Coachella Valley Vegetation Management Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024100372
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Inland Deserts Region 6
(CDFW)
Document Title
Coachella Valley Vegetation Management Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/9/2024
Document Description
CDFW will conduct vegetation management activities on CDFW lands in the Coachella Valley area for the purposes of wildfire fuel reduction and invasive plant control.
Contact Information
Name
Colton Johnson
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Township
5S, 6S
Range
5E
Base
MDBM
Other Location Info
Santa Rosa Wildlife Area, Carrizo Canyon Ecological Reserve, Magnesia Springs Ecological Reserve
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
The project is Class 4, §15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) exempt; the Project will result in minor alterations to land and vegetation. The Project falls within the class because it involves minor public alterations of vegetation on designated wildlife areas and ecological reserves and does not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees. The CEQA Guidelines provide the specific example of “minor alterations in land, water, and vegetation on existing officially designated wildlife management areas or fish production facilities which result in improvement of habitat for fish and wildlife resources or greater fish production” at section 15304 (d) as being consistent with this class.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 7; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15307
Reasons for Exemption
The project is Class 7, §15307 (Actions by regulatory agencies for protection of natural resources) exempt; the Project includes actions taken by CDFW for the protection of natural resources on designated wildlife areas and ecological reserves. The Project falls within the class because it involves the “maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource”. Specifically, the removal of invasive species that increase fuel density and ignition sources for fire and displace native species. A fire at these locations would drastically impact the local ecosystem with irreparable changes to vegetation composition.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 8; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15308
Reasons for Exemption
The project is Class 8, §15308 (Actions by regulatory agencies for protection of the environment) exempt; the Project includes actions taken by CDFW for the protection of the environment on designated wildlife areas and ecological reserves to improve wildlife habitat and reduce the potential for future high severity wildfire impacts. The Project falls within the class because it involves the “maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of the environment”. Specifically, the Project will restore and enhance the current ecosystem and habitat for Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and other species that rely upon these canyons for foraging habitats and their water sources.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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