2020 Northwest Hazard Tree and Vegetation Removal Project (Project No. M21901)
Summary
SCH Number
2020100391
Public Agency
Sonoma County
Document Title
2020 Northwest Hazard Tree and Vegetation Removal Project (Project No. M21901)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/22/2020
Document Description
The Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works proposes to conduct grant-funded fuel reduction work along 30 miles of road segments in n01thwest Sonoma County. All of the work is proposed to take place within the public road right-of-way along Fort Ross Road, Hauser Bridge Road, King Ridge Road, Old Cazadero Road, Rio Nido Road, Seaview Road, and Timber Cove Road. Fuel reduction work will encompass the removal or pruning of 1,498 dead, dying, or hazardous trees identified by an arborist or Registered Professional Forester. Hazardous trees were identified as trees that posed a threat to public safety from either structural, tree health, Sudden Oak Death (SOD) infection or fire safe issues. The trees identified for removal or pruning range in size from 5" -80" diameter at breast height (DBH). The species proposed for removal include Acer macrophyllum, Alnus spp, Arbutus menziesii, Castanea spp, Eucalyptus globulus, Notholithocarpus denisflorus, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus radiate, Psuedotsuga meziesii, Quercus agrifolia, Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus kelloggii, Sequoia sempervirens, and Umbellularia californica. The project grant also entails understory fuel reduction that will occur to reduce the volume of flammable vegetation within the road right-of-way along the same selected road segments. Vegetation and trees to be removed will be cut at grade, with stumps remaining in place. Vegetation removal will occur using mechanical methods, via heavy equipment and handcrews with chainsaws. Heavy equipment will remain along the road prism, and no ground disturbing activities will occur. All work will occur from the roadside and no access to private property will be required. Slash and debris will be disposed of onsite via mulching or lop and scatter. Work will not occur in areas of special status species, critical habitat, wetlands, riparian corridors, sensitive natural communities or other sensitive resources.
Contact Information
Name
Robert Aguero
Agency Name
Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
Department of Transportation and Public Works
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Cities
Santa Rosa
Counties
Sonoma
Other Location Info
Portions of Fort Ross Road, Old Cazadero Road, Rio Nido Road, Hauser Bridge Road, King Ridge Road, Seaview Road, and Timber Cove Road
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 (c) Maintenance of existing highways and streets and 15304 (i) Minor Alteration to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections, Section 15301 (c) Maintenance of existing highways and streets and 15304 (i) Minor Alteration to Land-Fuel management activities within 30 feet of structures to reduce the volume of flammable vegetation, provided that the activities will not result in the taking of endangered, rare, or threatened plant or animal species or significant erosion and sedimentation of surface waters. The removal of the dead, dying and hazardous trees is a maintenance activity of an existing public facility involving no expansion of use. The understory fuel reduction is a minor alteration to land that involves fuel management activities within 30 feet of structures.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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