North Bay Forest Improvement Program - Kirsten Johnsen
Summary
SCH Number
2026050405
Public Agency
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
North Bay Forest Improvement Program - Kirsten Johnsen
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/11/2026
Document Description
Approximately 8 acres are to be treated. The project consists of hand treatment to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health within Treatment Units 2 and 3. Activities include thinning small diameter Douglas-fir, tanoak, and Pacific madrone, lopping, slash piling, and pile burning. Most removals will target trees less than 8 inches DBH to reduce surface and ladder fuels, improve spacing, release healthy residual trees, and protect retained deciduous oaks. In Unit 3, treatment will also focus on substantial reduction of small tanoak to decrease understory density and disrupt vertical fuel continuity. Limited removal of selected trees greater than 8 inches DBH may occur where necessary to improve stand structure, reduce hazardous fuel continuity, or address defective or unsafe stems. Slash will be either scattered to applicable treatment standards or piled in stable locations away from drainages, creek areas, retained tree boles, and oak canopies for later burning under legal burn conditions. The purpose of the project is to reduce wildfire hazard, improve stand resilience, and promote a safer, healthier, and more maintainable forest conditions. The beneficiaries of the project include the landowner, adjacent properties, and the public through reduced fire risk and improved watershed and forest conditions.
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
Name
Kirsten Johnsen
Agency Name
The Landowner
Job Title
The Landowner
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Ukiah
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Northern California
Parcel #
51-230-04
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 Class 4 Categorical Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Minor Alterations to Land. The exemption applies to fuel management and forest improvement activities, including selective removal of vegetation, where the work does not involve the removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees and does not result in a substantial alteration of land use. Treatments will be limited to selective hand and mechanical thinning of suppressed and stagnant regeneration, with slash piled for burning or arranged to reduce fuel continuity. The project will reduce hazardous surface and ladder fuels, improve spacing among residual stems, and promote forest resilience without changing the overall land use or function of the site. Project-specific review has determined that no significant environmental effects will occur, with adequate measures provided for protection of sensitive resources. Project specific analysis is on file at the RCD.
County Clerk
Mendocino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.