TinderSmart Tehama Phase III (RCDTC Project #138-4)
Summary
SCH Number
2025060584
Public Agency
Resource Conservation District of Tehama County
(RCD-TC)
Document Title
TinderSmart Tehama Phase III (RCDTC Project #138-4)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/12/2025
Document Description
TinderSmart Tehama: Phase Ill (Project) will integrate several proactive
hazardous fuel reduction strategies to treat 720 acres across urban,
woodland, shrubland, and forested landscapes in several communities in
Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones throughout
Tehama County (SRA & LRA). The purpose of the project is to.enable the RCDTC and its' partners to provide defensible space assistance around homes and to conduct vegetative fuels reduction in drainages and sloughs, which will help reduce wildfire intensity and rate of spread to protect people, property, infrastructure, and habitat within wildfire threatened communities in Tehama County. This multi-component Project was developed in collaboration with the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County (RCDTC), Red Bluff Fire Department (RBFD), and several Fire Safe Councils and Firewise communities to prioritize management needs. The Project is composed of several sub components including: Component A is a continuation of the RCDTC's Defensible Space Assistance program, which will create defensible space for 375 properties/acres across the county; Component B consists of 60 acres of hand thinning in drainages in Lake California; Component C covers 50 acres of mastication and hand thinning along roadsides in Manton; Component D includes 50 acres of mastication and hand thinning in Paynes Creek Slough; Component E comprises 50 acres of mastication and hand thinning in East Sand Slough and Samson Slough; and Component F consists of 135 acres of mastication and hand thinning by the RBFD and lshi Conservation Camp crews in drainages within Red Bluff City limits. Vegetative fuels will be treated using an array of methods such as chipping, mastication, herbicide and hand thinning. 1 of3 LEAD AGENCY CONTACT PERSON ADDRESS Project Locations - Please see map for more specific locations. " .. • • • • Component A: Defensible Space Assistance: Various households located in WUI communities and SRA throughout Tehama County. Component B: Lake California Drainages: Drainages and vegetated land adjacent to and surrounding Lake Ca POA land and community in North - Central Tehama County. Component C: Manton Roadside Fuel Break: roadsides in and around Manton WUI Community located in Northeastern Tehama County. Component D: Paynes Creek Slough Fuel Reduction: Paynes Creek Slough located East of Red Bluff, Ca near Antelope Blvd. Component E: East Sand Slough and Samson Slough Maintenance: Samson Slough and East Sand Slough drainages East of Red Bluff, Ca adjacent to Antelope Blvd. Component F: City of Red Bluff Drainages: urban drainages inundated within City of Red Bluff limits - Situated East and Southeast of Red Bluff, Ca. Beneficiaries of project will include various residents and stakeholders of Tehama County as well as TCPW and RBFD.
Contact Information
Name
Drew Barnhart
Agency Name
Resource Conservation District of Tehama County
Job Title
Project Manager II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Name
Missi Elliott
Agency Name
Resource Conservation District of Tehama County
Job Title
Project Coordinator
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Manton, Paynes Creek Slough (East Red Bluff), Lake California , Red Bluff, Tehama
Counties
Tehama
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
Eastside Tehama County Roadside Right-of- Way /Easements (Reference included Maps)
Zip
96080
Total Acres
720
Jobs
10
Parcel #
Not applicable
State Highways
1-5, SR 36, SR 99, HWY 44
Railways
Union Pacific, BNSF, CFNR
Airports
Red Bluff Airport
Schools
Manton Elementary, Red Bluff Elementary/High School district
Waterways
Digger Creek, North Fork Battle Creek, Millseat Creek, Bailey Creek, Sacramento River, Red Bank
Township
27N
Range
3W
Section
32
Base
MDB&M
Other Location Info
Lake California, WUI Communities, Beneficiaries of project will include various residents and stakeholders of Tehama County as well as TCPW and RBFD.
Project Locations - Please see map for more specific locations.
Component A: Defensible Space Assistance: Various households
located in WUI communities and SRA throughout Tehama County.
Component B: Lake California Drainages: Drainages and
vegetated land adjacent to and surrounding Lake Ca POA land
and community in North - Central Tehama County.
Component C: Manton Roadside Fuel Break: roadsides in and
around Manton WUI Community located in Northeastern Tehama
County.
Component D: Paynes Creek Slough Fuel Reduction: Paynes
Creek Slough located East of Red Bluff, Ca near Antelope Blvd.
Component E: East Sand Slough and Samson Slough
Maintenance: Samson Slough and East Sand Slough drainages
East of Red Bluff, Ca adjacent to Antelope Blvd.
Component F: City of Red Bluff Drainages: urban drainages
inundated within City of Red Bluff limits - Situated East and
Southeast of Red Bluff, Ca.
Other Information
The purpose of the project is to.enable the RCDTC and its' partners to
provide defensible space assistance around homes and to conduct
vegetative fuels reduction in drainages and sloughs, which will help
reduce wildfire intensity and rate of spread to protect people, property,
infrastructure, and habitat within wildfire threatened communities in
Tehama County.
This multi-component Project was developed in collaboration with the
Resource Conservation District of Tehama County (RCDTC), Red Bluff Fire
Department (RBFD), and several Fire Safe Councils and Firewise
communities to prioritize management needs. The Project is composed of
several sub components including: Component A is a continuation of
the RCDTC's Defensible Space Assistance program, which will create
defensible space for 375 properties/acres across the county; Component
B consists of 60 acres of hand thinning in drainages in Lake California;
Component C covers 50 acres of mastication and hand thinning along
roadsides in Manton; Component D includes 50 acres of mastication and
hand thinning in Paynes Creek Slough; Component E comprises 50 acres
of mastication and hand thinning in East Sand Slough and Samson
Slough; and Component F consists of 135 acres of mastication and hand
thinning by the RBFD and lshi Conservation Camp crews in drainages
within Red Bluff City limits. Vegetative fuels will be treated using an array
of methods such as chipping, mastication, herbicide and hand thinning.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 §15304 (e) Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
Based on the scope of work, project context, environmental controls, and location, this project qualifies for a CEQA Notice of Exemption (NOE) under Public Resources Code, Division 13, Chapter 6, Article 19, Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land due to the fact that the project involves minor changes to the land that don't have a significant or adverse environmental impact. The rationale to qualify for this exemption criteria is all work occurs within prior disturbed landscapes that have been subject to either transient activity, County Maintenance, land/community development, or prior fuels reduction activity. These areas have already been subject to historical maintenance, fuels reduction activities, sporadic use of herbicide and prior disturbance.
• A CNDBB Search will be conducted for identification of relevant sensitive
environmental species. An archeological records check and/or appropriate tribal
consultation will be conducted for identification of Project adjacent cultural resources
for preservation and avoiding disturbance. The NWI inventory was consulted for
watercourse identification. CDFW LSAA or equivalent permit will be acquired prior to
work commencement.
• RCDTC and RBFD personnel will be auditing project operations to ensure no additional ground disturbance is conducted. Additionally, an RCDTC Wildlife Biologist and/or team will be conducting necessary bird, bat and/or ancillary surveys as needed.
County Clerk
Tehama
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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