Hazardous Tree Work/Fuel Reduction at Bowden Ranch
Summary
SCH Number
2024100098
Public Agency
City of San Luis Obispo
Document Title
Hazardous Tree Work/Fuel Reduction at Bowden Ranch
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/2/2024
Document Description
The project consists of hazardous tree removal, limbing and fuel reduction (fuel management activities) on the City-owned
Bowden Ranch property, within the Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve. The project is consistent with the Reservoir
Canyon Natural Reserve Conservation Plan and associated fire hazard mitigation measure, which requires that “the large
grove of eucalyptus trees in the area that poses a potential wildland-urban interface fire hazard will be periodically
managed by City contractors and private landowners. This activity will continue on a regular basis, but with advance
notice when possible and outside of nesting bird season.” There have been two fires in the area that threatened proximate
power transmission lines, a residential neighborhood, and school and government buildings, requiring evacuations during
the fire response (October 2023 and August 2024).
The purpose of this project is to remove and maintain eucalyptus and dead (burned) trees to mitigate extra hazardous fire
conditions associated with a currently persistent fire risk impacting adjacent PG&E transmission lines crossing the
Bowden Ranch property and proximate structures including residences, a local high school, and several governmental
buildings. The project includes pre-activity biological surveys to ensure no wildlife would be impacted, project oversight by
the City Biologist, and implementation of a restoration plan, including the planting of native trees. Nineteen eucalyptus
trees are proposed to be removed as part of this project. The project includes the planting of forty (40) coast live oak trees
(Quercus agrifolia) adjacent to the lower riparian corridor and in the field on the downslope side of the work zone. The oak
trees will be planted at a 2:1 ratio. To restore the riparian corridor that was burned immediately under the transmission
line, thirty (30) Coulter willow (Salix sitchensis) cuttings will be installed along the creek area. Hand-broadcast seeding will
also occur to prevent additional erosion along the banks of the drainage. The tree removals will occur in October 2024,
outside of the nesting bird season. Refer to Attachment 1, Project Description for additional details. Refer to Attachment 2
for the City Fire Chief’s determination of extra hazardous fire conditions.
Contact Information
Name
Freddy Otte
Agency Name
City of San Luis Obispo
Job Title
City Biologist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
San Luis Obispo
Counties
San Luis Obispo
Regions
Southern California
Zip
93406
Parcel #
002-354-024;002-352-023,024;002-371-002
State Highways
1, 101
Railways
UPRR
Schools
SLO High School, Elementary Schools
Waterways
San Luis Obispo Creek and tributaries
Township
30S
Range
12E
Section
25
Base
MDBM
Other Location Info
Bowden Ranch
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project qualifies for a Class 4 exemption (Minor Alterations to Land) because it consists of fuel management activities within tree clusters located 30-100 feet of structures to reduce the volume of flammable vegetation, and would not result in the taking of endangered, rare, or threatened plant or animal species, and would not result in significant erosion and sedimentation of surface waters. Fuel management activities would occur outside of the nesting bird season and would be monitored by the City Biologist. The project includes implementation of a restoration plan and erosion control measures as described in the Project Description. The City of San Luis Obispo Fire Chief determined that: “The vegetation in the area, including grasses and eucalyptus trees, presents an extra hazardous fire condition due to fuel load, the potential for wind and dry conditions, in addition to immediate proximity to residential areas, school facilities, and powerline infrastructure within this wildland-urban interface. Furthermore, the hillsides outside of the City limits within the Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve are mapped by the California Department of Forestry (CalFire) as high and very high hazard severity.” In addition, the City Arborist and Public Works Director determined that: “the condition of the eucalyptus trees on the Bowden Ranch side of Reservoir Canyon near Lizzie Trailhead threatens public safety, health and welfare because they have bark strips that encourage fire to travel up the tree and into the canopy where the oils in the leaves and existing branch dieback can greatly increase fire spread and ember cast in the surrounding area.” Therefore, based on the determination of hazardous fire conditions, recent fires that required urban evacuations, the project’s focus on trees identified as posing a significant fire risk, proximity to threatened structures, and the project’s inclusion of pre-activity biological surveys, project oversight by the City Biologist, and implementation of a restoration plan and erosion control measures, the project qualifies for the Class 4 Categorical Exemption.
County Clerk
San Luis Obispo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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