North Bay Forest Improvement Program -- Westwood Lane
Summary
SCH Number
2025050703
Public Agency
Sonoma Resource Conservation District
Document Title
North Bay Forest Improvement Program -- Westwood Lane
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/16/2025
Document Description
The project is located in Occidental, CA. The project will be taking place across the boundaries of 8 private properties on Westwood Lane, a private road. Project area slopes are moderate and aspect is all encompassing. Vegetation is primarily redwood and Douglas-fir with tanoak, California bay laurel, madrone, and coast live oak. Evergreen huckleberry, California hazel, blackberry, and poison oak are the predominant understory species. Treatments will target roughly 100-300 trees per acre with the majority of basal area to be treated in trees ranging from 4-12” DBH for removal. Small trees and brush will be masticated and heavy hand treatment of brush will occur. Follow-up treatment involving pile burning and chipping or masticating residual material. Some trees larger than 12”DBH may be treated, but these trees shall be limited to those determined to be dying or an imminent hazard due to either Sudden Oak Death disease (Phytophthora ramorum) or otherwise determined and marked by a Registered Professional Forester or their qualified designee. Work will be completed using hand crews and heavy equipment. Operational limitations for watercourses shall include a no operation buffer without clearance from a qualified Registered Professional Forester or qualified biologist determining non-presence of species listed under the Federal or State Endangered Species Act; these limitations shall take place within 50 feet for Class II watercourses and 75 feet for Class I watercourses for side slopes under 50%; side slopes over 50% shall include an additional 25-foot buffer.
Contact Information
Name
Genevieve Tarino
Agency Name
Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Forestry Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Occidental
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Northern California
Parcel #
074-140-051, 074-150-017, 074-150-058, 074- 150-061, 074-150-011, 074-150-059, 074-150-050, 074-
Other Information
074-140-051, 074-150-017, 074-150-058, 074-150-061, 074-150-011, 074-150-059, 074-150-050, 074-150-062
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15304
Reasons for Exemption
The project is exempt because the planned activities meet the definition of “forestry” in PRC§753, and have been reviewed and approved by a Registered Professional Forester in consultation with experts from other pertinent fields who have attested that the activities proposed in this project will only have the potential for at most impacts that are less than significant to the environment, having provided adequate measures for avoidance of sensitive environmental resources. Project activities will not involve the removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees, and will not result in a substantial alteration of the current function of the land. Project specific analysis is on file at the RCD
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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