North Bay Forest Improvement Program - Gregory Bondi
3 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025100163
Public Agency
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
North Bay Forest Improvement Program - Gregory Bondi
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/6/2025
Document Description
Approximately 7.2 acres are to be treated and split into 3 units. Project objectives will promote fire-resilient forest structure by retaining dominant and codominant trees with full crowns, reducing inter-crown fuel connectivity, and preserving canopy cover to limit brush encroachment. Additionally, the project will establish a strategic ridgeline control feature to support future prescribed burning efforts across the property. Units 1 and 2 will include understory thinning, pruning treatment, and follow up slash treatment. A minimum of 70% of trees less than or equal to 4in DBH - including California bay, tanoak, coast live oak, and Douglas-fir - shall be removed. At least 50% of trees within the 4-8in DBH cohort from these species shall also be removed to achieve target spacing and reduce ladder fuels. All residual trees greater than or equal to 20 feet in height shall be pruned from ground level to a height of 8-10 feet, maintaining at least 50% of the live crown to ensure tree vigor Is not compromised. Unit 3 will include brush management and follow up slash treatment. Treatments shall focus on removing the majority of brush biomass lo achieve substantial fuel reduction and operational access. Brush shall be spaced such that separation between individual shrubs is up to two times the shrub height, with a goal of eliminating ladder fuels and improving firefighter mobility. All slash generated by the project shall be piled by hand or machine into piles approximately 6 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. Larger woody material (greater than or equal to 6 inches in diameter at the small end) may be left on the forest floor if in direct contact with the soil and not adjacent to the boles of residual trees.
Contact Information
Name
Adam Coleman
Agency Name
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Forestry Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Willits
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Northern California
Zip
95490
Township
T17N
Range
R14W
Section
11
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4; California Code of Regulations; Title 14; Code 15304
Reasons for Exemption
This project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Minor Alterations to Land. The exemption applies to fuel management
activities including pruning, brush management, slash abatement, and understory thinning to reduce hazardous fuels. The project is exempt because the planned
activities meet the definition of "forestry" in Public Resources Code §753, and have been reviewed and approved by a Registered Professional Forester in consultation
with experts from other pertinent fields. 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. The project will reduce hazardous fuels, improve species composition, and promote forest resilience without changing the overall land
use or function of the site. Project-specific review has determined that no significant environmental effects will occur, with adequate measures provided for protection of
sensitive resources. Project-specific analysis is on file at the Resource Conservation District.
County Clerk
Mendocino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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