Salmon and Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025020740
Public Agency
California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Sacramento Region 5
(RWQCB)
Document Title
Salmon and Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/21/2025
Document Description
The 292-acre Project consists of restoring aspen stands, promoting forest health, and restoring meadow and meadow edge habitat through conifer thinning activities and the installation of beaver dam analogs (BDAs). Approximately 190 acres within the Project area are designated for conifer thinning activities with the aim of promoting aspen regeneration. Thinning will include the removal of selected trees and the piling of removed trees in preparation for future prescribed burning to be led by the Tahoe National Forest at a later date. Thinning will be done both by hand and with the use of heavy equipment such as feller bunchers, loaders, and chippers. In Salmon Creek Meadow, approximately 15 BDAs will be constructed. The BDAs will be spaced as necessary along the length of stream channels to optimize sediment accretion, channel complexity, and aggradation. BDA structures are expected to enhance the existing 15 acres of wetland habitat, resulting in a net increase in wetland functions and services within the Project area.
Contact Information
Name
Nicholas Savino
Agency Name
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Alecia Weisman
Agency Name
South Yuba River Citizens League
Job Title
Watershed Science Director
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Sierra
Regions
Northern California
Total Acres
292
Township
20N
Range
12E
Section
3
Other Location Info
The Project is located within the Tahoe National Forest (TNF) in Sierra County north of the unincorporated community of Bassetts.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Public Resources Code Section 21080.56
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is Solely a restoration project that will restore wetland and aspen habitat. The Project will assist in the recovery of California native fish and wildlife and the habitat upon which they depend, will result in long term benefits to climate resiliency, biodiversity, and sensitive species recovery, and may have public benefits incidental to the Projects fundamental purpose.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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