Greenfield Ranch Roadside Shaded Fuelbreak
Summary
SCH Number
2025070677
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Greenfield Ranch Roadside Shaded Fuelbreak
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/16/2025
Document Description
The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council, in collaboration with CAL FIRE, will implement a shaded fuel break (SFB) project to reduce wildfire risk, aid in fire suppression activities, and promote forest health through fuel reduction treatments along residential roads at the Greenfield Ranch community. The project is located 6.0 miles northwest of the City of Ukiah and consists primarily of Douglas-fir forest and mixed oak woodland. The project is accessed via Orr Springs Road from the southwest, or via Main Ranch Road from the northeast. The SFB will be implemented over 183 acres along approximately 19.3 miles of roads, comprised of 18.7 miles of residential unsurfaced roads and 0.6 miles along Orr Springs Road, a public asphalt road. The SFB will extend out to 50-feet on either side of roads for roughly 13.0 miles for some sections, and out to 75-feet on most ridgetop roads for roughly 6.3 miles on other sections. Vegetation will be thinned and pruned using manual and mechanical treatment methods. Hand crews will employ chainsaws, pole saws, weed whackers, and hand tools to remove small trees, brush, surface fuels, and small branches. Live trees (=12” DBH) will be thinned and larger trees will be pruned to provide for a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet. Slash and debris will be chipped, piled and burned, masticated, or scattered. Within the 50-foot SFB section, slash and debris will be chipped or scattered, and chippers will remain on the roadway. Pile burning and mastication activities will be limited to the 75-foot SFB portion, where topography and slope restriction permits, with track chippers and masticators permitted to leave the roadway. This project includes maintenance of fuel loading and hazard tree removal as necessary.
Contact Information
Name
Monica Morris
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
unincorporated area
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Orr Springs Road, Main Ranch Road
Total Acres
183
Township
16N
Range
13W
Section
3
Base
MDM
Other Location Info
Portions of Sections 3, 4, 8,9,10,11,14,15,16,17,19,20,21,22,23,29,30
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, 15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project meets the requirements of a Class 4 Categorical exemption “Minor Alterations to Land” (Section 15304, Public Resources Code) CAL FIRE Staff 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, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, utilities, and service systems, or to wildfire. No exceptions apply (Section 15300.2) which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit, 802 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA. Attn. VMP Coordinator
County Clerk
Mendocino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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