Fort Jones Fuel Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026040181
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Fort Jones Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/3/2026
Document Description
The project includes treatment of hazardous fuels on 325 acres of private land within and around the town of Fort Jones in Siskiyou County, including areas adjacent to State Route 3. The project includes establishment of a shaded fuel break up to 500 feet in width along a ridgeline complex on the east side of Fort Jones, as well as fuel reduction within densely vegetated areas extending from the eastern edge of Fort Jones up to the slope break. The project will reduce hazardous surface, ladder and crown fuels to improve ingress and egress for emergency responders, facilitate homeowner evacuations, and provide anchor points for wildfire suppression activities. Treatments will include thinning and removal of brush and trees less than 10 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) to achieve approximately 30-feet spacing between trees. Remaining trees will be limbed to approximately 8 to 12 feet above the ground, as appropriate. Dead, dying, diseased, or hazard trees of any size may also be removed. Treatments will be conducted using manual and mechanical methods including chainsaws, masticators, chippers, and machine piling. Removed vegetation will be chipped, masticated, or hand piled and burned. Following initial treatment, broadcast burning may be conducted. Existing roads, trails, and dozer lines within the project area will be used as control lines to the greatest extent possible. Where necessary, a dozer may be used to construct or reestablish control lines. Water bars or other drainage features will be installed as necessary to minimize erosion. Following initial treatments, maintenance activities will be conducted as needed to maintain desired vegetation conditions within the project area.
Contact Information
Name
Kristine Cloward
Agency Name
CAL FIRE
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Fort Jones
Counties
Siskiyou
Regions
Northern California
Total Acres
325
State Highways
3
Township
43N
Range
09W
Section
01
Other Information
East of HWY 3 adjacent to Fort Jones. Portions of Section 01, Township 43N, Range 09W, Section 36, Township 44N, Range 09W, and Section 02, Township 43N, Range 09W, MDBM
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4/15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project meets the requirements of CEQA Article 19 Class 4, Categorical Exemption “Minor Alterations of Land” (§15304, Public Resources Code). 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. No exceptions apply (Section 15300.2) which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit Headquarters located at 1809 Fairlane Road in Yreka, CA 96097.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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