Vichy Springs Fuel Management

Summary

SCH Number
2022050652
Public Agency
City of Ukiah
Document Title
Vichy Springs Fuel Management
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/31/2022
Document Description
The Ukiah Valley Fire Authority (UVFA) plans to conduct fuel management activities, including prescribed burning, at two City-owned parcels in order to reduce fuel load to protect existing facilities and surrounding residential development. The parcels are located outside of the Ukiah City limits, and within the State Responsibility Area (SRA), classified as having a "Moderate" fire severity risk. However, because the parcels are City-owned, they are serviced by the UVFA. The parcels comprise a total approximately 380 acres that are developed with landfill and gun club facilities, as well as open areas that contain overgrown ruderal grasses. trees, and brush. The parcels also contain undeveloped roads throughout them. Prescribed burning would include burning open grass and understory vegetated areas; existing trees would remain and a one to three-foot buffer will be created by removing all vegetation around each tree for protection. Burning activities would use a combination of fuel drip torches and fuses, and would be performed in accordance with the National Fire Code guidelines. Burning activities are anticipated to take up to six hours over one day. Fire breaks would be created with hand tools and dozers, mostly along existing roads, to ensure the fire remains contained. The fire breaks will also serve as additional fire protection in the future. In addition, at the conclusion of the burning, crews will "mop-up" all hot spots to make sure the site is safely secured from additional fire risk. Fuel management activities will be conducted in conjunction with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) and other local fire entities, in part to provide training opportunities. A search of California Fish and Wildlife's California Natural Diversity Database and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wetland Habitat Mapper show no sensitive species or watercourses on the parcels. According to the County's GIS Public Portal, the parcels are also not identified as having timber, agricultural or scenic resources. As noted above, no healthy, mature or scenic trees would be removed. The UVFA plans to conduct fuel management activities on the parcels over the next two years (see figure below), and annually for the foreseeable future. This Notice of Exemption is intended to be utilized for future vegetation management practices, so long as there is not a significant change in the environment or project description that would necessitate additional environmental review, in accordance with CEQA guidelines.

Contact Information

Name
Michelle Irace
Agency Name
City of Ukiah
Job Title
Planning Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
Ukiah
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Vichy Springs Road
Total Acres
380
Parcel #
170-210-01; 178-130-01
Other Location Info
2300 and 3100 Vichy Springs Road
Other Information
Parcels located outside of the City limits but are owned and maintained by the City of Ukiah

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15304, Minor Alterations to Land (i) fuel management and (d) alterations to land/vegetation
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15304, Minor Alteration to Land, subsection (i) for fuel management activities and (d) minor alterations to land and vegetation, in order to reduce the fuel load and protect City-owned properties, facilities and surrounding residential development.
County Clerk
Mendocino

Attachments

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