San Rafael Hill and Deer Valley Fuel Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025060794
Lead Agency
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
(MWPA)
Document Title
San Rafael Hill and Deer Valley Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
MND - Mitigated Negative Declaration
Received
Present Land Use
Parks/Open Space District & Public/Quasi-Public District
Document Description
The City of San Rafael Fire Department (SRFD) is proposing a Marin Wildfire-funded Core Project, referred to as the San Rafael Hill and Deer Valley Fuel Reduction Project (proposed project). The proposed project involves conducting vegetation management activities within Boyd Memorial Park, also known colloquially as San Rafael Hill, and within the Deer Valley open space area in the city of San Rafael. Of the 122 acres of total treatment area, 79.1 acres would be treated within the San Rafael Hill open space area and 42.9 acres would be treated within the Deer Valley open space area. The proposed project would create fuel reduction zones to slow wildfire spread, reduce wildfire intensity, extend the time residents would have to evacuate, and provide firefighters with better access to the fire’s perimeter should a wildfire occur. Removal of fire-hazardous, invasive species and dead vegetation in the fuel reduction zones would be intended to reduce fire hazards to the adjacent community and restore these areas to more natural and fire-resilient habitat.
Contact Information
Name
Anne Crealock
Agency Name
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
Job Title
Planning and Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Name
Caitlin Gilleran
Agency Name
Panorama Environmental, Inc.
Job Title
Senior Manager
Contact Types
Consulting Firm
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
San Rafael
Counties
Marin
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Smith Ranch Road and Silveira Parkway; Robert Dollar Drive and Laurel Place
Zip
94901
Total Acres
122
Parcel #
Not listed
State Highways
US 101
Railways
N/A
Airports
N/A
Schools
N/A
Waterways
Estuarine/coastal waters, wetlands, San Rafael/Gallinas Creeks, and other drainages
Township
2N
Range
6W
Section
33, 16
Base
N/A
Other Location Info
The proposed project is within two City of San Rafael-owned and managed open spaces. The San Rafael Hill fuel reduction zone is located north of the city’s downtown commercial district and approximately 0.2 mile west of U.S. 101. The San Rafael Hill fuel reduction zone contains the Boyd Memorial Park and the Falkirk Cultural Center (formerly the Robert Dollar Estate). Parcels surrounding the San Rafael Hill site primarily consist of residential properties and the Elks Lodge.
The Deer Valley fuel reduction zone is located along the north boundary of the city of San Rafael and south of the St. Vincent community. The Deer Valley fuel reduction zone is bounded by residences to the north, west, and south of the project site. The Las Gallinas Golf Club is approximately 230 feet east of the project site.
Notice of Completion
State Review Period Start
State Review Period End
State Reviewing Agencies
California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3 (CDFW), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marin Region 7 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, California Department of Transportation, District 4 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Fish and Game Commission (CDFGC), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region 2 (RWQCB), California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), California State Lands Commission (SLC), San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality
Development Types
Other (Vegetation Management)
Local Actions
Project approval and IS/MND adoption
Project Issues
Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Energy, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire
Public Review Period Start
Public Review Period End
Attachments
Draft Environmental Document [Draft IS, NOI_NOA_Public notices, OPR Summary Form, Appx,]
Notice of Completion [NOC] Transmittal form
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.