County Road 41A Shaded Fuel Break
Summary
SCH Number
2024110728
Public Agency
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
County Road 41A Shaded Fuel Break
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/21/2024
Document Description
The purpose of the project is to mechanically thin vegetation along
portions of County Road 41 and 41A outside of Rumsey, CA to improve ingress and egress for the Ca pay Valley and decrease wildfire ignition. The project spans approximately one mile of CR41A with fuels work beginning near the Rumsey Bridge at CR41 to 41A where the woody vegetation gives way to grass. Mechanical thinning will be done using chainsaws, other hand tools, and possible a mower arm to reduce the amount of vegetation and modify the arrangement of fuels in the environment. Mechanical treatments can benefit ecosystems by reducing the likelihood of
catastrophic wildfires, maintaining and restoring healthy ecosystems, and protecting communities. Work is expected to be performed by a qualified contractor with monitoring conducted by Yolo County Resource Conservation District staff
or hired consultant.
The project will focus on understory vegetat!fiJ7 on both sides of the road and thinning will occur within the County right of way and extend approximately 20-40 feet from the roadway on to private property. All landowner permissions are in place. Any native trees within the project boundary over six inches diameter at breast height (DBH) will not be removed. If there are elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp caerulea) plants that have a stem diameter of one-inch of greater, they will not be removed or trimmed. Thinning of understory will not impact large trees and will remove
ladder fuels, protecting the canopies of larger trees from fire while opening up the understory.
Work may occur during nesting bird season, although it is not likely. If work commences during nesting bird season (February 1st to September 15th) the project area will be surveyed for nesting birds no more than one week prior to operations by a qualified biologist.
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
Rumsey, CA
Counties
Yolo
Regions
Unincorporated
Other Location Info
From the junction of Hwy 16 one mile in to County Road 41A, east of Rumsey, CA
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304 Minor Alteration of Land
Reasons for Exemption
Mechanical treatments can benefit ecosystems by reducing the likelihood of
catastrophic wildfires, maintaining and restoring healthy ecosystems, and protecting human communities. The project will not impact large trees and will benefit habitat by decreasing likelihood of catastrophic fire and thinning understory vegetation which will decrease pressure from invasive weeds on native plant understory.
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, tha~ 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, or utilities and service systems.
County Clerk
Yolo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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