North Bay Forest Improvement Program - 67465 Elkhorn Ranch LLC
Summary
SCH Number
2026040195
Public Agency
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
North Bay Forest Improvement Program - 67465 Elkhorn Ranch LLC
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/6/2026
Document Description
Approximately 15.5 acres will be treated for forest health and wildfire risk across 4 treatment units, plus a 25-acre reforestation treatment in a 5th unit. *Project objective is to improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and improve hardwood forest conditions.* Units 1–4, totaling 15.5 acres, will focus on thinning and fuel reduction treatments to improve forest health and increase wildfire resilience. Treatments will prioritize retention and protection of deciduous oaks. Trees and brush located beneath deciduous oak driplines or within 20 feet of the dripline will be thinned to reduce competition and support oak vigor. The majority of trees targeted for removal will be Douglas-fir =8 inches DBH. Resulting slash will be piled and burned. Desired future conditions for Units 1–4 include improved spacing among residual trees, reduced Douglas-fir dominance, increased vigor of retained deciduous oaks, and reduced horizontal and vertical fuel continuity across the stand. Reforestation will occur within Unit 5, which encompasses approximately 25 acres on APN 033-120-4500 (40-acre parcel). This unit will focus on establishing and promoting a new cohort of hardwoods. A total of 12 MacNab cypress will be planted, and approximately 30 existing deciduous oak seedlings will be caged to protect against herbivory and support successful recruitment. Desired future conditions for unit 5 include expansion of hardwood forest conditions, variable spacing among trees, and establishment of a young cohort of deciduous oaks to serve as the next age class.
Contact Information
Name
Ned Formaker
Agency Name
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Forestry Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Laytonville
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Northern California
Parcel #
011-900-4800, 011-900-4900, 033-120-4500
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4; California Code of Regulations; Title 14; Section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
This project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Minor Alterations to Land. The project is exempt because the planned activities meet the definition of “forestry” in Public Resources Code §753, and have been reviewed and approved by a Registered Professional Forester in consultation with experts from other pertinent fields. These experts have attested that the activities proposed in this project will only have the potential for impacts that are, at most, less than significant to the environment, with adequate measures provided to avoid sensitive environmental resources. Project activities will not involve the removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees, and will not result in a substantial alteration of the current function of the land. Project-specific analysis is on file at the Resource Conservation District.
County Clerk
Mendocino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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