Ramona Dead and Dying Hazardous Tree Removal Project #4
Summary
SCH Number
2023070637
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Ramona Dead and Dying Hazardous Tree Removal Project #4
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/31/2023
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to provide for the removal of dead and dying hazardous trees within 100 feet of residences or within 30 feet of roads (evacuation routes) in the unincorporated community of Ramona in San Diego County. This will reduce the onsite safety hazards near homes and along major access roads. This project will incorporate properties owned by private landowners within the State Responsibility Area (SRA). The intent of this project is to reduce a potential fire’s intensity thus providing protection for the homes on these treated properties, enhanced suppression opportunities, and to diminish the threat of fire originating from urban areas and spreading to wildland areas. The community of Ramona has been heavily impacted by the 2003 Cedar Fire, the 2007 Witch Creek Fire, the current prolonged drought and the devastation caused by the Gold Spotted Oak Borer (GSOB), each of which has contributed to large numbers of dead and dying trees in the Ramona area.
This project proposes falling approximately 50 hazardous dead and/or dying trees within 100 feet of homes or within 30 feet of primary roads. A qualified contractor will fall the designated trees and will cut them into rounds. The wood rounds will be left on site for use by the homeowner as fuel wood. The rounds will be stored 30 feet or more from the home. The limbs and branch wood will be chipped and scattered on site. Wood from GSOB infested oaks will be left on site for use by the homeowner after being debarked, the bark chipped and scattered on site and the debarked rounds stored 30 feet or more from the home. In those cases where the landowner does not want the pine, cedar, eucalyptus, or debarked oak rounds the contractor will have the option of removing the wood to a storage area with the oak stored in accordance with the GSOB BMP’s.
The trees to be felled and cut into rounds are located on individual, well maintained, residential properties, generally on flat ground. The cut material generated will be chipped and spread on site, not to exceed three inches in depth. The total area impacted on individual; privately owned parcels is approximately 3.0 acres. There will be no ground disturbing activities associated with this project.
Contact Information
Name
Cheyenne Borello
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Job Title
Forester I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Ramona, CA
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Countywide, Southern California
Total Acres
3
Other Location Info
Latitude 33° 2’ 15”, Longitude 116° 54’ 57” (center of Ramona, CA)
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 the description for a Class 4 Categorical Exemption pertaining to minor alterations to land as identified in the CEQA Guidelines. After reviewing and approving an environmental analysis completed by Mike Rogers, California Registered Professional Forester (RPF) #787, the Department has determined this project will have no significant impact on the environment. This determination is based on field assessments and an Environmental Review completed by the RPF that included a greenhouse gas emission calculation.
Review by CAL FIRE staff 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, 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. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the RPF and approved by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE SDU Headquarters in El Cajon.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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