Fire Safe Council East Orange County Canyons and Santiago Canyon Estates, Fuel Modification
Summary
SCH Number
2021010103
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Fire Safe Council East Orange County Canyons and Santiago Canyon Estates, Fuel Modification
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/12/2021
Present Land Use
Rural residential
Document Description
The proposed project would consist of maintaining 17 acres of fuel management zones B and C within the Santiago Canyon Estates Subdivision to create defensible space and reduce fire risk surrounding the development. Widths of both Zone B and C vary between 20- 100 feet each, but a maximum combined width is 170 feet. Work will consist of removal of invasive exotic plants and selected highly flammable shrubs, and trimming of lower branches of trees and tall shrubs in Zone C. Landscape plants and annual invasive grass and weeds will be trimmed in Zone B for a combined maximum width of 170 feet. The result would be 50% canopy cover (including shrub cover) and a height of 4 inches of annual grass and herbaceous weeds. Undesirable shrubs will be cut to grade, leaving roots to re-grow and continue to stabilize slopes. A skid-steer masticator will cut shrubs in selected areas of Zone C; hand crews will remove the vegetation in the remaining area. Plant material will be mulched on-site to further reduce erosion. Material cut by hand will be transported to a green waste recycling facility or landfill if not recyclable.
The Santiago Canyon Homeowner Association sends newsletters to homeowners regarding the importance of this work as part of its continuing program of fuel hazard reduction.
This area consists of landscaped slopes and previously modified natural vegetation. The elevation ranges from approximately 1,200 to 1,500 feet. There are 58 habitable structures in the State Responsibility Area served by the FSCEOCC covering approximately 2,660 acres. It is anticipated that approximately 17 acres will be treated. This project will take place as soon as the NOE is approved and outside of bird breeding season.
Contact Information
Name
David Erickson
Agency Name
Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA)
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Counties
Orange
Cross Streets
Santiago Canyon Road and Crystal Canyon
Total Acres
17
Other Location Info
Portions of T5S R7W Sec 33 SBBM
Other Information
Santiago Canyon Estates Subdivision
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project meets the requirements of Class 4 Categorical Exemption (Minor Alterations to Land), 15304. Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. This project as proposed consists of chipping and does not remove healthy, mature, or scenic trees. The chipping activities are best described as minor in scope.
Carol Rice, Certified Senior Fire Manager, confirmed that no exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a “Notice of Exemption” for this project. No significant environmental impacts would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use planning, mineral resources, noise, populations and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, utilities and service systems, or to wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the OCFA is kept on file with the Pre-Fire Management Section at OCFA’s Regional Fire Operations Training Center, 1 Fire Authority Rd., Irvine, CA 92602.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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