Oak Woodland Health - Ladder Fuels Reduction at Bobcat Ranch
Summary
SCH Number
2025030062
Public Agency
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Oak Woodland Health - Ladder Fuels Reduction at Bobcat Ranch
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/3/2025
Document Description
Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD) is working in partnership with Audubon California's Bobcat Ranch to limb up oak trees along an access road to protect trees from impacts from wildfire. Additional work may occur along a perpendicular wash. Fuels from limbing in that area will be stacked into
habitat piles or burn piles.
This project is part of an Oak Woodland Health block grant funded by CALFIRE through the California Association of RCDs. Oak woodland habitat has declined in the last century due to drought and wildfire. Because blue oaks and valley oaks currently have poor regeneration, there is a concern that oak woodlands are slowly changing into savannas and grasslands with low diversity of tree age throughout the woodland.
Limbing up oak trees will potentially protect trees from catastrophic wildfire as it will help prevent fire from entering the tree canopy. Lower limbs and branches that are close to the ground or surrounding vegetation pose a risk as ladder fuels to carry fire into the canopy and across the landscape creating dangerous conditions.
Limbing will be done mechanically by trained RCD staff. Trimmed branches will be chipped and chips will be used in restoration projects on the ranch. Large equipment, like trucks and the chipper, will stay on the existing farm road.
Work may occur during nesting bird season. 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. If nesting birds are located, the Yolo County Resource Conservation District will develop measures that minimize impacts and are consistent with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
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
Winters
Counties
Yolo
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
County Road 34
Parcel #
030050005000, 030050006000
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14 § 15333
Reasons for Exemption
This oak woodland enhancement project meets the requirements of Class 33 Categorical Exemption (small habitat restoration projects) Section 15333 as the project is under 5 acres. Project implementation will not result in significant adverse impact on endangered, rare or threatened species. The project will principally be carried out with hand tools and not mechanized equipment and will result in revegetation that will improve habitat for native wildlife and pollinators. 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, utilities and service systems, or wildfire.
County Clerk
Yolo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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