Juniper Flat Comprehensive Fuel Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2021090268
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Juniper Flat Comprehensive Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/15/2021
Document Description
This project is located in the Mount Shasta Vista community approximately 2 miles northeast of the community of Lake Shastina and approximately 9 miles northeast of the city of Weed in central Siskiyou County, CA. The project consists of reducing roadside vegetation to approximately 15’ either side of the existing roadways for a total width of 60’, and improving community escape routes in the Mount Shasta Vista subdivision. It will also treat hazardous vegetation within 100 feet of the edge of the right-of-way (ROW) on properties where the landowner requested to participate in the project. Finally, the project will remove dead and dying trees in the area burned by the Lava Fire in June/July 2021.
The project area is flat to gently sloped (0 – 15%) with a mixture of brush dominated landscapes, and open to moderately dense mixed ponderosa pine – western juniper stands, with the tree species being predominantly juniper.
The project will create fuelbreaks and/or shaded fuelbreaks up to 260 ft.-wide (30’ existing roadway plus 15’ each side of the road to the full width of the ROW plus up to 100’ either side of the ROW depending on landowner participation), by thinning overstocked brush, small trees, and limbing ladder fuels within the community road right-of-way (total 60’) and on enrolled parcels up to 100’ from the ROW boundary. Within the 426 acre project area, the treated area will be approximately 245 acres. Activities will include, but are not limited to, thinning, pulling back brush and trees to chipper (up to 65% of the project) or masticate (up to 35% of the project) brush and small trees. Chipping or masticating material to minimize fuel hazard risk is the primary project objective. This project will also install critical evacuation route signs at 65 locations within the road rights-of-way throughout the community to facilitate safe and timely evacuation in case of wildfire or other natural disaster event.
Residual trees will be pruned to a height of 8 – 10 feet, but not more than ? of the live crown may be removed. All mature pine trees, and most pines, will be retained. Pine trees greater than 8” dbh will not be removed unless they are dead or dying, or a hazard to the road or personnel, but all junipers will be removed. As much as is appropriate to meet project goals, all ponderosa pine will be retained. The project area, outside of the Lava Fire burn scar will be fully stocked upon completion of the project.
Contact Information
Name
Steve Wilson
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Siskiyou
Cross Streets
Shasta Vista Drive and County Road A12
Total Acres
245
Other Location Info
Portions of T43N, R4W, Secs 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 21, & 28 MDBM
Other Information
Approximately 9 miles northeast of Weed, CA in the community of Mount Shasta Vista
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
Public Resources Code, Division 13, Chapter 6, Article 19, Section 15304(e) (Categorical Exemption Class 4) allows minor alteration of vegetation including fuel management activities to reduce the volume of flammable vegetation, provided the activities do not result in the taking of endangered, rare, or threatened plant/animal species, or cause significant erosion and sedimentation of surface waters. Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. CAL FIRE has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/timberland, air quality, biological resources, energy, 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, utilities and service systems, or wildfire. This project as proposed is not expected to result in a significant impact on the environment. Documentation of the environmental review is kept on file at CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit Headquarters, 1809 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097 – Attention Environmental Coordinator.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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