JDSF - Road Decommissioning
Summary
SCH Number
2019028294
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
JDSF - Road Decommissioning
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/14/2019
Document Description
Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) occupies an area of approximately 48,652 acres within Mendocino County, California. There are roads within JDSF that are either not operationally needed for continued forest management or are in a condition and location that impacts water and watershed resources. The roads that are proposed to be abandoned include a short segment of Road I 070 at the end of the road, the section of Road 530 from the intersection of 531 to past the old rock quarry next to the creek, the section of Road 371B that is along the SF Noyo River that is no longer used, Road 515/516 that is not needed for forest management, Road 533 past the last landing to the creek and Road I IO which is a short connector road that is not needed for forest management. The total cumulative road length proposed to be abandoned is approximately 3.55 miles in length. The scope of the road decommissioning proposed includes removing existing drainage facilities (watercourse crossing and ditch relief culverts), pulling perched fill material on the outside edge of the road prism and placing on the inside cut bank, ripping the compacted road surface, installing water breaks, installing erosion control on newly exposed soils and planting conifers within the old road prism. Generally, perched fills occupy the outer 4-6 feet of the road surface and extend to the toe of the fill generally is between 6-8 feet deep. The outside fills are pulled in and placed on the inner cutbank of the road for long term stability. In some cases a recreational trail may be maintained at a 3-4 foot width on the inside edge of the old road prism. The beginning and ends of the road decommissioning areas will be blocked off to restrict motor vehicle and motorcycle access to the decommission sections.
Contact Information
Name
Mike Powers
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Fort Bragg
Counties
Mendocino
Zip
95437
Other Location Info
Jackson Demonstration State Forest
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301; 15304
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under portions of two classes of Categorical Exemptions to CEQA: Class I (Existing Facilities) and Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land). Most of the project activities will occur within previously disturbed areas. The areas where new ground disturbing activities might occur are limited and are minor in scope, 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 materials, 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 JDSF Offices in Fort Bragg.