Knights Ferry Fuel Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2023020336
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Knights Ferry Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/14/2023
Document Description
The specific project area is located along three selected roadways adjacent to downtown Knights Ferry and the Knights Ferry Elementary School: specifically, Sonora Road, Cemetery Road, and Dent Street. The project will consist of removing surface and ladder fuels from within a 50-foot easement along both sides of these roadways, creating an open and “park like” condition within the easements. The health and vigor of the residual plants and trees will be improved by removing suppressed trees and brush. The project is designed to protect Knights Ferry and particularly the elementary school from wildfire. Reducing hazardous fuels within the 50-foot roadside easements will improve ingress and egress for responding emergency fire equipment, as well as facilitate any required evacuations.
Hazardous fuels reduction work will be limited to workers using hand tools within the 50-foot easement. A portable chipper will remain on the paved road surface where brush and small trees (under 10-inches dbh) will be processed with chips being blown back onto the easement, where they will serve as erosion control. Green trees greater than 10-inches in diameter will have limbs pruned up to a height of 12 feet above the ground. No piling and/or burning will occur on this project. There are several larger valley live oaks that encroach over the elementary school parking lot. Five of these trees (approximately 18-20 inches dbh) will be removed to reduce wildfire hazard as well as the threat of stem breakage and resulting damage or injury to school personnel, visitors, or property. These larger trees will also be chipped on site. Tree stems greater than 14” dbh will be cut into firewood lengths and left for local residents. Overall, vegetation is dominated by valley oak, black oak, and willow trees. Understory vegetation is dominated by California wild blackberry. The total area designated for treatment under this project is 11.5 acres. The end result will make the community of Knights Ferry more resilient regarding wildfires.
Contact Information
Name
Gary Whitson
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention
Job Title
Forester II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Knights Ferry
Counties
Stanislaus
Regions
Countywide
Cross Streets
Sonora Road, Cemetery Road, Dent Street
Total Acres
11.5
Township
T1S
Range
R12E
Section
29
Base
MDBM
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 §15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under portions of 15304 Minor Alterations to Land.
Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that 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, populations 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 Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Headquarters in San Andreas.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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