Miller DSF Seed Production Area
Summary
SCH Number
2025030313
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Miller DSF Seed Production Area
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/10/2025
Document Description
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (“CAL FIRE”) Reforestation Services Program (“RSP”), in cooperation with the Shasta-Trinity Unit, is proposing the establishment of an approximately 65-acre seed production area (“Project”) on Miller Demonstration State Forest near Whitmore, CA. This effort is made possible, in part, by a USDA Forest Service grant awarded to CAL FIRE, part of a nationwide, $8M initiative to support nurseries and seed orchards managed by states, territories, and tribes. The project will support the growth and development of low-elevation Ponderosa pine cones to support seed banking efforts managed by RSP. This reliable source of highly demanded seed will allow RSP to maintain a continuous supply for seed and seedling orders for non-industrial private forest landowners in California.
To establish the project, re-grading and maintenance of approximately 3.4 miles of an existing road system and seed stand improvement treatments will be implemented to better access the stand and to facilitate movement within the stand during cone surveys, monitoring, and collection. These actions will also reduce site competition, improving growth and vigor of the residual stand. Road maintenance activities will include mastication of vegetation along the road edge to clear the 12’ road prism, prune overhanging branches and limbs, grade, and lay down rock where needed. These road improvement activities will limit potential for erosion and soil impacts. Existing watercourse crossings are fords and will be maintained. All equipment will operate from existing roads and no expansion of the existing road system is proposed. The stand improvement activities will include the removal and/or mastication of competing vegetation in the understory. Reducing fuel loads within the SPA will also improve wildfire resilience for the continuity of seed production. This will be done by hand crews using gas-powered tools and/or a masticator. No healthy, mature trees would be felled unless deemed a safety hazard. Planting may be done in openings created through brush removal and up to three interpretive signs may be installed along project boundaries.
Contact Information
Name
Topher Byrd, RPF # 3068
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Job Title
Forester II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Whitmore
Counties
Shasta
Regions
Statewide
Total Acres
65
Other Location Info
Portions of T 32 N, R 01 W, Sections 22, 27, and 28, MDBM
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1 §15301 Existing Facilities, Class 4 §15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
CAL FIRE staff have reviewed the project and conclude that no exceptions stated in CCR 15300.2 apply to this project that would prevent the use of a “Notice of Exemption”. No significant adverse environmental impacts would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland/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, populations and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/ traffic, utilities and service systems, or to wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE’s Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center, 5800 Chiles Road, Davis, CA 95618.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.