Big Sandy Wildlife Area Grassland Restoration
Summary
SCH Number
2026060849
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4
(CDFW)
Document Title
Big Sandy Wildlife Area Grassland Restoration
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/18/2026
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the assistance of Cal Fire and the California Conservation Corps plans to apply prescribed fire on approximately 350 acres of the Big Sandy Wildlife Area to achieve ecological restoration and enhancement goals and to reduce fuel loading to minimize wildfire risk. The prescribed burn area is the grasslands between Indian Valley Road and Highway 101. Tall fuels, comprised of yellow star thistle and other invasive weeds, will be cut and piled or crushed prior to burning to ensure combustion when necessary. Fire control lines will be created with and tie into existing features that function as fuel breaks, such as the existing roads.
Contact Information
Name
Brandon Swanson
Agency Name
CDFW
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
San Luis Obispo
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Four miles northwest of San Miguel on the east side of Highway 101
Other Location Info
The project is located at the Big Sandy Wildlife Area, four miles northwest of San Miguel on the east side of Highway 101, in San Luis Obispo County.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 7; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15307 and 757(7)(D)
Reasons for Exemption
This project is a regulatory agency action for protection of natural resources, specifically reduction of shrubs and invasive weed cover that are degrading the native coastal prairie grassland. Title 14, Section 757(7)(D) specifically includes controlled burning for habitat productivity as an exempt activity for CDFW. None of the exceptions in Section15300.2 apply.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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