West Shore Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2018048556
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
West Shore Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/25/2018
Document Description
The purpose of the project is to reduce hazardous fuels and enhance the health of the forest stands in the project area to protect human and natural resources. Forest vegetation conditions in the West Shore Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) project area pose an increased risk for large damaging wildfires. Composition of forest stand structure and tree species has shifted from stands with fewer larger diameter pines and firs to stands with a greater number of smaller diameter pine and competing shade-tolerant trees with an increasing live and dead surface fuel loading. Hazardous fuels will be reduced in 110 identified treatment units using ground based mechanical treatments on approx. 1,400 acres and hand treatments on approx. 3,475 acres. Another 72 acres, 118 urban forest stands, will also be treated. Combinations of vegetation and fuels treatment methods will be used: sawlog and biomass removal, chipping, and removing infested, diseased, and dead standing and down tress and logs; and, prescribed pile and under-burning after vegetation treatments. The general prescription for ground-based mechanical treatments would be to remove understory trees less than 30 inch DBH to meet the desired residual stand density based on treatment unit location and current condition. The general prescription for hand thinning treatments would be to remove live trees up to 16 inches DBH based on a desired residual tree per acre and spacing between residual trees. Approx. 3 miles of temporary road would be created by reopening existing alignments of decommissioned roads and approx. 2 miles of temporary road would be constructed to support access and transportation needs for the project. Thirty-seven new landings would be created within the mechanical treatment units. Some of the treatment units contain a United States Forest Services identified protected activity center for northern goshawk or CA spotted owl. Treatments occurring within a USFS PAC or Stream Environmental Zone (SEZ) will strictly adhere to the Resource Protection Measures and Best Management Practices found in Appendix A.
Contact Information
Name
Shannon Ciotti
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
El Dorado, Placer
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
S:15304, Class 4
Reasons for Exemption
Minor Alterations to Land.
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.