Concow Resilience Project
Summary
SCH Number
2020120128
Public Agency
Butte County Resource Conservation District
(BCRCD)
Document Title
Concow Resilience Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/8/2020
Present Land Use
National Forestland
Document Description
The project proposes 825 acres of hazardous fuels reduction upon public lands within and around the community of Concow, and up to 220 acres of reforestation after high-severity wildfire within those 825 acres. The objectives of the project are to 1) reduce the amount of live and dead hazardous fuels on public land adjacent to a community, 2) prevent type conversion to monotypic chaparral, 3) promote a low-density oak-pine savannah which offers lower-intensity expected fire behavior, improved long-term carbon stability, improved climate/drought resilience, and improved wildlife habitat compared to the no-project alternative, and 4) promote plants and landscape values that are of cultural and ecological significance to Konkow Maidu traditions.
Contact Information
Name
Wolfgang Rougle
Agency Name
Butte County Resource Conservation District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Agency Name
Butte County Resource Conservation District
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Counties
Butte
Regions
Northern California
Zip
95965
Other Location Info
Scattered USFS parcels on Pulga and Paradise East quads.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 Exemption (15304)
Reasons for Exemption
An exemption pursuant to §15304 is indicated. because the project consists of minor alterations in the condition of vegetation which would not result in the removal of healthy, mature or scenic trees. An Environmental Review Report was completed for the whole of the project concluding that project implementation, as designed, would have less than significant impact in each resource area; the project would not significantly impact special status species of plants or animals or cultural resources and would not result in significant erosion or sedimentation of surface waters
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
4799.05(d)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project was reviewed in its entirety under NEPA through review of all project specialist reports. Final Decision Memo for the Concow Resilience project was signed by Feather River Ranger District on September 30, 2020. Per PRC 4799.05(d)(1), CEQA does not apply to prescribed fire, thinning, or fuel reduction projects undertaken on federal lands to reduce the risk of high- severity wildfire that have been reviewed under the NEPA if the primary role of a state or local agency is providing funding or staffing for those projects. Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) funded environmental review for the project, and BCRCD may provide staffing assistance for the project during implementation, utilizing as-yet-unsecured federal or State grant funding