Clear Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024040309
Public Agency
Butte County Resource Conservation District
(BCRCD)
Document Title
Clear Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/5/2024
Document Description
Along a 1.6 mile degraded stretch of Clear Creek, the project would plant a total of 42 acres with a mix of native plants (24 acres of riparian vegetation and 18 acres of oak woodland). The objectives of the project are to 1) improve quantity, quality, complexity, and connectivity of riparian and oak woodland habitats; 2) reduce pressure from invasive weed species such as yellow star thistle (YST); and 3) increase availability of cultural, medicinal, and ceremonial plant resources in the project area for Tribal members.
Contact Information
Name
Wolfy Rougle
Agency Name
Butte County Resource Conservation Disctrict
Job Title
CEQA-NEPA Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Butte Valley (unincorporated)
Counties
Butte
Regions
Northern California
Township
20N
Range
03E
Section
5 & 6
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4: Minor Alterations to Land (§15304)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is non-ground disturbing except for the minor disturbance of planting native plants as a mix of plugs, pots, cuttings and seeds. Prior to planting, site preparation will be achieved using mowing, prescribed grazing, cultural fire, and/or selective manual and/or mechanical weed removal. The project takes place entirely on lands held by the United States government in trust for the Mechoopda Indian Tribe, and a comprehensive NEPA review of the creek restoration project has been undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers, resulting in a signed Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (FREA) with a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONS!) on Feb 5, 2021. Letters of concurrence with this finding have been supplied by USFWS with regard to endangered species with potential to occur in the project area; by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with regard to section 404 of the Clean Water Act; and by the Mechoopda Tribal Historic Preservation Office itself with regard to cultural resources. Because the Tribe intends to use grant funding from the State of California to complete the planting, the planting project must still comply with CEQA and therefore an Environmental Review Report was completed. This review concluded that project implementation, as designed, would have less than significant impact in each resource area and an exemption pursuant to §15304 is indicated.
County Clerk
Butte
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.