Wells Mountain Fuel Break Trinity Community Resilience Project
Summary
SCH Number
2023060004
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Wells Mountain Fuel Break Trinity Community Resilience Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/1/2023
Document Description
CAL FIRE would provide funding to the Wateshed Research and Training Center (WRTC) to implement fuels reduction activities in the form of hand thinning, mastication, and roadside chipping on an approximately 323-acre footprint associated with this project on a strategic ridgeline near Hayfork, Trinity County, California. These types of projects are an integral part of the WRTCs landscape strategy aimed at protecting Trinity County communities from future catastrophic wildfire events and returning the landscape to a healthy, less hazardous state. The project area is exclusively on Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) land. The topography is characteristic of a ridgeline, with mixed slopes ranging from nearly flat to over 60% slope, and elevations range from approximately 3,360’ – 5,440’.
The prescription includes manual thinning, mastication, and chipping of small diameter (less than 12” DBH) conifers and shrubs in order to disrupt 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. Any material that cannot be chipped or masticated will be lopped and scattered to the minimum depth feasible. In accessible areas with slopes averaging less than 35%, and outside of standard width watercourse protection zones, a masticator will be utilized for fuels treatments.
Contact Information
Name
Shannon Johnson
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Staff Chief
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Hayfork
Counties
Trinity
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
T32N, R10W, Sec. 28, 33, MDBM
T31N, R10W, Sec 4, 8, 9, MDBM
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304, Minor Alterations to Land
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, because the project involves the minor alteration of the condition of land and/or vegetation and does not require the removal of healthy, mature scenic trees. The Department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur 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, utilities and service systems, or to wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department and project proponent is kept on file at the CAL FIRE Headquarters in Sacramento.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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