Southern Trinity Resilience 2023
Summary
SCH Number
2023060696
Public Agency
Trinity County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Southern Trinity Resilience 2023
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/27/2023
Document Description
Trinity County Resource Conservation District (the District) plans to implement fuels reduction activities in the form of hand thinning and roadside chipping on 20-30 acres within a 2,327-acre footprint on private lands in Mad River and Ruth, 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 PG&E powerline infrastructure to protect the life and property of residents of Mad River and Ruth as well as to provide safe evacuation routes and ease of firefighter access and suppression efforts. The project area includes portions of many different private landowners within the WUI, and our objective is to treat approximately 20-30 acres over the summer 2023 season. Topography is mostly gentle (15%-45%) throughout much of the project area and elevations range from approximately 2200’-3000’.
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 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.
Contact Information
Name
Bethany Llewellyn
Agency Name
Trinity County Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Ruth, Mad River
Counties
Trinity
Regions
Northern California, Unincorporated
Zip
95552
Total Acres
20-30
State Highways
36
Airports
Ruth Airport
Schools
Southern Trinity School
Waterways
Mad River, Van Duzen River, Ruth Lake
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, 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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