Ocean Ranch Unit Pilot Project
Summary
SCH Number
2020030433
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northern and Eureka Region 1
(CDFW)
Document Title
Ocean Ranch Unit Pilot Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/11/2020
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) intends to implement a small-scale pilot project to test the efficacy of treating European beach grass (Ammophila arenaria) in the spring and late summer/fall using prescribed burning and herbicide. European beach grass (EBG) is an invasive non-native species in California and is dominate in the ORU dune ecosystem. Two 10-meter x 10-meter experimental plots have been established; within each plot the vegetation community has been quantified (e.g. % cover). The area effected by this experiment is 200 meters square (or 2,152 square feet). No special status species are present in either plot, confirmed by the CDFW and U.S. Fish and Wildlife ecologists. One plot will be prescribe burned by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in March/April 2020, the second plot will be prescribed burned in August 2020. After each plot is burned, the re-growth of EBG will be quantified, the first plot will then be treated with herbicide three/four months later and the second plot will be treated with herbicide in the following month or two. The efficacy of EBG control will be evaluated for both the early season and late season treatments into Spring 2021.
Contact Information
Name
Michael van Hattem
Agency Name
Department of Fish and Wildlife Northern Region
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Humboldt
Parcel #
308-051-001-000
Waterways
Eel River watershed
Other Location Info
Ocean Ranch Unit (ORU) of the Eel River Wildlife Area
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15306
Reasons for Exemption
The CDFW with the assistance of CAL FIRE will conduct the prescribed burns; CAL FIRE is highly qualified to conduct prescribed burns and will lead the effort. CDFWs Integrated Pest Management Coordinator will implement the herbicide application in each plot following all label requirements as well as any applicable State or Federal laws. Scientists from the CDFW and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who are qualified to assess potential impacts to Threatened and Endangered species, as well as California Rare Plant Ranked species, have located the plots where no special status species are present. The pilot project is being conducted to inform the greater Ocean Ranch Restoration Project through data collection/research and experimental management and will not constitute a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource, consistent with Categorical Exemption 15306, Information Collection.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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