Douds Fuels Reduction Project – DAVIES Unit; USFS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT 23-CA-11051600-014
Summary
SCH Number
2026061029
Public Agency
Calaveras County Water District
(CCWD)
Document Title
Douds Fuels Reduction Project – DAVIES Unit; USFS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT 23-CA-11051600-014
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/23/2026
Document Description
The Douds Fuels Reduction-Davies Unit Project ("Project'') is approximately 3 miles east of Avery and in Calaveras County, CA. It will maintain a critical portion of the Highway 4 Wildfire Defense System which runs from Vallecito on the west to Camp Connell on the east. This project will treat flammable fuels with herbicides on approximately I 63 acres on the rim of the North Fork Stanislaus River Canyon on the land oflna Davies Properties, LLC, POB 102, Avery CA 95224 c/o Mary Fowler. The elevation range is between 3,200 and 3,800 feet. Reducing fuels in the project area will provide protection to the Highway 4 communities from fires emanating from the North Fork Stanislaus River Canyon (historical fire patterns). The project area is located within the Cal Water Hydrologic Unit 18040010; Stanislaus River. Situated on the rim of the North Fork Stanislaus River, the project is integral to the Highway 4 Strategic Wildfire Defense System. The project area proposes to apply herbicide on approximately 163 acres of private land to maintain the Last Chance Fuel break. The site includes a mixture of Sierran hardwood and conifer species. The fuels reduction treatment will occur as follows:
• Herbicide will not be applied inside the Watercourse and Lake Protection Zone;
• All herbicide applications will follow California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and label directions;
• Herbicide will be applied by manual (hand) methods, prescribed by a licensed Pest Control Advisor.
Contact Information
Name
Michael Minkler
Agency Name
Calaveras County Water District
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Arnold/Avery
Counties
Calaveras
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
The Douds Fuels Reduction-Davies Unit Project (“Project”) is approximately 3 miles east of Avery
Zip
95223
Total Acres
163
Jobs
2
Parcel #
30-002-001
State Highways
Hwy 4
Railways
none
Airports
none
Schools
Avery Middle School
Waterways
North Fork Stanislaus River
Township
T4N
Range
R153
Section
17
Other Location Info
Three miles east of A very, CA
USGS - Stanislaus USGS 7.5 min quadrangle
Portions of Section 17 T4N, RI 5E, MDBM;
Lat/Long: 38.19822, -120.35266
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Type/Section: Class 4, §15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under the description for a Class 4 Categorical Exemption to CEQA. An environmental review was conducted to confirm that no exceptions apply which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. This review included on-the- ground field inspections by a Registered Professional Forester in the Spring of 2026. Project input was solicited to CA Department of Fish and Wildlife and Regional Water Quality Control Board; no project-related input was received from either Agency. The Calaveras County Water District 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, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, wildfire or to utilities and service systems. Documentation of the environmental review completed by CCWD is kept on file at 120 Toma Court, San Andreas, CA 95249.
County Clerk
Calaveras
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.