California State University East Bay Rare Plant Research Garden
Summary
SCH Number
2026050514
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning
(CDFW)
Document Title
California State University East Bay Rare Plant Research Garden
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/13/2026
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is issuing a California Endangered Species Act and Native Plant Protection Act permit pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 2081(a) to Green Biome Institute (Permit No. 2081(a)-25-008-RP) for a project that will take cuttings of Pine Hill flannelbush and Pine Hill ceanothus to propagate plants for installation in a rare plant research garden at CSUEB. The garden will serve as an educational demonstration garden of California rare plants, and as an ex-situ research garden to provide plant tissue donor material for ongoing genomic sequencing and molecular biology studies. Collection of plant material for the Project is expected to occur in 2026 or 2027. Approximately four to five leaf stem cuttings will be collected from Pine Hill flannelbush and Pine Hill ceanothus wild populations and transferred to GBI laboratory facilities for propagation. All cuttings will be treated with rooting hormone and planted into sterile pots, placed in the campus greenhouse facilities, and watered regularly. Propagules will be monitored routinely for health and growth. Once the plants reach approximately eight to ten inches in height, they will be transplanted into one-gallon containers. After the one-gallon containers are well established, plants will be outplanted into the research garden. Long term maintenance of the garden will be managed by GBI and campus gardening staff.
Contact Information
Name
Joanne Heraty
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservation Planning Branch
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist- Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Joanna Garaventa
Agency Name
California State University East Bay Green Biome Institute
Job Title
Staff Scientist
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Hayward
Counties
Alameda, El Dorado
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
Collection of plant material for the California State University East Bay Rare Plant Research Garden (Project) may occur in El Dorado County within the Pine Hill Ecological Preserve, which is owned and managed by CDFW. Additional collections may take place at three locations along Pine Hill Road, near Pineoakyo Court in the town of Rescue, and along El Dorado Highway.
These collection areas correspond to California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Element Occurrence (EO) 1 for Pine Hill flannelbush (Fremontodendron decumbens) and CNNDB EO 4 for Pine Hill ceanothus (Ceanothus roderickii). Propagation and outplanting activities will occur in Alameda County at the CSUEB campus, located at 25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard in Hayward, California.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15306, Class 6, and 15307, Class 7
Reasons for Exemption
The Project consists of basic research and management activities that will provide education and research opportunities for rare plant conservation and genetic studies. The permit issued by CDFW for the Project includes measures to ensure that existing populations of Pine Hill flannelbush and Pine Hill ceanothus are adequately protected.
County Clerks
Alameda, El Dorado
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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