Lighthouse Road Emergency Protection Measures - Post Mile 3.4 - 4.0
Summary
SCH Number
2026080787
Public Agency
Humboldt County
Document Title
Lighthouse Road Emergency Protection Measures - Post Mile 3.4 - 4.0
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/21/2026
Document Description
The project entails emergency protection work that consists of streambank stabilization and bioengineering techniques. During the declared disasters in 2023, 2024 and 2025 Lighthouse Road experienced significant flooding from the Mattole River which resulted serious roadway and embankment failures. Humboldt County Public Works is proposing to repair almost 0.5 mile of roadway and embankment as well as provide protection from future roadway failure due to localized flooding of the Mattole River. The project also proposes to protect further streambank failure downstream which could jeopardize a multi-million dollar restoration project immediately downstream of the project location.
Contact Information
Name
Andrew Bundschuh
Agency Name
Humboldt County Public Works
Job Title
Environmental & Compliance Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Name
Morgan Wright
Agency Name
State Coastal Conservancy
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Petrolia
Counties
Humboldt
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
Lighthouse Road
Zip
95558
Parcel #
105-031-028, 105-031-027, 105-031-032, 104-183-010
Waterways
Mattole River
Other Location Info
between Post Miles 3.4 - 4.0.Lighthouse Road is located off Mattole Road just south of Petrolia
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15269(a)
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15269(a) exempts “projects to maintain, repair, restore, demolish, or replace” property damaged as a result of a disaster in an area in which the Governor has proclaimed a state of emergency pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act. The Governor proclaimed disasters in the project area in 2023, 2024, and 2025, when Lighthouse Road experienced significant flooding from the Mattole River, which resulted in serious roadway and embankment failures. The proposed project will repair approximately 1000 feet of roadway and 2,000 feet of embankment and provide protection from future roadway failures from flooding and storm surges.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15269(c)
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15269(c) exempts specific short-term actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency. The proposed project will prevent further erosion and collapse of .5 miles of embankment that buttresses a public road.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301
Reasons for Exemption
The project is also categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Title 14 CCR Section 15301, which exempts the operation, repair, and maintenance of existing public or private structures or facilities, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or formal use. The proposed roadway will be located on the same footprint as the previous roadway and will substantially have the same purpose and capacity of the roadway replaced.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15269 (a-d)
Reasons for Exemption
The project mentioned herein falls under Article 18 Statutory Exemptions and Categorical Exemption Class 1 (Existing Facilities) under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15269 (a-d) and 15301. This exemption applies to emergency projects where State disaster(s) have been declared by the Governor of California as well as existing facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. There are no unusual circumstances or historical resources that would make this exemption inapplicable.
County Clerk
Humboldt
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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