Forestry and Fire Protection, Department of
(Cal Fire)
Document Title
Pajaro Fuel Reduction
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/11/2019
Document Description
The Pajaro Fuel Reduction is located within the City of Watsonville, approximately half a mile from the airport. The area is directly adjacent to Corralitos Creek and enitrely on private property in a Wildland Urban Interface setting. The property to the west is an agricultural berry field and the area to the east is a mix of businesses, a housing development and a low-income apartment buidling. The creek channel is bordered by a bench above the creek which has become a transient encampment. The vegetation is a mix of large trees and low growing vines and exotics, including English Ivy, Himalayan black berry, and bamboo. The area has large amounts of plastic and metal trash and hazardous and human waste. There are also unpermitted structures, mattresses and shopping carts. CAL FIRE has responded to over 40 calls within this 4-acre area last year, either fire or medical aids. All calls required a police presence. These frequent escaped warming and cooking fires threaten the city of Watsonville and put emergency response personnel at risk.
Note: See NOE for full descriptions
Minor Alterations to Land Categorical exemption. No activity is proposed that is listed as a limitation under CCR 15300.2. The work proposed is a minor alteration to vegetation which does not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees and is consistent.
