Tierra Del Sol Fuel Break Maintenance
Summary
SCH Number
2022050317
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Tierra Del Sol Fuel Break Maintenance
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/16/2022
Document Description
This project proposes the addition of mastication as a treatment option to the existing Tierra Del Sol Fuel Break (NOE posted 01/14/19 SCH #2019018207) situated along the southern portion of the Tecate Divide near the communities of Live Oak Springs to the northwest and Boulevard to the east. This project will also extend the fuel break 0.3 miles along Tierra Del Sol Road from Highway 94 north to Old Highway 80, which will result in the treatment of an additional six acres. This fuel break is approximately 100 feet wide on both sides of Tierra Del Sol Road for a total width of approximately 200 feet, beginning at the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad on the south to Old Highway 80 on the north for a total length of approximately 3.8 miles and will result in re-treatment of approximately 95 acres on a three to five-year cycle. Treatment will include reducing the regrowth chaparral vegetation of predominantly chamise, redshank, buckwheat and big basin sage to maintain the targeted 80% reduction. No live trees will be removed. Broadleaved species, predominantly manzanita, ceanothus scrub oak, sumac and silk tassel will be retained to maintain a mosaic effect but may be thinned where necessary to maintain 80% reduction. Annual grasses and forbs, pencil cholla, Spanish bayonet and ephedra will be left untreated. Shrub vegetation will be hand cut and/or masticated at ground level and root structures left in place to reduce the potential for erosion. All cut vegetation will be masticated in place, or if cut by hand crews it will be chipped on site with chips spread to a depth of three inches or less or piled and burned on site. The unincorporated communities of Live Oak Springs and Boulevard are situated near the southern portions of the Tecate Divide. At its highest elevation, just above 4,000 feet, the area is surrounded by rugged mountainous terrain, located south of Interstate 8 and just north of the Mexican border in southeastern San Diego County. Live Oak Springs and Boulevard are isolated communities of widely spaced rural residences with a total population of approximately 500 to 600.
Contact Information
Name
Cheyenne Borello
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Forester I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Countywide
Cross Streets
Tierra Del Sol Road beginning at the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad
Total Acres
95
State Highways
94, 80
Other Location Info
Portions of T17S, R6E, Sec 25 & 36, and T18S, R6E Sec 1 & 12 SBBM
Other Information
Near the communities of Live Oak Springs to the northwest and Boulevard to the east.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project is consistent with Categorical Exemption: 15304, Class 4 Minor Alteration to the Land. After completing an environmental analysis, the Department has determined this project will have no significant impact on the environment. This determination is based on field assessments, a CNDDB search, greenhouse gas emission calculations, and archaeological review completed by CAL FIRE Archaeological staff. Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply 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 to wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is retained on file at CAL FIRE MVU Headquarters in El Cajon.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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