Shay Creek Phase II Fuel Reduction
Summary
SCH Number
2024100428
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Shay Creek Phase II Fuel Reduction
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/10/2024
Document Description
The proposed 3-acre project is located within the Shay Creek residential tract near Markleeville, California. This residential subdivision is accessed by Shay Creek Road, a single lane paved road. The project area is heavily forested, with existing stocking of 300 square feet basal area per acre in stems 5” diameter breast height (DBH) and greater. The proposed action will entail 1) removal of select conifer trees 1” DBH to 26”DBH within 15 feet of the edge of Shay Creek Road to create a general discontinuity of vertical and horizontal fuels, 2) retention of the largest, most fire resilient trees at spacing of 15’-25’ depending on DBH, 3) pruning of residual trees to a minimum height of 10 feet as measured from the lowest live green limb to the top of the surface fuels, 4) removal of surface vegetation that provides vertical continuity of hazardous fuels, including small trees, brush, and down woody debris, especially within dripline of residual conifers, and 5) chipping of targeted vegetation, with all woody material remaining on site. Trees removed during this process will be utilized within the subdivision and will not be traded, bartered or sold. The proposed action will improve safety of ingress/egress by effectively reducing hazardous fuels within the subdivision and its main access routes.
Contact Information
Name
Erin Duprey
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Alpine
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
Shay Creek Road
Total Acres
3
Township
10N
Range
19E
Section
24
Base
MDBM
Other Location Info
Shay Creek residential tract near Markleeville, California
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4/15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project meets the requirements of a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 Categorical exemption “Minor Alterations to Land” (Section
15304, Public Resources Code) which allows minor alteration of vegetation including fuel management activities to reduce hazardous fuels for improved public safety and forest resilience. Trees targeted for removal and the pruning of residual trees will be restricted to those that reduce the vertical and horizontal continuity of fuels, and/or provide for improved ingress/egress in the event of wildfire. Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that would preclude the use of a notice of exemption for this project. The Department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland or timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, energy, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use planning, mineral resources, noise, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation or traffic, utilities and service systems or to wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at the CAL FIRE Camino headquarters, 2840 Mount Danaher Rd, Camino, CA 95709.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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