Ukiah West Hills Gateway Trail Fire-Hardening
Summary
SCH Number
2026030985
Public Agency
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Ukiah West Hills Gateway Trail Fire-Hardening
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/24/2026
Document Description
The project involves manual vegetation treatment along approximately 27.7 acres of the existing Gateway Trail corridor in the City of Ukiah. Activities include the use of hand tools to thin small-diameter understory vegetation, lop-and-scatter of cut material, hand-piling, and prescribed pile burning. No ground disturbance, grading, or use of heavy mechanized equipment is proposed. The purpose of the project is to reduce hazardous fuel loading and vertical fuel continuity within the wildland-urban interface, thereby reducing wildfire risk and improving defensible space along the trail corridor. The primary beneficiaries of the project include nearby residents, recreational trail users, and the broader Ukiah community through reduced wildfire risk, improved public safety, and enhanced forest health and resilience.
Contact Information
Name
Doug Turk
Agency Name
Mendocino County RCD
Job Title
Forestry Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Helen and Redwood Avenues
Zip
95482
Total Acres
27.7
Parcel #
00-319-017-00, 00-319-011-00, 00-319-008-00, 00-350-019-00, 00-350-014-00, and 00-326-001-00
State Highways
101
Airports
Ukiah Municipal Airport
Schools
Nokomis, Grace Hudson, Yokayo Elementary Schools
Waterways
Doolan Creek
Township
T15N
Range
R12W
Section
30
Base
MDM
Other Location Info
West Ukiah Hills
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 – Minor Alterations to Land (Section 15304)
Reasons for Exemption
The project qualifies for a Class 4 Categorical Exemption (Section 15304) because it consists of minor alterations to land involving vegetation management using hand tools, with no ground disturbance, grading, or expansion of existing use. Activities are limited to thinning of small-diameter vegetation, lop-and-scatter, hand-piling, and prescribed pile burning within an existing trail corridor. The project will not result in significant impacts to environmental resources, as it avoids sensitive habitats, does not involve removal of mature trees, and will not cause substantial soil disturbance, erosion, or slope instability. All work will occur using non-mechanized methods, and prescribed burning will be conducted under the supervision of the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority in accordance with applicable permitting requirements. The project is located in an area that is not environmentally sensitive and will not result in a cumulative impact or unusual circumstances that would cause a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, none of the exceptions to the use of categorical exemptions identified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply.
County Clerk
Mendocino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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