Yanci Ranch Hedgerow Maintenance - Installing Cage Protection for Native Plants
Summary
SCH Number
2024090995
Public Agency
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Yanci Ranch Hedgerow Maintenance - Installing Cage Protection for Native Plants
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/25/2024
Document Description
The project is to install browse-protective caging and replant oak acorns at 60-80 single planting locations in an area of Yanci Ranch where deer pressure has severely limited a prior 2020 planting of oaks, shrubs, and perennial wildflowers. Cages installed will include 3-4 t-posts pounded into the ground around existing individual plants outside of streambank areas with welded wire and/or hog panel fencing enclosing the plant. Approximately 10-20 plant locations where previous plants have died will be replanted with valley, blue, or live oak acorns. This project will help realize the completion of a 1.4 mile-long tree and shrub riparian habitat corridor through Yanci Ranch a 6-acre valley oak savannah at the lowest elevations of the ranch. This ranch is protected in-perpetuity by a conservation easement held by the Yolo Habitat Conservancy.
This project will lead to the conversion of mostly non-native annual grasslands with low habitat value to plant communities with high value habitat. Protecting oaks, redbud, elderberry, buckwheat, toyon, and ceanothus from deer browse will increase the abundance of fruits and seed s, floral resources, larval host plants, and a variety of cover and nesting substrates for invertebrates, repti les, amphibians, mammals,
and birds.
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
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
County Road 88 and County Rd 72
Zip
95694
Parcel #
050140001000
Other Location Info
21740 CR 88 WINTERS CA 95694
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4; California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 15304, Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/orvegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. Caging of existing plants will protect them from herbivory and allow for better establishment in the long run. Cages and stakes will not impact existing vegetation and installation causes minor ground disturbance.
The project meets the requirements of Class 4 Categorical Exemption (minor alterations to land) Section 15304. Project implementation will result in alterations to the land that are best described as minor in scope, that will not significantly impact the aesthetic of the property, or biological and/or cultural resources, and that do not involve the removal of mature, scenic trees for any purpose. No exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a "Notice of Exemption" for this project. 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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