Dixie Fire South Emergency Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026080642
Public Agency
California Department of Transportation, District 2
(DOT)
Document Title
Dixie Fire South Emergency Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/19/2026
Document Description
The Dixie Fire has burned over 960,000 acres and has destroyed homes, caused the evacuation of residents, and damaged critical infrastructure in five counties in northern California. On July 23, 2021, Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to exist in Plumas, Butte, and Lassen counties due to the Dixie Fire. On August 10, 2021, Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to exist in Tehama County due to the Dixie Fire. As a result of the Dixie Fire, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), using state funding and federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Federal Highways Administration (FHWA), conducted emergency repairs within Caltrans’ right-of-way on State Route (SR) 70 from post mile (PM) 22 in Butte County to PM 45 in Plumas County. While emergency repairs were underway, a storm in October 2021 caused damage to SR 70 at various locations in Plumas County. A large landslide occurred within the burn scar at PM 0.05 and resulted in the full closure of SR 70 for several months. The work at PM 0.05 removed landslide debris from the roadway and shoulders, repaired damaged roadway and re-striped/re-marked the roadway as needed, replaced damaged guardrail, stabilized the hillside upslope of the roadway (the hillside stabilization work included blasting), placed rock-slope protection downslope of the roadway at PM 11.8 and repair of the road shoulder at PM 20.5, and provided traffic control. While emergency repairs were underway, a storm in July 2022 caused two large landslides on SR 70 in Plumas County at PM 11.98 (Opapee Creek) and at PM 12.63 (Murphy Creek) and three smaller landslides elsewhere in the vicinity. All of the landslides occurred within the burn scar of the Dixie Fire. The landslides at Opapee Creek and Murphy Creek resulted in the full closure of SR 70 for several weeks. Work at these locations removed landslide debris from the roadway and shoulders, repaired damaged roadway, and repaired damaged drainage facilities at Opapee Creek and Murphy Creek and restored stream channels at these creeks.
Contact Information
Name
Julie McFall
Agency Name
Caltrans District 2
Job Title
Branch Chief - RM2
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Quincy
Counties
Butte, Plumas
Regions
Northern California
State Highways
70
Other Location Info
The project is located on State Route 70 from post mile (PM) 22 in Butte County to PM 45 in Plumas County.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15269 (Emergency Projects)
Reasons for Exemption
The California Department of Transportation has determined the project to be statutorily exempt in accordance with Section 15269 (Emergency Projects) - (d) Projects undertaken, carried out, or approved by a public agency to maintain, repair, or restore an existing highway damaged by fire, flood, storm, earthquake, land subsidence, gradual earth movement, or landslide, provided that the project is within the existing right of way of that highway and is initiated within one year of the damage occurring.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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