West Hopland Staation Shaded Fuel Break Project
1 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026061035
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
West Hopland Staation Shaded Fuel Break Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/24/2026
Document Description
The purpose of this 240-acre project is to reduce wildfire risk, improve egress and support fire suppression activities directly west of the town of Hopland. The project area is bound to the east by State Highway 101, with the Hopland municipal water supply tank upslope, and consists of undeveloped and developed parcels with both residential and commercial buildings. This project aims to reduce fuels along 1.7 miles of existing roads, 1.0 mile of jeep trails, and forested areas within the project area. The north end of the jeep trail is accessed via Hewlitt Sturtevant Road off HWY 101. The south end of the project is accessed via Feliz Creek Road. Vegetation consists of primarily oak woodland and madrone forest with large patches of mature French broom. Fuel reduction activities will involve thinning understory vegetation while minimizing the spread of French broom, which could lead to an increased fire hazard. Work will be completed using mechanical and manual treatment methods. Hand crews will employ chainsaws, pole saws, weed whackers, and hand tools to remove small trees, brush, surface fuels, and small branches. Live trees =12” DBH will be thinned, and larger trees pruned to a 14-ft vertical clearance. Slash will be chipped, piled and burned, or masticated. Track chippers and masticators will be limited to slopes =35%, except on stable existing tractor roads and jeep trails. Dead, dying, or hazardous trees of any size that pose a risk to roadways, people, or infrastructure will be removed. The project includes long-term maintenance of fuel loading and hazard tree removal as needed, and maintenance of broom infested areas.
Contact Information
Name
Natalie Easton
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Job Title
Forester I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Hopland
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Northern California
Total Acres
240
Township
T13N
Range
R12N
Section
13, 2
Base
MDM
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, 15304
Reasons for Exemption
The project meets the requirements of a CEQA Article 19 Class 4 Categorical exemption “Minor Alterations to Land” (Section 15304, Public Resources Code) as the proposed fuel management activities entail understory brush removal, 12-inches DBH or less tree removal, thinning, pruning, chipping, mastication, pile burning, and dead/tree removal to improve access and reduce volume of flammable vegetation. As such, CAL FIRE 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, utilities, and service systems, or to wildfire. No exceptions apply (Section 15300.2) which would preclude the use of a Notice of Exemption for this project. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit, 802 N. Main Street. Attn. VMP Coordinator.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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