The construction of dams on the Colorado River above Austin, Texas would destroy river shore archaeological sites for up to 150 miles upstream from the dam. An archaeological salvage project was commenced in 1937 to recover as much information as possible in the short time before the waters of Lake Buchanan would cover these sites forever.

When the Federal Government developed the Colorado River project for the construction of a series of dams across the river in the hills above Austin, the undersigned became deeply concerned at the prospect of seeing many of the richest and most important archaeological sites in Texas inundated and lost to science for all time. He made application early in 1936 to the WPA authorities for approval of a project to explore as many of these sites as possible before they should be finally covered by water. The project was finally set up in January, 1937, so that less than six months of the then current fiscal year was left in which to do the work which had been planned for the whole year. Some of this work was carried over into the present fiscal year, and that work is represented in the present report. At present the Buchanan Lake has nearly filled with water, and all work in that basin has ceased........The above mentioned facts indicate the importance of the sites being explored. The early inhabitants, from the time this region was first occupied by man to the coming of the white man, lived along the river and chiefly about the mouths of incoming streams. These sites are so situated that practically all will be covered by the projected lakes which will extend from Austin, following the river bed, about 150 miles into the hills to the west.  (J. E. Pearce, Director and sponsor, WPA Archaeological Research Project in the Colorado River Lake Beds)