Stumpfield Fuel Break Maintenance (SNC 1814)
Summary
SCH Number
2026060291
Public Agency
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Document Title
Stumpfield Fuel Break Maintenance (SNC 1814)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/8/2026
Document Description
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) would provide funding to the Mariposa Fire Safe Council (MFSC) to maintain an existing shaded fuelbreak in a very high severity fire risk zone originally permitted and funded by CAL FIRE in 2019. The project involves maintaining an existing strategic fuelbreak that extends approximately 3 linear miles along an established road corridor. Vegetation treatment will occur within 150 feet of the road centerline. Hand crews will remove dead and downed material and regrowth up to 10” in diameter, and chip or remove slash. Vegetation treatment will be performed exclusively using chainsaws, hand tools, and portable woodchippers. No off-road heavy equipment, tracked or wheeled machinery, masticators, bulldozers, or excavators will be used. Chippers and support vehicles will remain on existing roadways or previously disturbed surfaces. Work will occur within the existing 192-acre fuel break footprint. A cultural monitor from the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation will be on call during this project to protect known archeological sites. Maintaining this fuelbreak is critical for firefighter access and staging to fight wildfire.
Contact Information
Name
Andy Fristensky
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Job Title
Field Operations & Grants Division Chief
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Barbara Cone
Agency Name
Mariposa Fire Safe Council
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Location
Cities
near Bootjack and Elliot Corner
Counties
Mariposa
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
Along both sides of Stumpfield Mountain Road from SR 49 (37.43679, -119.79162) to the western boundary of USFS land (37.306929, -119.821291) and Watt Rd from Stumpfield Mountain Rd (37.368778, -119.807322) to the northern boundary of the Maria Wilson Indian Allotment (BIA) (37.374686, -119.825857) in Mariposa County, CA
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal.Code Regs.Tit.14 (CEQA Guidelines), section 15304; Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
The CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4, provides that projects that consist of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation, which do not involve removal of mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes, are exempt from CEQA environmental documentation requirements, provided no exceptions apply. The minor alterations to vegetation proposed by the project involve hand-implemented vegetation removal for maintenance of an existing shaded fuelbreak. No new access routes or staging areas will be constructed. The project includes standard best management practices and is not in a location or involves activities that would have a significant effect on resources. The SNC reviewed the project activities and determined that the project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4, and none of the exceptions to the exemptions apply to the project.
County Clerk
Mariposa
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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