Growlersburg Camp Fuels Treatment Project

Summary

SCH Number
2011058135
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Growlersburg Camp Fuels Treatment Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/13/2011
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to reduce the volume of flammable fuels (grass and low brush species) and discourage the caching of contraband by inmates around buildings and out-lying structures at CAL FIRE's Growlersburg Camp facility in Georgetown, California. The treatment area will cover approximately 40 acres of land surrounding buildings and out-lying structures at the camp. The entire project will be on lands owned by CAL FIRE and the proposed project area has been prescribed burned multiple times over the years under CAL FIRE ownership. The projects primary objective is to reduce accumulations of flammable low brush species such as Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Manzanita Parry), and Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) and timber litter. The area has been extensively thinned and the dominant trees pruned up, however the depth of accumulations of tree letter and low brush is greater than desired and now presents a fire hazard to both the existing conifer overstory and the CAL FIRE facility. The dominant overstory consists of ponderosa pine and incense cedar with a few California black oak and grey pines. Existing roads and trails within the project area will be used as natural edges of burn units to the greatest extent possible, however they will need to be augmented with some hand line construction. This project will involve no other ground disturbance. Burn units will range in size from ½ to 5 acres. The proposed project shall incorporate the use of low intensity backing fire techniques in order to maximize fuel consumption, while minimizing smoke production and the possibility of an escape. The small size of the units shall allow for burning operations to be easily stopped if burning conditions or fire behavior exceeds acceptable parameters. Black oaks, trees with large cat faces, and larger trees which have the potential ability of carrying fire vertically into the canopy shall have hand line constructed around them for additional protection. The proposed commitment shall be one CAL FIRE engine and one fire crew. Prehistoric and historic archaeological resources exist within the project boundary and protection measures have been developed by a CAL FIRE archaeologist. A Natural Diversity Database run was completed on February 9, 2011 and no endangered, threatened, or sensitive plants exist within the proposed project area. The Growlersburg Camp facility is located on Long View lane approximately two miles east of the town of Georgetown, California. The legal location is the SW ¼. Section 9 Township 12 N, R1-E MDB&M. The Growlersburg Camp facility is located in the Georgetown Creek watershed. Calwater ID ver 2.25514.320502

Contact Information

Name
Patrick McDaniel
Agency Name
Forestry and Fire Protection, Board of
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Counties
El Dorado
Other Location Info
Approximately 1-1/2 miles west of Georgetown, CA Portion of Section 9, Township 12 North, Range 10 East

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class4,Sec15304
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under portions of minor alteration to land, in this case understory vegetation fuel management activities to reduce the volume of flammable vegetation. The activities do not result in the taking of endangered, rare, or threatened plant or animal species or significant erosion and sedimentation of surface waters. According to the Department of Fish and Game's Natural Diversity Database, and field review by California Department of Fish and Game Biologist Lorna Dobrovolny, there are no listed plant or animal species on site that will likely be affected by the project. A full archaeological survey of the site was conducted in 2007, protection measures for the current project were established in the field by CAL FIRE archaeologist Gerrit Feninga. Representatives from the Shingle Springs Rancheria requested and were given a tour of Native American sites within the project area. There will be no impact to historic or cultural resources due fire exclusion measures and a lack of ground disturbance. Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. The Department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous material, hydrology and water quality, land use planning, mineral resources, noise, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, or to utilities and service systems. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Sacramento Headquarters.

Disclaimer: The document was originally posted before CEQAnet had the capability to host attachments for the public. To obtain the original attachments for this document, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613.

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