AB 2551 Watershed Coordinator Grant Maidu Summit Consortium (SNC957-RFFCP)
Summary
SCH Number
2023080186
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
AB 2551 Watershed Coordinator Grant Maidu Summit Consortium (SNC957-RFFCP)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/8/2023
Document Description
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy would provide funding for the Maidu Summit Consortium to conduct outreach to and collaboration with tribal communities and other stakeholders to identify watershed-scale priorities to enhance forest health and resilience and priority forest and fire protection projects, with a focus on Maidu properties. The Maidu Summit Consortium may work with consultants on spatial analysis and mapping of priorities and potential future projects, determine future permitting and design needs for potential future projects, and the preparation of a grant application to fund the design and permitting of at least one potential future project which has not yet been approved, adopted, or funded. Tasks conducted under this activity would include meetings, individual conversations, and possibly field visits. The purpose is to identify and prioritize potential future projects that will improve watershed function and resilience, water quality supply and reliability, forest carbon stores, wildlife habitat, and climate adaptation.
Contact Information
Name
Mary Akens
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Job Title
Legal Counsel
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
None. Project is landscape planning near multiple communities.
Counties
Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
General communication, outreach, and planning activities with tribal communities across parts of Lassen, Shasta, Plumas, and Sierra counties.
Other Information
Landscape planning project. The landscape area includes the communities of Susanville, Chester, and Quincy.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Common Sense Exemption - CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061, subd. (b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
This project is exempt under the common sense exemption under Section 15061, subd. (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines which states that that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This grant funding would only support watershed scale outreach and coordination meetings, as well as expert consultant guidance, for general planning and prioritization of potential future projects related to forest and watershed health. They are early-stage general planning activities; no specific projects have yet been identified, nor have they been approved, adopted, or funded. There will be no ground or resource disturbance. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. Additionally, the project would be statutorily exempt under Pub. Resources Code, Section 21102 and CEQA Guidelines, section 15262 as a feasibility and planning studies as the activity involves planning studies for possible future actions which the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board has not approved, adopted, or funded; there is no legally binding effect on later activities. The proposed activities are only for meeting and coordination activities; there is no on-the-ground work involved.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Feasibility and Planning Studies under Pub. Resources Code, Section 21102 and CEQA Guidelines, Section 15262
Reasons for Exemption
This project is exempt under the common sense exemption under Section 15061, subd. (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines which states that that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This grant funding would only support watershed scale outreach and coordination meetings, as well as expert consultant guidance, for general planning and prioritization of potential future projects related to forest and watershed health. They are early-stage general planning activities; no specific projects have yet been identified, nor have they been approved, adopted, or funded. There will be no ground or resource disturbance. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. Additionally, the project would be statutorily exempt under Pub. Resources Code, Section 21102 and CEQA Guidelines, section 15262 as a feasibility and planning studies as the activity involves planning studies for possible future actions which the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board has not approved, adopted, or funded; there is no legally binding effect on later activities. The proposed activities are only for meeting and coordination activities; there is no on-the-ground work involved.
County Clerks
Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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