Timber-Blue Lake-Ridge-Willits Creek Roadside Fuel Reduction
Summary
SCH Number
2021100061
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Timber-Blue Lake-Ridge-Willits Creek Roadside Fuel Reduction
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/5/2021
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to improve ingress and egress safety, reduce wildfire risk, and aid in fire suppression activities through fuel reduction treatments in the community of Brooktrails, 2 miles northwest of downtown Willits. This project aims to reduce roadside fuels along 8.2 miles of roads. The project area contains mixed conifer/hardwood woodlands, open grasslands and areas with woody shrubs and small trees. Minor grading and infrastructure upgrades are proposed in a select area. Vegetation will be thinned and pruned within the road right-of-way up to 100 feet from the centerline. Hand crews will employ chainsaws, pole saws, weed-whackers, and hand tools to remove small trees, brush, and surface/ground fuels. Live trees (less than 10” in diameter) will be removed to improve tree spacing. Larger trees will be pruned to provide for a minimum vertical clearance of 10.5 feet. Slash and debris created by this project will either be chipped, lop-and-scattered, or left in place. Chippers will not leave the roadway. Any material to be chipped will be transported by hand to the parked equipment.
Contact Information
Name
Robert Douglas
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Mendocino
Total Acres
184
Other Location Info
Portions of T19N R14W Secs 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 32 & 33, T18N R14W Secs 4, 11, 12 & 13; MDB&M
Other Information
2 miles northwest of downtown Willits
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project meets the requirements of a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 Categorical exemption “Minor Alterations to Land” (Section 15304, Public Resources Code) as the proposed activities involve small tree and brush removal, pruning and chipping to reduce wildfire threat. This project will not convert the vegetation type or result in the removal of otherwise “healthy, mature, and scenic trees.”
Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply (Section 15300.2) which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. The Department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, energy, 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. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit, Resource Management, 17501 N. Highway 101, Willits, CA 95490, Attn. Environmental Coordinator.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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