Toomes Camp Road Fuels Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2020040060
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Toomes Camp Road Fuels Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/3/2020
Document Description
Objectives: The objectives of the proposed project are designed to reduce hazardous fuels within the right-of-way of Toomes Camp Road (also known as the M2 Road) to be used as a fire break in the event of a wildland fire in the area. This road may be the last line of defense between the State Responsibility Area (SRA) and Federal Responsibility Area (FRA) to assist agencies in preventing a wildland fire spreading from one Direct Protection Area (DP A) to another. The project area is 6.25 miles in length and encompass 51.5 acres. See attached maps for project location. The project area is located within an area classified as "Very High" fire severity zone for potential risk to large-scale wildland fires. Treatment Methods: CAL FIRE hand crews will perform manual fuel reduction work utilizing hand tools and chainsaws. The cut vegetation will be chipped and scattered. Lopping, piling and burning for slash disposal may also be used. Vegetation within 50 feet on both sides of the road ( or to fence line whichever is nearest) will be targeted for removal. Much of this project (over 75%) is brush removal, with a small component of thinning live (IO-inch diameter and under), removing dead and downed trees, while maintaining an overstory of healthy leave trees consisting of foothill pine and oaks. Trees to be retained shall be those over 10 inches in diameter with their branches pruned up to 8 feet above ground level and a shall have a minimum live crown ratio of 30%. Location: The western Sacramento Valley Foothills adjacent to the California Coastal Range. Elevations range from 1,000 to 3,000 feet. The vegetation is characterized by chamise chaparral and oak woodlands. Toomes Camp Road is located west of the town of Paskenta and travels west into the GOast range gaining elevation rapidly in the direction of the Mendocino National Forest boundary. Timing: Work is subject to weather, anticipated to begin early to mid-spring 2020.
Contact Information
Name
Dawn Pedersen
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Tehama
Base
MDB&M
Other Location Info
T23N R7W, Sec. 2 & 3, T24N R7W, Sec. 25, 33, 34, 35 & 36.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304(i) - Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under portions of Class 4 Section 15304 (c) & (t)-Minor alterations to Land Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that would preclude the use of a notice of exemption for this project. The Department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland or timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, 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 or traffic, or to utilities and service systems. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE's Tehama-Glenn Unit Headquarters.