Idyllwild Right of Way Fuel Reduction. Project 23-WP-RRU-58300485
Summary
SCH Number
2025060198
Public Agency
Idyllwild Fire Protection District
Document Title
Idyllwild Right of Way Fuel Reduction. Project 23-WP-RRU-58300485
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/5/2025
Document Description
The Idyllwild Fire Protection District will implement a project identified in the San Jacinto Mountains Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The Districts project name is the Idyllwild Public Easements and Right-of-Ways, the project description is identify and remove fuels from public easements and rights-of way, including walking paths and utility easements. The District has identified 269 acres of easements and right-of-ways that need to be evaluated and treated. Reducing fuel loading will ensure safe evacuation routes during a wildfire. Some areas in the District have a significant ground and ladder fuel load increasing the potential for devastating crown fires. The brush fields adjacent to and intermixed with the timber component can easily transfer a fire front into the timber. This reduction in fuel will also provide for firefighter safety during suppression operations on a wildfire.
Contact Information
Name
Jim LaMont
Agency Name
Idyllwild Fire Protection District
Job Title
Battalion Chief
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Name
Casey Gnadt
Agency Name
Idyllwild Fire Protection District
Job Title
Fire Captain-Fuels Resources Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Countywide, Southern California, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Idyllwild Fire Protection District Boundaries
Zip
92549
Total Acres
269
Jobs
12
State Highways
243
Township
5S
Range
2E
Section
13
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Categorical Exemption Section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under portions of 15304- Minor Alterations to Land. The project will consist of removing surface and ladder fuels to create a shaded fuel break condition. The project will remove hazardous fuels from public easements and rights-of-ways, including walking paths and utility easements.. The project will not involve the removal of mature or scenic trees. Stand health will be improved by removing dead, dying, and suppressed trees and brush, and increasing growing space for mature, healthy dominant and co- dominant trees. Sensitive species will not be impacted by the proposed project. The project was designed to avoid adverse impacts to watercourses. Chipping will leave a layer of organic material that will provide for excellent erosion control. The project was carefully designed to avoid adverse impacts to archaeological resources. The project was designed to reduce hazardous fuel loading in a strategic location that will make the community more resilient regarding wildfires. Review by Idyllwild Fire Protection Staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. The District 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, populations and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/ traffic, utilities and service systems, or to wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the District is kept on file at the Idyllwild Fire Protection District office.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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