Rush Creek Road Hazardous Fuels Reduction
Summary
SCH Number
2023040539
Public Agency
Trinity County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Rush Creek Road Hazardous Fuels Reduction
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/21/2023
Document Description
The Trinity County Resource Conservation District (the District) plans to implement fuels reduction activities in the form of hand thinning and roadside chipping on an approximately 1500-acre footprint associated with this project along Rush Creek Road and in surrounding communities between Weaverville and Lewiston, Trinity County, CA. This project is an integral part of the District’s landscape strategy aimed at protecting Trinity County communities from future catastrophic wildfire events and returning the landscape to a healthy, less hazardous state. Fuel Reduction treatments will be strategically implemented along roadsides and adjacent to habitable structures and critical infrastructure to protect the life and property of residents of Rush Creek as well as to provide safe evacuation routes between Lewiston and Weaverville and ease of firefighter access and suppression efforts. The project area includes portions of many different private landowners within the WUI, as well as small areas of USFS, BLM, and county-managed public land, and our objective is to treat =100 acres over a 3-5 year period. Topography is moderate (20-50%) throughout much of the project area, with some steeper and gentler areas, and elevations range from approximately 1800’-3500’.
The prescription includes hand thinning of small diameter (less than 10” DBH) conifers and shrubs that are adjacent to habitable structures, critical infrastructure, and/or roadways and driveways. Emphasis will be placed on eliminating the continuity of surface and ladder fuels. Some sub canopy trees may be removed to break up vertical continuity to dominant trees as well as to raise the canopy base height, which will reduce future fire intensity. Cut materials will be bucked and carried to the chipper whenever feasible and then chipped and broadcasted on site. Any remaining material that cannot be chipped will be lop-and-scattered on site. The project will be maintained in perpetuity using similar treatments.
Contact Information
Name
Bethany Llewellyn
Agency Name
Trinity County Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Forest Health Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Lewiston
Counties
Trinity
Regions
Northern California, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Rush Creek Road, Rush Creek Drive, State Hwy 3
Zip
96052
Total Acres
100
State Highways
Hwy 3
Schools
Lewiston Elementary School
Waterways
Trinity River, Rush Creek
Township
34N
Range
9W
Section
16-36
Base
MDM
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Minor Alterations to Land, Class 15304
Reasons for Exemption
It has been determined that no exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. This project is consistent with the requirements stated in Section 15304; Minor Alterations to land, and will have no significant environmental impacts to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, 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, or to utilities and service systems.
County Clerk
Trinity
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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