Well Installation for Seasonal Livestock Watering on the Santa Rosa Plain Vernal Pool Ecological Reserve
Summary
SCH Number
2022060366
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3
(CDFW)
Document Title
Well Installation for Seasonal Livestock Watering on the Santa Rosa Plain Vernal Pool Ecological Reserve
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/17/2022
Document Description
CDFW will install two wells, one on each of the Todd and Wright preserves of the Santa Rosa Plain Vernal Pool Ecological Reserve. The wells will facilitate livestock grazing approx. 30-40 cattle on each preserve seasonally (five to six months annually). Grazing will provide fuel management and invasive weed control, activities that benefit native flora and wildlife species. The wells will be drilled to approx. 180-feet deep. Solar-powered pumps will be installed to deliver water as needed to 300-gallon stock tanks. Small wooden enclosures will be built to house the pumps. The well locations are in low-gradient, upland grasslands and will avoid aquatic habitats and features. The project will help increase fire resiliency and reduce catastrophic fire potential that could harm native plants, animals and adjacent residential areas or agricultural operations, and improve habitat.
Contact Information
Name
Stacy Martinelli
Agency Name
CA Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Santa Rosa
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area
Other Location Info
38.38783, -122.77793 (Todd Preserve) and 38.42856, -122.77824 (Wright Preserve)
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
Exempt under California Environmental Quality Act, Section 15304 because the project has only minor alteration to low-gradient non-native grassland and no trees will be removed. The project footprints, not to exceed approx. 15 ft x 15 ft each, will support the well and solar pump, an elevated solar panel (3 ft x 4 ft) and 300 gallon livestock trough. No endangered plants or animals exist within the project footprints. The project is expected to benefit plant and wildlife resources by allowing livestock to reduce high fuel loads that can result in high fire severity and cause lethal/permanent damage to native oak trees and other plants, and threaten residential structures within 50 feet of the Preserves. Livestock will also reduce non-native plant cover and benefit native plants and animals.
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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