Happy Valley Camp Training
Summary
SCH Number
2023110407
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Happy Valley Camp Training
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/15/2023
Document Description
CAL FIRE Shasta-Trinity Unit (SHU) is planning a variety of vegetation removal training activities on approximately 376-acre area in Shasta County, California. The project area is 6 miles South of Redding, 5 miles Northwest of Anderson, and West of Hwy 273 between Canyon Rd and Happy Valley Rd. Additionally, it is approximately 1 mile Southwest of the confluence of Clear Creek and the Sacramento River. This project will improve the protection of property surrounding the project area, which experiences fires on an annual basis. It will provide CAL FIRE Crews training opportunities. The fuel reduction work will be completed with hand work during fire line construction, hose lay training in steeper terrain, as well as falling and bucking, physical conditioning and hiking will also occur on the project. Topographically the project area is on the Westside of the Valley, approximately 1.5 miles west of the Sacramento River, with an average elevation range of 450-650ft. The vegetation within and surrounding the project area is comprised of oak woodland with a Grey Pine overstory, dense shrub thickets and grass. Firefighting hand and engine crews will cut brush and trees less than 10 inches DBH. Trees larger than 10 inches DBH may be cut if approved by a Registered Professional Forester for forest health reasons; these trees will be limbed, bucked and left in place. Overstory and larger trees will be retained. Proposed handline activity will create trails, and brush piles to be chipped or for burning when fuel and weather conditions can support burning to meet project objectives. Much of the project’s acreage will only see use from personnel practicing the creation of handline or crew hikes for physical training.
Contact Information
Name
Ben Rowe
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Job Title
Forester II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Shasta
Regions
Northern California
Total Acres
376
Township
30-31N
Range
5w
Section
35,36
Base
MDBM
Other Location Info
The project area is 6 miles South of Redding, 5 miles Northwest of Anderson, and West of Hwy 273 between Canyon Rd and Happy Valley Rd. Additionally, it is approximately 1 mile Southwest of the confluence of Clear Creek and the Sacramento River.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4/15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project meets the requirements of a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 Categorical exemption “Minor Alterations to Land” (Section 15304, Public Resources Code) as the proposed activities involves tree and brush removal, chipping, and burning to reduce wildfire threat. Although this project will modify some structural aspects of the vegetation, it will not convert the vegetation type or result in the removal of otherwise “healthy, mature, and scenic trees.”
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.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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