Farm Edge Habitat Enhancement at Hedgerow Farms
Summary
SCH Number
2024090992
Public Agency
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Farm Edge Habitat Enhancement at Hedgerow Farms
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/25/2024
Document Description
The project Involves two hedgerows located at Hedgerow Farms in Winters, CA: a single-row hedgerow located north of County Road 27 which parallels County Road 88 approximately 1/2 mile to the west; and a two-row hedgerow located southwest of the intersection of County Roads 27 and 88 and runs parallel to County Road 88 approximately 15 ft. to the west. The single-row hedgerow is approximately 2,350 ft.
long with 10 ft. spacing between woody plants. Shrubs will form the main structure of the hedgerow with pods of two herbaceous flowering plants planted 5 ft. between each woody plant. The two-row hedgerow is approximately 1,200 ft. long (2,400 ft. total) and the farm side row will have 10 ft. spacing between taller woody plants and the roadside row will have 8 ft. spacing between shorter woody plants.
These hedgerows consist of native plant species that provide floral resources, forage, and cover for wildlife and native pollinators. The planting plans consist of native species such as blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. Ceru!ea), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fascicu!atum), California poppy (Eschscholzia ca/ifornica), California goldenrod (So/idago velutina ssp. Californica), and other native woody and herbaceous plants.
The Yolo County RCD conducted a biological review which determined that no special status plants or animals are documented in the project site. Several sensitive species are documented within close proximity to the site, but unlikely to utilize the planting area. Implementation of this hedgerow is expected to occur during the fall or winter season and is not expected to impact special status plants or wildlife.
Contact Information
Name
Heather Nichols
Agency Name
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Winters
Counties
Yolo
Regions
Citywide, Countywide
Cross Streets
County Road 87 and County Road 27
Zip
95694
Total Acres
4750 ft/~.1 ac
Other Location Info
21905 Co Rd 88, Winters, CA 95694
Other Information
Located on land owned and operated by Hedgerow Farms
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 33, Small Habitat Restoration Projects, Title 14 Section 15333
Reasons for Exemption
This habitat enhancement project has been explicitly designed to benefit native wildlife and pollinators. Hedgerow installation will enhance unused farm edges with wildlife habitat and is documented to increase carbon sequestration and enhance water infiltration and water quality. Enhancing unused farm edges throughout the property develops important wildlife corridor habitat connectivity and serves to increase species diversity and abundance. Hedgerow implementation is conducted using hand tools with minor disturbance to soil. This restoration project meets the requirements of Class 33 Categorical Exemption (small habitat restoration projects) Section 15333 as the project is under 5 acres. Project implementation will not result in significant adverse impact on endangered, rare or threatened species. The project will principally be carried out with hand tools and not mechanized equipment and will result in revegetation that will improve habitat for native wildlife and pollinators. It has been concluded that no significant adverse environmental impacts would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forest resources, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, energy, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, mineral resources, noise, populations and housing, public services, recreation, transportation and traffic, utilities and service systems, or wildfire.
County Clerk
Yolo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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