Huttopia Fuels Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026010953
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Huttopia Fuels Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/28/2026
Document Description
The Huttopia Fuels Reduction project is located on property owned by Huttopia Paradise Springs Properties LLC is located within the community of Paradise Springs in Los Angeles County. Huttopia is a recreational camp that rents cabins and yurts for public camping. The project is in a high desert vegetation community. Ponderosa Pine, Jefferey pine, Pinyon Pine, scrub oak and black oak. Understory shrub species include a variety of desert chaparral. The elevation of Huttopia is approximately ~4800 feet. The project goal is to reduce wildfire risk to infrastructure located on the property and to nearby homes on State Responsibility Area (SRA) by reducing vertical and horizontal fuel continuity and for emergency vehicle access during wildfires and for project access. The project area consists of the removal of hazardous fuels within the property. Work will be accomplished using CAL FIRE crews, hand tools, chainsaws and chippers. Work will be limited to within 100 feet of existing structures and campsites. Dead/dying trees will be removed regardless of size except to meet wildlife habitat needs. All vegetation within the drip-line of residual trees will be removed. Brush will be thinned to create a mosaic of islands of vegetation of various shapes and sizes. A minimum distance of two and half times the brush height will be cleared between the islands of vegetation. Cut material will be chipped and deposited onsite. Vegetation that is not pilled for use as firewood will be chipped utilizing tow behind or tracked chippers. Chips will be scattered to a depth of no more than two-four inches, will not cover more than 75% of the ground, and will be kept at least three feet from the base of residual trees. Cut material may also be cut into firewood size lengths and stacked next to the side of the road. Large diameter hazardous trees that are cut may have their main stem left intact on the ground to meet down and woody wildlife requirements. If trees that are cut are found to be infested with bark beetles, the main stem will be left on the ground or cut into firewood size length and stacked. The stems and the wood stacks will be covered with six mil clear plastic to control the spread of the beetles. No pile burning will occur within this project. All ground based equipment will be operated from existing roads or disturbed areas (i.e. landings). No new roads will be constructed.
Contact Information
Name
David Haas
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Job Title
Forester II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Paradise Springs
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Total Acres
18.5
Township
4N
Range
9W
Section
34
Base
SBB&M
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 §15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project meets the requirements of Class 4 Categorical Exemption (Minor alterations to land) Section 15304: Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. As described above, project implementation will result in alterations to the land that are best described as minor in scope. 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/timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, energy, 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/ traffic, utilities and service systems, or to wildfire. Documentation of the environmental review completed is kept on file at the address above.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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