Hirth NBFIP-Post Fire Hazardous Vegetation Clearing
Summary
SCH Number
2022100009
Public Agency
Lake County
Document Title
Hirth NBFIP-Post Fire Hazardous Vegetation Clearing
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/3/2022
Document Description
This project proposes the removal of hazardous vegetation from 10 adjoining parcels along Perini and Big Canyon Road, northwest of Loch Lomond, California. The project will occur over a combined 18 acres of mixed evergreen and oak woodland forests. There are 3 residences located within the properties.
The property burned during the 2015 Valley Fire which has led to an accumulation of hazardous vegetation and standing dead trees. Removing the hazardous vegetation from the landscape reduces the risk of catastrophic stand replacing wildfire.
A registered professional forester (RPF) developed stand prescriptions that include hand removal of hazardous vegetation, standing dead trees and small diameter saplings (less than 8”). Although the area is forested, there is no timber or agricultural production taking place on this property and the purpose of this work is to reduce wildfire severity and rate of spread in the event of a wildland fire, and to improve the ecosystem health of forested and woodland areas.
No new roads or trails will be constructed. Project activities will be accomplished through the use of hand crews and hand tools, and stumps will not be removed or disturbed, thereby resulting in no soil disturbance.
There will be no disturbance of known rare, threatened or endangered species or significant cultural resources.
Contact Information
Name
Laura L Hall
Agency Name
Lake County
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
unincorporated Middletown
Counties
Lake
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Seigler Canyon Road
Zip
95461
Parcel #
052-271-02, 052-271-03, 012-024-35, 052-281-01, 052-281-02, 052-281-03, 052-281-04, 052-281-05,
State Highways
State Highway 29 and 175
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15304, Class 4
Reasons for Exemption
This fuel reduction project meets the criteria for the “Categorical Exemption 15304 – Minor Alterations to Land” because it focuses on removal of hazardous vegetation that is directly related to the catastrophic 2015 Valley Fire, a declared emergency, and will reduce the risk of future catastrophic stand replacing wildfires.
This project is not subject to the Exceptions listed in Section 15300.2 because it is not located in a particularly sensitive environment, there are no potential cumulative impacts from the clearing of post-fire fuel loads, there are no unusual circumstances present that would contribute to significant impacts, scenic resources will not be impacted, it is not a hazardous waste site and there will be no impacts to historical resources.
Project activities will be accomplished through the use of hand crews and hand tools, and stumps will not be removed or disturbed, thereby resulting in no soil disturbance.
There will be no disturbance of known rare, threatened or endangered species or significant cultural resources.
The Lake County Community Development Department finds that this project complies with the intent and direction of the “Categorical Exemption 15304 – Minor Alterations to Land” and is thereby exempt from the provisions of CEQA.
County Clerk
Lake
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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