Clear Creek Fuelbreak
Summary
SCH Number
2021030085
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Clear Creek Fuelbreak
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/2/2021
Document Description
A vegetation fuel reduction project is being proposed on portions of Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) properties in conjunction with CAL FIRE. The project is 315 acres, located approximately one mile west of the town of Westwood. The purpose of the proposed project is to maintain/establish a vegetation fuel reduction zone along or through portions of the landowner mentioned above. The proposed project area has received land management in the past such as, timber harvesting and other forest management activities, road construction, ROW maintenance, livestock grazing and most recently fuelbreak prescription implementation. In general, the proposed project will involve the treatment of both live and dead vegetation that is currently present in the project area. Large over story trees are not proposed for treatment other than pruning of lower limbs. Small understory trees 8-inches and less dbh may be thinned or pruned. In addition, small dead and dying trees impacted by insects/disease along with shrubs, down woody debris and other ground vegetation will be treated. The treatment method will largely consist of prescribed fire however mastication, and hand cutting and piling of the vegetation utilizing various hand held powered and unpowered tools may also be utilized. Treatment of vegetation piles will most likely consist of burning when conditions are safe. The project has been designed to prevent mechanical treatments or significant ground disturbance within 25 feet of a Class III watercourse, within 50 foot of a Class II and within 75 feet of a Class I watercourse. Additionally, no ignition will occur within the buffer zones of a watercourse, however, fire may back into the zone as a low intensity backing fire. Based on the burn prescription it is anticipated that backing fire will mostly consume 1 hour fuels and burn less than 60% of the buffer in a mosaic fashion. Treatment methods of piling and burning are designed to be treated outside of the Class I, II and III buffer zones. CAL FIRE Conservation Camp crews (inmates with a CAL FIRE Captain as overhead).
Contact Information
Name
Glen Schall
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Lassen, Plumas
Cross Streets
County road A-21
Total Acres
315
State Highways
147
Other Location Info
Portions of T28N R08E Sec 10, 11, 12, 13 & 15 MDBM
Other Information
One mile west of the town of Westwood
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project meets Class 4 - §15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) Categorical Exemption criteria for CEQA analysis. A Minor Alteration to Land is described as a “minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water and/or vegetation, which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes.” This project as proposed maintains/establishes a vegetation fuel reduction zone and does not remove healthy, mature, or scenic trees. Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply, which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. CAL FIRE has concluded that no significant environmental impact 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, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, utilities and service systems, or Wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by CAL FIRE is kept on file at CAL FIRE’s Lassen-Modoc-Plumas Unit Headquarters located in Susanville, California.