Oken Property Vegetation Maintenance
Summary
SCH Number
2023090424
Public Agency
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Document Title
Oken Property Vegetation Maintenance
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/19/2023
Document Description
In 1996, Gladstone Way residences experienced property damage from flooding events associated with Coleman Creek. The purpose of the proposed project is to clear vegetation that may be obstructing appropriate storm flow passage within Coleman Creek, and to support habitat restoration efforts within the riparian corridor. The work would involve thinning and trimming densely overgrown native willow and non-native Himalayan blackberry along a 100-foot section of the Coleman Creek stream channel while maintaining existing shade canopy (Project Site 1). Additional work involves clearing Himalayan blackberry that threatens to obstruct storm flow passage into a nearby culvert (Project Site 2). Selective thinning techniques would be used in limbing up mature trees,removingdown-wardgrowing branchesanddeadvegetationdebris tocreatea “tunneleffect” for storm flow passage. Himalayan blackberry canes would be cut at just above ground level and removed from the stream channel. Best management practices would be employed to ensure that there are no impacts resulting in soil disturbance or tree mortality.
Contact Information
Name
Sheri Emerson,
Agency Name
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Job Title
Stewardship Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Countywide
Cross Streets
5151 Petaluma Hill Rd, Rohnert Park
Zip
94928
Total Acres
76
Parcel #
045-171-026, 045-171-037
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
pursuant to Section 15304 (Minor Alternations to Land)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is exempt pursuant to Section 15304 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations because the project consists of minor alterations to vegetation growing within Coleman Creek which will result in improvement of storm flow passage. The project will not result in the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees. The project will not result in an expansion of existing use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination.
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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