Riparian Restoration, Hedgerows, and Hazard Tree Removal near Green Oaks Creek

2024060730

San Mateo County Resource Conservation District (SMCRCD)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

6/17/2024

6/17/2024

Timothy Federal

San Mateo Resource Conservation District

Conservation Program Manager

Lead/Public Agency

80 Stone Pine Rd Ste 100
Half Moon Bay, CA 94110

(650) 712-7765 ext. 124

timothy@sanmateorcd.org

94060

8

CA

Categorical Exemption

Class 4 (15304)

This Project will remove hazard trees and invasive species, restore riparian habitat by revegetating with native species, and improve agricultural conditions by planting native hedgerows. The following provides a brief description of the project, and an explanation for why the project qualifies for exemption from CEQA environmental review Class 4 [CEQA State Guidelines, Section 15304]. Project Description The San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD), working alongside private landowners and the Amah Mutsun Land Trust (AMLT), plans to remove hazardous and/or invasive vegetation from up to 8 acres of land in unincorporated San Mateo County. AMLT will grow and plant native species that will be used to plant hedgerows in areas where invasive species are removed, where feasible and appropriate. The goals for the Project are to: 1) Restore riparian habitat along approximately 0.6 miles of Green Oaks Creek, 2) reduce hazards posed by standing dead, fire damaged trees to roads, utility corridors, and human life, and 3) create a native hedgerow to improve agricultural conditions and pollinator habitat on adjacent fields. Target invasive species include Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), Poison Hemlock (Conicum maculatum), French Broom (Genista monspessulana) and other non-native, herbaceous species. No healthy, mature, scenic, or otherwise significant trees will be removed except to improve forest conditions, wildlife habitat, and/or agricultural conditions. Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes. Examples of this exemption that this project is most related to include, but are not limited to: (b) New gardening or landscaping, including the replacement of existing conventional landscaping with water efficient or fire-resistant landscaping. The project will replace fire damaged and hazardous non-native trees with native species that are fire resistant, improving landscape resiliency and community safety in the face of wildfires. The project also includes revegetation of disturbed areas with native species. (i) Fuel management activities within 30 feet of structures to reduce the volume of flammable vegetation, provided that the activities will not result in the taking of endangered, rare, or threatened plant or animal species or significant erosion and sedimentation of surface waters. This exemption shall apply to fuel management activities within 100 feet of a structure if the public agency having fire protection responsibility for the area has determined that 100 feet of fuel clearance is required due to extra hazardous fire conditions The project will remove hazardous fuels within 100 feet of roads, powerlines, and buildings in an area highly susceptible to hazardous fire conditions. CAL FIRE has determined that 100 feet of fuel clearance is required where feasible in this area for the best protection against wildfires.