South Fork Merced River Trails - SNC1413-RT
Summary
SCH Number
2022120392
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
South Fork Merced River Trails - SNC1413-RT
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/15/2022
Document Description
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) will provide funding to Mariposa Trails to implement the South Fork Merced River Trails Project (project), which is located within the South Fork of the Merced River Watershed, Mariposa County, entirely on public lands managed by the Sierra National Forest. This project has been designed to provide trail access to local grasslands, woodlands, forests, and rivers. The project elements include: (1) restoration and maintenance of approximately 18 miles (60 acres) of existing nonmotorized recreational trails; (2) installation of wayfinding signs, directional signs, place-name signs, mileage signs, and cultural interpretation signs; and (3) creation of an online and paper trail-user map with locally relevant themes about trail safety and fire. The project is also an opportunity to establish partnerships, protect cultural resources, strengthen the local tourist-based economy, and to benefit disadvantaged communities and other underserved populations. Primary partners include the Sierra National Forest (SNF), the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, and the Sierra Freepackers.
Contact Information
Name
Mary Akens
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Job Title
Legal Counsel
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Between Yosemite National Park...Mariposa, Midpines, Bootjack...
Counties
Mariposa
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
Between Yosemite National Park and the local communities of Mariposa, Midpines, Bootjack/Darrah, Ponderosa Basin, Jerseydale/Mariposa Pines, and Fish Camp
Other Information
Sierra National Forest; Bass Lake Ranger District of Mariposa County, within the South Fork of the Merced River Watershed
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1) - Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
The South Fork Merced River Trails Project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Class 1, which consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The minor alterations of existing facilities proposed by the project consist of maintaining existing recreational trail access through trail drainage improvements, the installation of various signs, and creation of a trail-user map with locally relevant themes about trail safety and fire. SNC has independently reviewed the project and determined that none of the exceptions to the Class 1 categorical exemption apply to the project.
County Clerk
Mariposa
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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