the Valley and ended Early's career. 0 • The accompanying map shows the route of Custer's charge and the proposed extension of the quarry. Quarry owners are mindful of keeping the integrity of the battlefield and are considering ways to minimize, and hide structures necessary for mining, as well ps considering ways to benefit battlefield visitors understanding through the use of platforms and interpretive devices. In an aside, the battle was significant for Vermont units because by happenstance every unit from the "Green Mountain" State on active duty was at this battle. Hanging in their state capit9I in Montpelier is a huge painting of Cedar Creek Other fighting at the same time in 1864, east and south of Petersburg, also was significant as it caused Gen. Robert E. Lee to leave his trenches and move west until he was stopped at Appomattox Court House and surrender, 9 April 1865. Without a doubt if Cedar Creek was in any other state, much would be made of the battle for out of the 53,000 soldiers engaged, there were 8,500 casualties. But there are only two unit markers on the battlefield, and only one visible to the public. There are several state markers along the Valley Pike which give an idea of the events for all who stop to read. For the historian who wants to see the battle as the participants saw it, ground level, or from horse back, that is still possible. Once the Confederate planners left Signal Knob on Massanutten Mountain, they too were at ground level. In summary, early in the day the Confederates attacked and forced the Federals to retreat. That retreat took place this side of the proposed quarry operation. Only Custer's sweeping counterattack later in the day crossed part of the land proposed to be quarried. I have flown over the land in a helicopter, driven, and walked the land, read after - action reports of the participants, as well as studied the pertinent maps in the Library of Virginia, the Virginia Historical Society, and in published books. I believe an accurate, complete and useful interpretation of the day's events can be viewed with the construction of the quarry. I further believe with the help of the mining company, the interpretation of the battle will be better understood than it is now. 0 • NIESWANDER'S FORT The question is; What do we know about the ruins noted on maps "Nieswander's Fort?" The ruins now 14beledNeswander'sFort on maps probably date from 1'134 - 1 during the French and Indian War when the Lower Valley of Virginia experienced many Indian raids. Although there is no record of a Nieswander Fort in the records of the time, there is evidence to infer the ruins came into existence as a result of Indian depredations, and fear among festdents ofthe Given the stze of the site, most certainly the "fort," built over a spring, was a blockhouse. It was probably much like Hupp's Fort, his primary residence also built over a spring, and according to the state marker dates from 1755. One problem in researching this period in the Lower Valley is in 1781 practically all of - the documents relating to tlreFrench and Indian War were destroyed in a fire at the Virginia State Library. Brothers Jacob arid Christian Neuenschwandger came from Canton Bern, Switzerland to Lancaster County, PA in 1711. From there they moved into the Lower Valley between 21 October 1731 and 28 November 1732. Jacob was married to Susannah, and Christian to Maria Magdelena. Christian settled five miles south of Winchester, a h4IT im -- le on the west side oTthe current Valley Turnpike, the old Indian war trail which became broadened by wagon traffic. Settlers moving through the area used it as the main thoroughfare. Jacob, who owned 435 acres purchased from Yost Hite 7 February 1738, settled three miles further south near Stephens City, also close to the turnpike. The brothers were the Anabaptist tradition and s hunned warfare, militia service, and firearms. Their defense would be to avoid conflict by staying in a blockhouse until danger had passed. The settlement of Mennonites in the Lower Valley was encouraged by Virginia and was in the tradition ofVirgiritan's settlement of Scotch- in the Upper Valley, Huguenots west of Richmond at Manakin Town on the James River, and Germans in Germanna, Orange County. Virginia winked at religious conformity to the Church of England in the case of frontiersmen. These groups were used as a "trip wire," 'or warning, as they would the first casualties from Indian attacks. Nieswanders were among the first white settlers in the Valley. Jacob had a son named "Colonel" John Nieewanger, born in 1742, a first generation American who became a military man. Often pacifist conviction died easily and early on the frontier because of close contact with warring To understand these people we must understand the pioneer spirit. A frontiersman was a law unto himself, able to take care of his family, birth his children, set broken bones, protect his family, and raise a crop to survive. The pioneer spirit caused frontiersmen to }seep on the frontier. -- Seldom - did a frontiersman "settle" and allow others to pass him by to settle a further frontier. When he could hear his neighbor's dog barking or see the smoke from another's chimney, he moved on further west. Without a doubt, Virginia Governor Dinwiddie was the strongest of the colonial governors in devising ways to protect Englishmen in North America. Even though there are no French and Indian War battle sites in present day Virginia, many killings and 0 • atrocities occurred here. The first hostile forces sent out in the war were Virginians, and the first to shed blood were Virginians. Records estimate over 3,000 people from the Valley died or were taken into captivity during this war. A problem surfaced after General Edward Braddock 's force of 2,500, including George Washington and 250 Virginians, were ambushed traveling to Fort Duquesne, on the Monongahela River, in July, 1755. The Braddock Road was cut west toward the Ohio River but ran through the Lower Valley at Winchester. Unintentionally the road also was an avenue for Indian raiding parties traveling east who now perceived the English as cowards and poor fighters. The road ended in the Lower Valley at Winchester, foupded in March 1744. By 20 February 1755 George Washington had written to ask Governor Dinwiddie to increase the support to the frontier and to build a fort at Winchester. Washington said, "The inhabitants who now are in forts are greatly distressed for the want of ammunition and provisions and keep asking me for these. I have none to give and see people in forts without food." Such colonial military failures as Braddock's defeat always were followed by serious Indian raiding upon the frontier. After March 1756 there were twenty skirmishes and over 100 casualties. Washington's troops were spread as thin as two soldiers per mile on this frontier from 1754 to 1757. The years 1755 —1756 will be remembered as the most murderous of frontier life. Cabins and barns in the Valley burned like funeral pyres. Governor Dinwiddie made George Washington command -in -chief of the Virginia forces in August, 1757 and in charge of defenses in the Valley. Adding to Washington's problems was American general distrust of a standing army as well as the pacifist beliefs of the settlers. The solution hit upon was to stay on the defense by constructing a series of forts, blockhouses, anll stockades. This would allow small garrisons in conjunction with local people to protect the settlers. Few forts had been built prior to 1756 but that year saw completion of the majority of forts in the area. Forts were for depots, storage of food and fodder, and rallying points in times of danger. The presence of forts also encouraged people to move into the area. By September of 1757 Fort Loudoun was completed in Winchester on an half acre of land, 96 feet on a side and including four bastions. There were three classes of defensive structures on the frontier. The blockhouse was the most simple, usually a square two -story log building, with the second floor overhanging the first. There were numerous rifle holes in the logs. Nieswander's Fort was probably in this. class. The stockade was much stronger than a blockhouse, often a double log structure two stories high, surrounded at a distance by a high fence of stakes or palisade. Forts were the ultimate structure, usually square having a blockhouse at each corner with eac4 blockhouse connected by a palisade fence. Stockades and forts were for garrisons with sleeping arrangements and served as places of refuge for many people. Blockhouses, when not designated to be built in an area, often were made by families. These blockhouse were fabricated by community labor and private funds, and therefore reserved for selected families in time of danger. A situation could arise where a dozen or fewer Indians might cause those owning the blockhouse to flee into it with the clothes on their backs and what they could grab. In March 1756 the Assembly of Virginia authorized the building of a cordon of forts on the frontier, the construction to be overseen by Captain Peter Hog. These structures usually were on the heads of creeks extending toward the Allegheny Mountains. There are several extant lists of these forts describing the number of militia 0 • to be stationed there, distance from one to another, and the name the officer in charge. They all had names and geographical location descriptions. Some were built some were not. Fort Nieswander is not one of them. The name Nieswander, in all of its variations of spelling, is not mentioned in connection with this cordon of forts project. The closest was Stephen's Fort on Cedar Creek, ten or fifteen miles from Major Robert White's Fort near the Capon �iver in the North Mountain neighborhood. Even though Washington thought the best defense was a good offense, he was unable to muster enough troops from the locals to take the offense. Washington wrote "Those who now remain are collected in small forts, out of which there is no prevailing on them to stir, and every plantation is deserted." Also there was no cooperation among settlements in the Lower Valley. When the people of Hampshire County appealed to Frederick County for help against an impending Indian attack, the people of Frederick County said, "Let Hampshire take care of itself as we will do if we are attacked." In summary the ruins called Nieswander's Fort, if the ruins are of a blockhouse, was a private one reserved for the Nieswander family and friends. Its present location, on a part of the Cedar Creek Battlefield far from a main road, as well as its undocumented history, argue that saving the site would serve no historical purpose. 0 January 2006 0 Chemstone - Middletown APPENDIX C TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS