Maintenance of Defensible Space at Audubon Starr Ranch
Summary
SCH Number
2021060303
Public Agency
California State Coastal Conservancy
(SCC)
Document Title
Maintenance of Defensible Space at Audubon Starr Ranch
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/15/2021
Document Description
Board authorized to disburse up to seven thousand six hundred fifty dollars ($7,650) to the National Audubon Society to create and maintain defensible space around buildings within Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary, located in unincorporated Orange County. This project will increase the wildfire resilience of the Ranch and neighboring community. It will minimize the direct wildfire pathways to 12 historic Ranch buildings, reduce radiant heat exposures to structures and surrounding native vegetation, reduce the potential for embers to ignite structures and native vegetation adjacent to structures, and provide a safe place for fire personnel to defend structures and allow for safe routes for evacuation. Treatment activities include raising tree canopy around buildings, brushing vegetation, removing dead or downed vegetation adjacent to buildings, thinning, trimming, pruning, or skirting existing vegetation adjacent to homes, and removing hazardous dead or dying vegetation adjacent to roadways and structures. The total treatment area is 12 acres and defensible spaces around 12 buildings on the 4,000-acre property. Conservancy funds will be used to hire the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and pay for the equipment needed (rental of chipper and work vehicles) to conduct this project.
Contact Information
Name
National Audubon Society
Agency Name
Nonprofit
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Trabuco Canyon
Counties
Orange
Regions
Southern California, Unincorporated
Zip
92679
Total Acres
12
Other Location Info
National Audubon Society Starr Ranch Sanctuary, Unincorporated Orange County, GPS points are at center of site
Other Information
National Audubon Society owns land Starr Ranch Sanctuary
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15304
Reasons for Exemption
exempts projects that consist of minor 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.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301
Reasons for Exemption
exempts projects that consist of operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alterations of existing structures, facilities, or topographical features, involving negligible expansion of existing or former use of the site. Such projects include, but are not limited to, management of existing landscaping or native growth
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15269
Reasons for Exemption
exempts emergency projects, including: emergency repairs to serviced facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety, or welfare, including those repairs that require a reasonable amount of planning to address and anticipated emergency; and specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency.