Herbert Preserve Ecological Restoration Prescribed Fire Training
Summary
SCH Number
2023060351
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Herbert Preserve Ecological Restoration Prescribed Fire Training
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/13/2023
Document Description
The project area is 736 acres and located 5.3 miles east of the City of Tulare and 4.7 miles west of the city of Lindsay south of highway 137. The goal of this project is to have a training burn for fire personnel in the Tulare Unit, which will also enhance the vernal pool habitat. Portions or the entire project area will be burned every 3-5 years. The habitat is great valley grassland with vernal pools. There is a mix of native grasses, wildflowers, with a few trees (cottonwood, Populus fremontii; elderberry, Sambucus mexicana; arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis). Annual grass thatch accumulates over time in the vernal pools which interferes with the plants, insects, and amphibians that rely on vernal pools. Herbaceous vegetation will be removed with string trimmers from around the base of the trees to protect them from the prescribed fire. The prescribed fire will remove the accumulation of grass thatch improving the vernal pool habitat. There will be no heavy equipment line constructed in the project area. The existing roads in the project area will be used to contain the prescribed fire. The project will take place in late spring or early summer once the annual grasses have died off and the perennial herbaceous plants have entered dormancy.
Contact Information
Name
Raymond Gutteriez
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Lindsay, Tulare
Counties
Tulare
Regions
Countywide
Township
20S
Range
26E
Section
7, 18
Base
MDB&M
Other Location Info
located 5.3 miles east of the City of Tulare and 4.7 miles west of the city of Lindsay south of highway 137
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 the project meets the Categorical Exemption as described under 14CCR §15304 Minor Alteration to Land. CNDDB, archeological and field reviews have been conducted for this project. No significant environmental impact is anticipated from this project.
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 1968 South Lovers Lane Visalia, CA 93292.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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