First Amendment to the Western Joshua Tree Relocation Guidelines and Protocols
Summary
SCH Number
2025051264
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning
(CDFW)
Document Title
First Amendment to the Western Joshua Tree Relocation Guidelines and Protocols
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/28/2025
Document Description
In July 2024, CDFW adopted relocation guidelines and protocols to relocate western Joshua trees successfully. In May 2025, CDFW approved the Amended Relocation Guidelines. CDFW developed the Amended Relocation Guidelines based on the best available science, in consultation with desert native plant specialists, consistent with the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. The Amended Relocation Guidelines discuss the circumstances in which CDFW would consider requiring relocation of one or more western Joshua trees as permit conditions in incidental take permits issued under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. The Amended Relocation Guidelines also describe how and when western Joshua trees should be relocated in order to minimize impacts to populations, prevent habitat fragmentation, and preserve connectivity corridors for gene flow and pollinator migration.
Contact Information
Name
Andrew Kaiser
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning Branch
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Counties
Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Riverside, San Bernardino, Tulare, Ventura
Regions
Countywide, Unincorporated
Other Location Info
The range of western Joshua tree includes part or all of the following counties: Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Ventura, Riverside, Tulare, San Bernardino.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15307
Reasons for Exemption
DFW finds the adoption of the Amended Relocation Guidelines to be exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15307, which sets forth the Class 7 categorical exemption. Class 7 “consists of actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law . . . to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.” (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15307.) CDFW’s wildlife preservation activities are expressly enumerated as falling within Class 7. (Ibid.) As discussed above, CDFW’s amendment of the Western Joshua Tree Relocation Guidelines is authorized by the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. The Amended Relocation Guidelines discuss the circumstances in which CDFW would consider requiring relocation of one or more western Joshua trees as permit conditions in incidental take permits issued under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. They also describe how and when western Joshua trees should be relocated to maximize the chances of success. The Amended Relocation Guidelines are designed to ensure the maintenance, restoration, and enhancement of western Joshua trees, including by minimizing impacts to populations, preventing habitat fragmentation, and preserving connectivity corridors for gene flow and pollinator migration. In addition, they complement and support, and will be incorporated into, the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan.
County Clerks
Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Riverside, San Bernardino, Tulare, Ventura
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.