The Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona Game & Fish Department and the Arizona State Parks Board are required to conduct a study every three years on watercraft fuel consumption and recreational watercraft usage. The fuel consumption data is collected to determine the allocation of motor vehicle fuel tax to the State Lake Improvement Fund. The information on recreational watercraft usage patterns on Arizona’s lakes and rivers is necessary, in part, to determine the distribution of SLIF funds to applicants.

Study of 30 surface and 18 archaeological-context pollen samples was undertaken to assess the potential for further archaeological palynology research. Surface sample analysis allows palynological recognition of eight habitat types ranging from dry and cold through wet and moist to dry and warm. Comparison of fossil and modern surface pollen data suggests the character of paleoecological change sequences at 4 sites, a positive potential for inter-site and intra-site relative cross-dating, and a positive potential for inter-regional dating on paleoclimatic grounds.