Rumsey Prescribed Grazing
Summary
SCH Number
2026060339
Public Agency
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Rumsey Prescribed Grazing
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/9/2026
Document Description
Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD) is working with a qualified local grazing professional, a Certified Rangeland Manager, and private landowners to implement prescribed grazing with the purpose of reducing fire danger throughout the
community of Rumsey. The project area is in the valley floor of the Capay Valley along Highway 16 in predominantly historical agricultural land. The project sites range from moderate to very high fire severity and were selected for their high biomass, predominantly invasive grasses, and proximity to the community- additional sites in Rumsey may be added in upcoming years, if funding allows. Prescribed grazing will be implemented using goats and sheep to create a buffer of reduced vegetation, and grazing will be controlled and temporary. Grazing will be high-density, short duration grazing and sheep/goats will be rotated through smaller paddocks within the project sites. This grazing project adds to other fuels reduction work spearheaded by the RCD and local partners to create a managed buffers throughout/around Rumsey where fire approaching from the north, east or west would slow to provide better conditions for firefighting and protect evacuation routes. A Rangeland Management Plan was prepared by RCD and certified by a Certified Rangeland Manager.
A desktop review for Rumsey was conducted by RCD staff and included queries in the California Natural Diversity Database, iPAC, iNaturalist, and the California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Inventory. Thedesktop review resulted in an extensive list of potential resources that RCD staff have used to guide
their on-the-ground surveys. Site surveys identified potential sensitive resources, such as blue elderberry shrubs, wetlands and ephemeral drainages, and a great blue heron rookery. Elderberry shrubs within project footprints will be fenced off to create a 20-foot no disturbance buffer from the dripline. Appropriate buffers around wetlands and riparian areas will also be implemented to exclude sheep and goats from waterways. In regard to the great blue heron rookery, grazing will be timed when
great blue herons are no longer on-site. Based on the results of the desktop review and biological surveys, the project has been designed so it will not cause significant adverse impact to special status species with likelihood to occur near the project site.
Work may occur during nesting bird season. If work commences during nesting bird season (February 1st to September 15th), the project area will be surveyed for nesting birds by a qualified biologist, no more than one week before operations. If nesting birds are located, the RCD will develop measures to ensure no significant impact to species that are consistent with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Contact Information
Name
Christain Cain
Agency Name
Perennial Grazing
Job Title
Grazer
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Name
Heather Nichols
Agency Name
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Rumsey, CA
Counties
Yolo
Regions
Unincorporated
Parcel #
018290010, 060230012, 060230016, 060230017, 060' 220027, 060220025, 060220055, 060220006, 060220
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4 § 15304 Minor Alteration of Land
Reasons for Exemption
The project is not expected to cause ground disturbance and will occur in predominantly invasive grassland habitat that serves little to no habitat value for special status plants or animals in the region. Work is expected to be performed by a qualified contractor with biological and botanical monitoring
conducted by RCD staff. The project will not impact mature trees and will benefit habitat by decreasing likelihood of catastrophic fire and thinning understory vegetation which will decrease pressure from invasive weeds on native plant understory.
The project meets the requirements of Class 4 Categorical Exemption (minor alterations to land) Section 15304. Project implementation will result in alterations to the land that are best described as minor in scope, that will not significantly impact the aesthetic of the property, or biological and/or cultural resources, and that do not involve the removal of mature, scenic trees for any purpose. No exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a "Notice of Exemption" for this project. It has been concluded that no significant adverse environmental impacts would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forest resources, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, energy, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, mineral resources, noise, populations and housing, public services, recreation, transportation and traffic, or utilities and service systems.
County Clerk
Yolo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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