(RFFCP2022) Tribal Capacity Building Subgrant - Cosumnes Culture and WaterWays (1731-RFFCP)
Summary
SCH Number
2026030869
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
(RFFCP2022) Tribal Capacity Building Subgrant - Cosumnes Culture and WaterWays (1731-RFFCP)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/20/2026
Document Description
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) will amend and augment grant agreement #1731-RFFCP (RFFCP2022) Tribal Capacity Building Subgrant - Cosumnes Culture and WaterWays (Project) with the Cosumnes Culture and WaterWays (Grantee) to allow additional grant funds to be used for capacity building efforts, project development, and completing a Traditional Ecological (TEK) cultural burn 14.9 acres and a 8.2 acre hand-built fuel break. The objective of the Project is the removal of "obnoxious weeds" allowing the rejuvenation of native cultural plants and grasses and establishment of a shaded fuelbreak. The Grantee will utilize Tribal hand crews to minimize ground disturbance to complete the implementation activities. In lieu of destructive mechanical ground disturbance, all work will be done using only hand tools. This "low-impact" approach protects the sensitive soil organics and archaeological integrity of the site. The Tribal hand crews will hand cut a fire line providing minimal soil disturbance. These hand lines will be no more than 4’ft wide and down to organic soils. Tribal stewards will selectively thin understory ladder fuels while maintaining the overstory canopy by hand thinning with chainsaws and felling operations. There is a cooperative Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) agreement (AEU VMP – Ladies Valley RX-North-048-AEU) with CALFIRE for fuels reduction treatments for fuel breaks and prescribed fire application across the property. While the VMP involves standard mechanical treatments and higher-intensity burns, CAL FIRE agreed to work with the tribes under the VMP agreement to support implementing vegetation treatments using the lower-impact TEK appraoch. All operations will be conducted under the authority of valid local burn permits, strictly adhering to Air Quality Management District (AQMD) smoke protocols and local fire regulations to ensure public safety and ecological integrity. The burn will be done under the guidance of a Cultural Burn Practitioner, in coordination with on-site qualified CAL FIRE personnel. All work will follow protective measures and standards identified in the VMP and under Forest Practice Rules.
Contact Information
Name
Mary Akens
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Job Title
General Counsel
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Kimberly Petree
Agency Name
Cosumnes Culture and WaterWays
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Cities
NW of Outingdale
Counties
El Dorado
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
Ladies Valley Land Preserve in South Central El Dorado County, near the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road and Oak Hill Road, approximately two miles Northwest of the city of Outingdale.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal.Code Regs.Tit.14 (CEQA Guidelines), section 15304; Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4, provides that projects that consist 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, are exempt for CEQA environmental documentation requirements, provided no exceptions apply. The Proposed Project will employ Tribal hand crews to remove "obnoxious weeds" through a 14.9 acre TEK cultural burn , allowing the rejuvenation of native cultural plants and grasses, and establish an 8.2 acre shaded fuel break utilizing hand thinning with chainsaws and felling operations, and pile burning. No heavy equipment will be used. All work will be done in partnership with CAL FIRE under the CAL FIRE approved cooperative Vegetation Management Plan agreement (AEU VMP – Ladies Valley RX-North-048-AEU), with qualified personnel, following identified resource protective measures, and under the authority of valid local burn permits, strictly adhering to Air Quality Management District (AQMD) smoke protocols and local fire regulations. The SNC reviewed the project and determined that the project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4, and none of the exceptions to the exemptions apply to the project.
County Clerk
El Dorado
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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