Lower San Pedro Ridge Prescribed Burns
Summary
SCH Number
2022080254
Public Agency
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Document Title
Lower San Pedro Ridge Prescribed Burns
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/11/2022
Document Description
Work will consist of broadcast burning the forest understory and grassland areas within the boundaries of China Camp State Park to reduce fuels, improve biodiversity, and restore the natural process of fire. Burns will be conducted on the lower, eastern most portions of the San Pedro Ridge, far outside of China Camp State Park’s sensitive marsh and wetland habitats. All burns will be conducted according to approved burn plans, under the supervision of State Parks personnel. The McNears Fire Road and Oak Ridge Trail will provide boundaries for the burn units. 14 ft wide firelines may be constructed as necessary prior to ignition to minimize impact to adjacent plots. Existing roads and trails will be used as control lines where feasible to minimize the need for firelines and may be temporarily closed to the public prior to, during, and immediately after the burn. Burns will occur during appropriate environmental conditions in the fall, winter or spring seasons. If work occurs during Nesting Bird Season, a bird nesting survey will occur within two weeks prior to a targeted burn date. If any active nests are found, then protection measures approved by the State Parks District Senior Environmental Scientist will be implemented, or the burn will be postponed. Mowing and other loud equipment used for line preparation or during burns will only be permitted if northern spotted owl surveys have determined there are no active nests within 1/4 mile. Pre-burn cultural resource surveys will occur as determined necessary by a State Parks Archaeologist or other DPR-qualified cultural resource specialist. Actions will be taken to protect any sensitive areas including pre-treating vegetation around sensitive locations, exclusion of sites using fireline, or any other methods as determined appropriate. Park’s personnel will install informational signs along public routes before the prescribed burn as well as be onsite during the burns to redirect visitors as necessary.
Contact Information
Name
Caitlin Powers
Agency Name
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Job Title
Environmental Coordinator
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Marin
Regions
Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area
Zip
94901
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301,15304
Reasons for Exemption
Project consists of the operation, maintenance or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond current levels and minor public or private alterations in the condition of land and/or vegetation which do not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes, and is included as “resource management projects” in the Department of Parks and Recreation’s list of exempt activities in accordance with CCR § 15300.4.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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