PL-566 North Fire Break and Emergency Access Maintenance Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025090567
Public Agency
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Document Title
PL-566 North Fire Break and Emergency Access Maintenance Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/12/2025
Document Description
This project would involve mastication of fuels along a ~4 mile ridgeline road segment of the North Fuel Break portion, mostly located in Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Preserve and small portions of Mt. Chual Open Space. Authority staff will conduct a pre-construction survey for any special status plant species and nesting birds. No vegetation in drainages will be removed, as the work is located along the ridgetop. An excavator with masticator attachment would grub woody fuels along both sides of the road for a distance of 20’ from the road edge (or less, depending on slope), as well as remove any vegetation that has grown in the road since the last maintenance cycle. A designated fire watch will follow the equipment with a fire extinguisher. After the initial mastication, a 6-person crew will reduce smaller fuels using chainsaws and other hand-equipment for the length of the project. This work is proposed for the spring, summer, and fall of 2026 with the possibility of additional work needed to be done in the spring and summer of 2027.
Contact Information
Name
Aaron Herbert
Agency Name
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Job Title
Natural Resources Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Cities
Morgan Hill, San Jose
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
Countywide
Cross Streets
Casa Loma Road and Twin Creeks Road
Zip
95141
Waterways
Llagas Creek
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1 15301 Existing Facility
Reasons for Exemption
This project maintains sections of an existing fuel break that has been regularly maintained since the late 1980s. No expansion of the fuel break is proposed.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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