CAL FIRE NEU Minnow Way 2022

Summary

SCH Number
2022110055
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Document Title
CAL FIRE NEU Minnow Way 2022
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/3/2022
Document Description
This NOE is for the Minnow Way Ranch project on the east side of the Lake Wildwood subdivision. The Minnow Way fuel reduction project is located on a 67-acre parcel directly adjacent to the high-density rural community of Lake Wildwood in Nevada County. Fuel reduction treatments will include cutting dead trees, masticating or reducing brush, trimming branches of live trees 8-12 feet from the ground, reducing grass to 4” or less, and chipping or pile burning of resulting slash/cuttings. Vegetation may be treated with light and/or heavy equipment including, but not limited to, compact-tract loaders [skid steer], tow behind chippers, track chippers, masticators, and chainsaws. Two Nevada Irrigation District (NID) ditches are present on the southeast corner of the project area and project work will be buffered at least 25 feet away from the edge of the ditches. Prior to any vegetation removal or clearing, work areas will be surveyed for nesting birds and any trees with active nests will be retained and buffered 50 feet from project work. Disturbed areas will be chipped as necessary to prevent erosion. All piles that are created will be burned only on declared burn days in accordance with the terms of a burn permit issued by the NSAQMD.

Contact Information

Name
Steve Garcia
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Unit Forester
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Counties
Nevada
Regions
Countywide
Total Acres
67
Other Location Info
Portions of T16N R07E Sec 22 MDBM
Other Information
East side of the Lake Wildwood subdivision in Nevada County

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 §15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15304. This proposed project will reduce the volume of flammable vegetation, thereby reducing wildfire risk to the adjacent residential area, and will have significant ecological restoration benefits. The understory fuel reduction is a minor alteration to land and will not remove any healthy, mature, or scenic trees. The project will not result in take of any endangered, rare, or threatened plant or animal species, and will not result in significant erosion or sedimentation of surface waters. After completing an environmental assessment, the Department has determined this project will have no significant impact on the environment. 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 kept on file at the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Headquarters in Auburn.

Attachments

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