Butte Unit Station 35 Fuels Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025100905
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Butte Unit Station 35 Fuels Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/20/2025
Document Description
This project will reduce fuels and control the spread of invasive broom on an approximately 11-acre CAL FIRE parcel in the Town of Paradise. The parcel is located off Forest Service Rd. and Moore Rd in the northern end of Paradise, Butte County. This parcel is forested with a maximum slope of 16% and an elevation of around 2100’. The project area is located within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which identifies this area of high risk for large scale wildland fires. The project area was impacted in the 2018 Camp Fire. This high severity burn caused an explosion of invasive woody perennials on the station’s parcel that this project intends to mitigate. This project will utilize herbicide application with the intent to control woody perennials and eradicate invasive broom species (Genista monspessulana, Cytisus scoparius and Spartium junceum). All three broom species have a California Invasive Plant Council rating of high. These species have severe ecological impacts on physical processes, plant and animal communities, and vegetation structure as well as attributes that are conducive to moderate to high rates of dispersal and establishment. Treatment methods will include hand cutting, heavy equipment operation, mastication, herbicide application, burn unit preparation and burning. Hand cutting will be conducted using hand tools and chainsaws to thin live trees, remove hazard and down trees, and remove ladder fuels. Live trees greater than 16 inches diameter breast height will be reviewed by a Registered Professional Forester or designee prior to removal. Felled trees may be moved offsite by heavy equipment, no commercialization of forest products will occur. Herbicide application will be applied in accordance with applicable Department of Pesticide Regulations. Cut vegetation may be chipped, lopped and scattered, broadcast burned or piled and burned. Existing fire control lines will be maintained, and additional may be implemented as necessary to ensure safe operations.
Contact Information
Name
Calvin Davison
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Cities
Paradise
Counties
Butte
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
Forest Service Road & Moore Road
Zip
95969
Total Acres
11
Parcel #
050-070-040-000
Other Location Info
1464 Forest Service Rd, Paradise
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 15304 - Minor Alterations to Land, Class 1 1662.1 - Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under portions of Class 4 § 15304 - Minor alterations to Land, and Class 1 § 1662.1 Existing Facilities. Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that would preclude the use of a notice of exemption for this project. The Department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland or timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, 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 or traffic, or to utilities and service systems. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Office, 2535 Zanella Way, Chico CA 95928.
County Clerk
Butte
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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