Grove Street Shaded Fuel Break
Summary
SCH Number
2025051213
Public Agency
Sonoma Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Grove Street Shaded Fuel Break
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/28/2025
Document Description
The Grove Street Shaded Fuel Break project encompasses 232-acres of privately owned land in the Cities of Sonoma and El Verano, within the Sonoma Creek sub-watershed. The intent of this project is to reduce wildfire risk, improve the ingress and egress of civilians and firefighters, and aid in fire suppression activities through fuel reduction treatments along 4.8-miles of road and ridgelines. The fuel break will extend 50-feet from designated roads and ridgelines on both sides, with flexibility to extend treatment up to 100 feet based on topography, vegetation density, and site-specific fire risk. Sections of land adjacent to Alta Sonoma Road, Sweet William Court, Grove Street, and Lyon Ranch Road will be treated.
Treatment activities include the cutting of trees and woody material less than 10" diameter at breast height, and disposal of woody vegetation smaller than 6” diameter at breast height (DBH) by chipping, or pile burning if the area is inspected for significant resources by a qualified professional.
Dead and downed woody material will be reduced by approximately 50% or more. Logs over 10” DBH will not be chipped and may instead by cut and left in contact with the ground to aid
decomposition. Chipped material will be evenly scattered onsite with a depth no greater than 6 inches.
Residual trees, or those greater than 10” DBH, will have their lower limbs pruned up to a minim of 6 feet above the ground. Live pruning cuts shall be made at the branch collar and shall not exceed 8” in diameter, and dead limbs may be removed up to the live portion of the branch. In areas lacking overstory to promote future canopy density, small trees (<10” DBH) will be retained. In general, no more than one-third of the live crown may be removed during pruning and crown spacing must be at least 10 feet. Brush and understory vegetation may be cut as needed for access or treatment purposes. 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.
Contact Information
Name
Genevieve Tarino
Agency Name
Sonoma Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Forestry Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Glen Ellen & El Verano
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
along Alta Sonoma Rd, Sweet William Ct, Grove St, and Lyon
Ranch Rd
Other Information
MDM-T04N-R7W-00, MDM-T05N-R6W-00
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 attesting 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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