Westminster Woods Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025070735
Public Agency
Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District
(GRRCD)
Document Title
Westminster Woods Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/18/2025
Document Description
The project is located near the town of Occidental, CA, approximately 1.5 miles North of the post office. The purpose of the project is to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest resilience on approximately 25 acres. Project area slopes are moderate, with generally east-facing aspect. Vegetation (in descending order of prominence) is primarily redwood, California bay-laurel, tanoak, Douglas-fir, coast live oak and associated species. Treatments will target roughly 30-300 trees per acre with the majority of trees to be treated ranging from 4-6” DBH for removal and follow-up treatment involving piling or chipping of residual material. Treatments in all units will cut down trees within contract specification (all under 12” DBH), and this material will either be scattered to a height not to exceed 18” off the ground, chipped, or piled for habitat or later burning at the landowner's expense. Some areas may be masticated where equipment remains on established road systems. Some trees larger than 12”DBH may be treated, but these trees shall be limited to those determined to be dying or an imminent hazard due to either Sudden Oak Death disease (Phytophthora ramorum) or otherwise determined and marked by a Registered Professional Forester or their qualified designee. Work will largely be completed using hand crews. Operational limitations for watercourses shall include a no operation buffer without clearance from a qualified Registered Professional Forester or qualified biologist determining non-presence of species listed under the Federal or State Endangered Species Act; these limitations shall take place within 50 feet for Class II watercourses and 75 feet for Class I watercourses for side slopes under 50%; side slopes over 50% shall include an additional 25-foot buffer.
Contact Information
Name
Adriana Stagnaro
Agency Name
Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Forestry Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Occidental
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
6510 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, CA 95465
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15304 Minor Alteration to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project is exempt because the planned activities meet the definition of “forestry” in PRC§753, and have been reviewed and approved by a Registered Professional Forester in consultation with experts from other pertinent fields who have attested that the activities proposed in this project will only have the potential for at most impacts that are less than significant to the environment, having provided adequate measures for avoidance of sensitive environmental resources. Project activities will not involve the removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees, and will not result in a substantial alteration of the current function of the land. Project specific analysis is on file at the RCD.
County Clerk
Sonoma
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.