Sherwood Corridor Ingress and Egress Roadside Fuel Reduction Project, Phase 3
Summary
SCH Number
2024050432
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Sherwood Corridor Ingress and Egress Roadside Fuel Reduction Project, Phase 3
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/9/2024
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to improve ingress and egress safety, reduce wildfire risk, and aid in fire suppression activities through fuel reduction treatments along 25 miles of both public and private roads over 515 acres within the following areas: 1) roads within the Spring Creek subdivision including Condor, Eagle, Timber, and Timber Ct.; 2) roads within the Sylvandale subdivision including Habbit Hill, Troll Ridge, Timberline, and Middle; 3) roads within the Gates subdivision including First Gate, Second Gate, Third Gate, Willowbrook, Redwood Creek, Pinecrest, Metzler Ridge, Skyview, Live Oak, and Big John; and 4) the Ridge to Primrose Emergency Access Route (EAR). Vegetation will be thinned and pruned within the road right-of-way between 30 and 50 feet (from the centerline) with the option to extend thinning to 100 feet given heavy fuel loads and landowner approval. The project area contains mixed conifer/hardwood woodlands and areas with a dense understory of woody shrubs and small trees. There are grassy openings interspersed throughout the treatment area. Fuel reduction activities involve the use of hand crews, chainsaws (tree falling, bucking, and brushing), pole saws, chippers, heavy equipment with masticator attachments, and pile burning. Live trees (10 inches in diameter or less) may be removed when appropriate to improve spacing or forest health. Slash and debris created by this project will either be chipped/masticated, lop-and-scattered, or piled for burning. Chippers and masticators will enter the project area to implement treatments. Larger trees will be pruned to provide for a vertical clearance of up to 14 feet. Dead and dying trees greater than 10 inches may be removed if they pose a risk to public safety. This project includes long term fuel reduction and hazard tree removal as needed.
Contact Information
Name
Julie Rhoads
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Job Title
VMP Forester I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Northern California
Zip
95437
Total Acres
515
Township
18,19N
Range
14W
Section
3,9-11
Base
MDB&M
Other Location Info
T18N; R14W; Sections 3, 9 - 11, and 14 - 16
T19N; R14W; Sections 7, 9, 10, 14 - 23, 27, and 28
Other Information
roads within the Spring Creek subdivision including Condor, Eagle, Timber, and Timber Ct.; 2) roads within the Sylvandale subdivision including Habbit Hill, Troll Ridge, Timberline, and Middle; 3) roads within the Gates subdivision including First Gate, Second Gate, Third Gate, Willowbrook, Redwood Creek, Pinecrest, Metzler Ridge, Skyview, Live Oak, and Big John; and 4) the Ridge to Primrose Emergency Access Route (EAR).
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 fuel management activities entail understory brush removal, 10 “DBH or less tree removal, thinning, pruning, chipping, from an existing roadway, and dead/tree removal to improve access for fire engines and reduce volume of flammable vegetation. As such, CAL FIRE 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, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, utilities, and service systems, or to wildfire. No exceptions apply (Section 15300.2) which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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