Sierra-at-Tahoe – Caldor Recovery Phase II (SNC1553)
Summary
SCH Number
2023030178
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
Sierra-at-Tahoe – Caldor Recovery Phase II (SNC1553)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/6/2023
Document Description
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy would provide funding for the El Dorado Resource Conservation District to partner with Eldorado National Forest (ENF) to continue recovery and restoration activities from the Caldor Fire at the Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort, which is on ENF land. Nearly the entire forested area within the ski resort boundary burned in the 2021 Caldor Fire. Partners are already working on restoration efforts and fuels reduction through hazard tree removal within the entire 1,368-acre area. SNC funding would initially support approximately 70 acres of hazard tree removal within glade areas using a combination of hand and machine felling. Healthy, live trees that do not pose a threat to people or property will be retained. Equipment deployed to accomplish fuel reduction activities will include using a combination of ground based mechanical and aerial systems when needed on steep difficult terrain. After felling, trees will be yarded to decking areas to reduce the large amount of woody hazardous fuel. Small diameter material under 14 inches will be broadcast chipped or lopped and scattered and left in place for slope stabilization. Sierra-at-Tahoe sits at the very top of the South Fork American River watershed, which was hugely impacted by the Caldor Fire, and was one of the most severely burned areas in need of restoration to maintain a major water source for El Dorado County and beyond.
Contact Information
Name
Mary Akens
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Job Title
Legal Counsel
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Twin Bridges
Counties
El Dorado
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort on Eldorado National Forest lands. 1111 Sierra-At-Tahoe Rd, Twin Bridges, CA 95735. 12 miles west of South Lake Tahoe, off of Hwy 50. Project area is at 38.80096, -120.08045.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Public Resources Code Section 4799.05, subd. (d)(1)
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA does not apply to prescribed fire, reforestation, habitat restoration, thinning, or fuel reduction projects, or to related activities included in the project description, undertaken, in whole or in part, on federal lands to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire that have been reviewed under the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 if the primary role of a state or local agency is providing funding or staffing for those projects. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy would provide funding to conduct fire recovery and restoration activities through fuel reduction on federal lands in Eldorado National Forest. The proposed activities were reviewed in their entirety under NEPA by Eldorado National Forest in the Sierra-at-Tahoe Vegetation Management and Trails
Analysis, with a Categorical Exclusion Decision Memo signed on July 14, 2022.
County Clerk
El Dorado
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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