Brookside Fuel Break
Summary
SCH Number
2023050029
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Brookside Fuel Break
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/2/2023
Document Description
The Brookside Fuel Break project consists of reducing high accumulations of vegetative fuels along Brookside Road, a public road located in rural Fresno County. The project encompasses approximately 3.2 miles of road length with a planned treatment width of 200 feet with road as centerline. Vegetation fuels will be selectively reduced by a combination of mechanical and manual methods. Mechanical treatment will utilize mastication accompanied by hand cutting using chain saws and pruning saws. Proposed vegetation treatments will be limited to surface and understory plants. The overall species composition of woody trees and shrubs will not be altered. Larger overstory trees are not planned for removal. The project is a cooperative effort between CAL FIRE, the Oak to Timberline Fire Safe Council (OTFSC) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Land ownership consists of a series of private parcels (79 acres) and two acres of federal land administered by the USFS – Sequoia National Forest. Environmental compliance for the federal land to be treated will be obtained separately by the USFS Hume Lake Ranger District. The project is located within portions of Sections 17, 18, 20 & 21, T14S, R27E, and Sections 13 & 24, T14S, R26E, MDBM. The project area, which follows the length of Brookside Road, can be located on the USGS Miramonte 7.5’ Quadrangle. The area is considered a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and project activities are consistent with the Fresno County Hazard Mitigation Plan, the CAL FIRE Fresno-Kings Unit Fire Plan, and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan for this area. Miramonte, the nearest community, is considered a WUI At-Risk Community. There are permanent and seasonal residents with associated structures and outbuildings scattered throughout the treatment area and on adjacent lands. The project is located within the Mill Creek watershed. Mill Creek is a perennial watercourse that flows westerly through the area. Surface runoff from lands that adjoin the project drain into Mill Creek via a series of unnamed intermittent watercourses. Elevation within the project ranges from approximately 2,600 feet at the west boundary to 3,100 feet at the east end. Common overstory trees include live oak, California bay, California black oak, and California buckeye. Woody shrubs include manzanita, several ceanothus species, scrub oak, western redbud and poison oak.
Contact Information
Name
Nicolas Meyer
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Miramonte community
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Countywide
Cross Streets
Brookside Rd
Total Acres
79
Other Location Info
portions of Sections 17, 18, 20 & 21, T14S, R27E, and Sections 13 & 24, T14S, R26E, MDBM
Other Information
USGS Miramonte 7.5’ Quadrangle
Along Brookside Road near the community of Miramonte
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 §15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits into a Class 4 Categorical Exemption to CEQA (15304 minor alterations to land). Field review by a CAL FIRE Unit Environmental Scientist 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, or to utilities and service systems and wildfire following approval and implementation of this project. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Fresno-Kings Unit Headquarters at 210 South Academy Avenue, Sanger, CA 93657.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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