VCPBA Oak Woodland Conservation 2025-2029
2 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025091342
Public Agency
Ventura County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
VCPBA Oak Woodland Conservation 2025-2029
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/30/2025
Document Description
The Ventura County Prescribed Burn Association (VCPBA) seeks to reintroduce prescribed fire—through both broadcast and pile burns—across three distinct oak forest types in Ventura County, California. In close partnership with the local Chumash community and broader Indigenous collaborators, the VCPBA is working to restore the practice of Good Fire to these fire-adapted landscapes. The Chumash and Tataviam peoples have an expansive history using fire as a cultural and ecological stewardship tool to maintain the health of native plant communities. Centuries of fire suppression and the disruption of Indigenous land management have contributed to the loss of old-growth oaks, particularly in the wake of recent high-severity wildfires. When mature oaks are lost--especially Valley Oaks--it can take over 200 years for new trees to reach comparable maturity and ecosystem function, including canopy coverage and acorn production. This project aims to reduce the risk of old-growth oak mortality by using prescribed fire to manage hazardous understory fuels and deadwood, protect oak cambium, and lower wildfire risk for nearby communities. Additional objectives include identifying and mitigating threats from the invasive Golden-Spotted Oak Borer, expanding collaborative learning, training, and capacity-building opportunities between VCPBA and Indigenous land stewards.
Contact Information
Name
Kevin Mason
Agency Name
Ventura County Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Fire Preparedness Coordinator
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Ojai, Simi Valley, Ventura
Counties
Ventura
Regions
Countywide
Total Acres
>100
Jobs
4
Parcel #
035019002; 035020005; 030013010; 030013004; 001018001; 615014003; 615014001; 620004002;234005033
Other Information
also parcel 035019005 is included.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Minor alteration to land, Section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
This project involves minor brushing, thinning, chipping, pile burning, and broadcast burning to improve oak forest health by addressing GSOB and by reducing potential for cambium kill and canopy fire. Chainsaw crews will primarily operate outside of bird nesting season (Sep--Nov). If saw work is conducted within bird nesting season (Feb--Aug), avian biologists will be consulted to prevent a "bird take" and ensure compliance within the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This project will reduce the risk of fire spread, protecting communities of people and critical ecosystems. No impacts to hazardous or critical resources and no cumulative effects from successive projects will occur. The District finds that this project does not have the potential to significantly degrade environmental factors, such as aesthetics, agriculture/forestry, long-term air quality, biological/cultural/tribal resources, geology/soils, greenhouse gases, hydrology/water quality, land use, minerals, population, public services, recreation, transportation, or utilities and is therefore, categorically CEQA exempt.
County Clerk
Ventura
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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