Caldor Forest and Community Restoration Project - Grizzly Flat
Summary
SCH Number
2022050124
Public Agency
El Dorado County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Caldor Forest and Community Restoration Project - Grizzly Flat
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/6/2022
Document Description
In August 2021 through October 2021 the Caldor Fire burned over 221,775 acres of land. There are approximately 14,206 acres of non-industrial forest lands within the Caldor Fire burn perimeter with parcels ranging in size from less than 1 acre to 160 acres. These owners suffered losses ranging from complete mortality of trees and destruction of homes and other structures to relatively minor losses of forest cover. The proposed project is a collaborative effort involving the RCD, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service [USFS]-Eldorado National Forest (ENF). Objectives of the recovery efforts include treating small private lands affected by the Caldor Fire to reduce the potential for additional negative impacts from wildfire in the future by: 1) removing accumulated debris and dead trees; 2) conducting site preparation and reforestation actions to re-establish forest cover where appropriate; 3) increase potential carbon sequestration and achieve greenhouse gas emissions reduction through reforestation of the burned area; 4) identify measures and implement measures to protect watershed values and water quality in watersheds that are important sources of domestic and ecological water supply; and 5) utilize the project as an educational opportunity for informing others about community response to wildfire. To meet the objectives, recovery efforts focus on areas where hazard trees present the greatest risk to private property, watershed values, recreation, public access, and fuel loading.
Contact Information
Name
Mark Egbert
Agency Name
El Dorado Resource Conservation District
Job Title
District Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
El Dorado
Regions
Northern California
Township
9N
Range
13E
Section
3-21
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project is categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4 Minor Alterations to Land and qualifies as an emergency project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15269 (Emergency Projects). The project involves removal of accumulated woody debris, dead trees, and incidental vegetation on 1,131 private parcels to ensure long term fire fuels are reduced. In addition, the project would conduct site preparation and planting to re-establish forest cover on these private lands. Timely removal of the trees and incidental vegetation and subsequent site preparation is necessary to reduce the immediate risk to the existing private landowners as well as allow for future recovery treatments and/or redevelopment. No exceptions listed under CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to the project.
County Clerk
El Dorado
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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