Knollwood Hazard Tree Removal Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026080239
Public Agency
San Luis Obispo County
Document Title
Knollwood Hazard Tree Removal Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/10/2026
Document Description
The project area is primarily overstory of planted blue gum eucalyptus trees and understory of veldt grass. Significant number of these trees are dead and/or dying, increasing the already heavy fuel load. Project will use a combination of equipment (chippers, excavator feller-buncher, skid-steer) and hand crews to remove dead/dying trees and downed fuel accumulations. Dead/dying trees will be cut by excavator feller-buncher and transported to small landings to be chipped on-site. Piled chips will likely used for landscaping purposes. Hand crews will thin dense brush, collect down woody fuel and prune live trees, with slash being chipped with remote-control tracked chipper and spread evenly on-site.
The project hazardous tree removal activities will be directed by the County Fire Safe Council.
Contact Information
Name
Alan Peters
Agency Name
SLO County Fire Safe Council
Job Title
Authorized Agent
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Name
Alicia Parker
Agency Name
County Of San Luis Obispo
Job Title
Division Manager - Planning
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Nipomo
Counties
San Luis Obispo
Regions
Southern California, Unincorporated
Total Acres
80.38
Parcel #
091-202-036, 091-202-034, 091-202-033
Other Location Info
Knollwood at Black Lake; Nipomo, South of Willow Road, East of Sun Dale Way, North of Dawn Road, West of Westwind Way. USGS Quad: OCEANO, CA
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
{Sec. 15301}; Class: 1 and Class: 4 {Sec. 15304}
Reasons for Exemption
The project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption (Class 1 and 4) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities, and 15304, Minor Alterations to Land, because the project consists of hazardous tree removal using a combination of equipment (chippers, excavator feller-buncher, skid-steer) and hand crews to remove dead/dying trees and downed fuel accumulations. Additionally, treatment activities will include fuel clearance within 100 feet of residential structures and there is no proposed grading or earthwork.
The project has been reviewed by a qualified biologist for the potential presence of areas which may support rare, threatened, and endangered species and other environmentally sensitive habitats, and avoidance and minimization measures will be implemented to ensure there will be no potential impacts to sensitive plant and animal species. Avoidance and minimization measures include:
• Survey sensitive natural communities and other sensitive habitats prior to hazardous tree removal
• Avoid crushing any manzanita brush if seen (none was seen during survey).
• Avoid ground disturbing work during flowering/seed set for Pismo clarkia from April 1 to August 31 so allow seeds to set. This will also protect many breeding birds
• Conduct raptor nest searches before implementation.
• In general, minimize the amount of soil disturbed by heavy machinery.
• Only use hand crews in the protected live oak area.
• Avoid cutting willows to protect bird breeding habitat
Additionally, the project will utilize best management practices that are intended to avoid and minimize environmental impacts and comply with applicable laws and regulations.
The parcels are not located in an area which may have an impact on an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern which is designated, precisely mapped and officially adopted by a federal, state or local agency. Further, there are no unusual circumstances surrounding the project as the proposed project consists of general hazardous tree removal activities commonly implemented for fire prevention/protection.
The proposed project does not impact any scenic resources for any officially designated scenic highways. The proposed project is not located on a site which is included on any hazardous waste site list compiled pursuant to Gov. Code § 65962.5. The proposed project does not involve or does not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. The proposed project will not impact cultural resources as there is minimal ground disturbance associated with the tree removal activities. All projects funded by CAL FIRE follow the archeological program procedures which include Cultural Resource Training and there is a plan in place for the protection of inadvertent archeological discoveries. Further, parcels are not known to contain cultural resources based search of the California Historical Resources Information System.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
This project is also covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this project may have a significant effect on the environment; therefore, the activity is not subject to CEQA. [Reference: State CEQA Guidelines sec. 15061(b)(3), General Rule Exemption].
County Clerk
San Luis Obispo
Attachments
Draft Environmental Document [Draft IS, NOI_NOA_Public notices, OPR Summary Form, Appx,]
Notice of Exemption
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