Chorro Creek Ecological Reserve and San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area Grassland Restoration
Summary
SCH Number
2025050792
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4
(CDFW)
Document Title
Chorro Creek Ecological Reserve and San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area Grassland Restoration
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/19/2025
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the assistance of Cal Fire and the California Conservation Corps, plans to apply prescribed fire on approximately 500 acres of the Chorro Creek Ecological Reserve and adjacent San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area to achieve ecological restoration and enhancement goals, to reduce fuel loading to minimize wildfire risk. The prescribed fires will be implemented in three separate burns. Phase 1 of the prescribed burn area is the approximately 150 acres of grasslands and former croplands between Chorro Creek and Highway 1 on the southern portion of the Ecological Reserve. Phase 2 of the prescribed burn area is approximately 225 acres of grasslands and former croplands will be the northern unit, north of Highway. Phase 3 of the prescribed burn area of approximately 120 acres of the San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area to reduce fuel loading and minimize wildfire risk. The prescribed burn area is within an active sport shooting range and is subject to frequent ignition exposure.
Tall fuels, comprised of coyote brush and invasive weeds, would be cut and piled or crushed prior to burning to ensure combustion. Fire control lines would be created and integrated with existing features that serve as fuel breaks, such as the existing roads.
Contact Information
Name
Dave Hacker
Agency Name
CDFW
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist, Supervisor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
San Luis Obispo
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
The project is located at the Chorro Creek Ecological Reserve and the adjoining San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area, seven miles northwest of San Luis Obispo, on the both sides of Highway 1, in San Luis Obispo County, 35.1882284°N, -119.7621697°W.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 7; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15307 and 757(7)(D)
Reasons for Exemption
This project is a regulatory agency action for protection of natural resources, specifically reduction of shrubs and invasive weed cover that are degrading the native coastal prairie grassland and reduction in fire risk associated with the facilities activities. Title 14, Section 757(7)(D) specifically includes controlled burning for habitat productivity as an exempt activity for CDFW. None of the exceptions in Section 15300.2 apply.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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