Norton Younglove Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026060051
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Norton Younglove Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/2/2026
Document Description
CAL FIRE Riverside Unit (RRU) will be conducting fuels management activities via prescription (Rx) burning. The purpose of this project is twofold; burning of the landscape will accommodate training needs for emergency services personnel and assist the land management team of Riverside County Parks and Open Space District (RIVCO Parks) with habitat rehabilitation efforts. Rx burning will reduce non-native noxious weeds and grass within 190 acres on RIVCO Parks land, known as the Norton Younglove Habitat Reserve. The project area is heavily inundated with non-native native grasses that have accumulated into a dense thatch layer. This treatment aims to reduce not only the current non-native annuals but also the seed bank, so in time, the native forbes and annuals can have opportunity to outcompete the non-native species. The entire project area will be treated with Rx fire except for areas that require control lines, are biologically sensitive, and/or historical/culturally sensitive. Control lines are manually installed fuel breaks along the project boundary and serve the purpose of containing the fire activity within the designated treatment area and can measure 4-6ft wide. These control lines are installed by fire crews with hand tools such as shovels, mccleods, pulaskies, rakes, etc. These tools are used to scrape and clear vegetation down to bare surface soil and, if needed, can be rehabilitated after firing operations have ceased.
Contact Information
Name
Lynnette Short
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Job Title
Unit Forester
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Beaumont, Moreno Valley
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Total Acres
190
Other Location Info
El Casco
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 §15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under one class of Categorical Exemptions to CEQA: Class 4(d) (Minor Alterations to Land). This project will conduct treatments on land that has been previously disturbed for the purpose of Emergency Services Personnel training and habitat rehabilitation. 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. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE’s RRU Headquarters in Perris, CA.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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