Vanauken Creek Habitat Enhancement Project (Restoration Management Permit No. RMP-2026-0030-R1)
Summary
SCH Number
2026060165
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northern and Eureka Region 1
(CDFW)
Document Title
Vanauken Creek Habitat Enhancement Project (Restoration Management Permit No. RMP-2026-0030-R1)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/4/2026
Document Description
On June 3, 2026, The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) issued this Restoration Management Permit (RMP) pursuant to section 1670 of the Fish and Game Code to Sanctuary Forest, Inc. This Project includes management or propagation activities intended to benefit native fish, wildlife, plants, or their habitat, or a combination thereof. The Project is expected to improve habitat for coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and steelhead?(O. mykiss) in Vanauken Creek, an important salmon bearing tributary in the Mattole?River headwaters, by addressing limiting factors, including low summer stream flows, poor summer?rearing habitat, and the lack of winter refuge habitat. The Project has three primary objectives: (1) Instream and floodplain habitat enhancement; (2) streamflow enhancement; (3) and forest thinning and riparian habitat enhancement. CDFW has determined that the Project is a Qualifying Restoration Project pursuant to section 1671(d)(1) of the Fish and Game Code, and the Project is expected to result in a substantial, cumulative benefit to native fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. This notice is to advise that CDFW issued the above-described RMP on the date signed below.
Contact Information
Name
Corrina Kamoroff
Agency Name
CA Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Walker Wise
Agency Name
Sanctuary Forest, Inc
Job Title
Representative
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Whitethorn
Counties
Humboldt
Regions
Northern California
Total Acres
63.65
Parcel #
215-162-018, 215-162-021, 215-162-022
Waterways
Vanauken Creek, Mattole River Watershed
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
21080.1, 21080.56
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.56. Under Public Resources Code section 21080.1, subdivision (a), the lead agency is responsible for determining whether a project is exempt from CEQA, and that determination is final and conclusive on all persons, including responsible agencies. Notwithstanding Section 21080.1, subdivision (a), a lead agency’s determination that a project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.56 is only valid if the exemption determination is made after the Director of CDFW has concurred with the lead agency’s preliminary determination that the project meets certain qualifying criteria set forth in Public Resources Code section 21080.56, subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive.
On May 23, 2024, the Humboldt County Planning and Building Department (HCPBD) made a preliminary determination that the Project meets certain qualifying criteria set forth in Public Resources Code section 21080.56, subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive. On June 19, 2024, the Director of CDFW concurred with the HCPBD’s preliminary determination. On July 17, 2024, the HCPBD as CEQA lead agency made a final determination that the Project meets certain qualifying criteria set forth in Public Resources Code section 21080.56, subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, and determined that the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.56. CDFW, now acting as a CEQA responsible agency for the issuance of the RMP on June 3, 2026, is bound by the HCPBD’s determination on July 17, 2024, that the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.56.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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