Strengthening the California Schoolyard Forest System
Summary
SCH Number
2025110486
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Strengthening the California Schoolyard Forest System
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/13/2025
Document Description
This project will improve, expand, and coordinate urban forestry throughout the Southern California region and statewide by advancing the goals of the California Schoolyard Forest System (CASFS). The project will employ
many strategies including providing professional development and technical assistance services to school districts. As part of this effort, we will create a sub-grant program to provide funding for five school districts that participate in these programs to implement "Schoolyard Forest Action Plans." One requirement of these sub-grants will be that each district plant a pilot schoolyard forest - a small grove of climate-adapted trees, designed to nurture and protect students from extreme heat and to build social and environmental resilience. Pilot sites will be determined based on need, site constraints, and readiness. A minimum of 50 trees will be planted across 5
urban school sites.
Contact Information
Name
Walter Passmore
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
State
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Cities
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Counties
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Regions
Countywide, Statewide
Other Information
San Bernadino, Orange, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 Categorical Exemption Section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
This project meets the requirements of Class 4 Categorical Exemption (Minor Alterations to Land) Section 15304. Project implementation will result in alterations to the land that are best described as minor in scope. It has been concluded that no
exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. The Department has concluded that no significant adverse environmental impacts will occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forest resources, 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, populations and housing, public services, recreation, transportation
and traffic, utilities and service systems, or wildfire risk. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE’s Headquarters in Sacramento.
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.