Mark West Creek and Wetland Restoration Project (Restoration Management Permit No. RMP-2026-0036-R3)
Summary
SCH Number
2026090873
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3
(CDFW)
Document Title
Mark West Creek and Wetland Restoration Project (Restoration Management Permit No. RMP-2026-0036-R3)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/21/2026
Document Description
On September 18, 2026, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) issued this Restoration Management Permit (RMP) pursuant to section 1670 of the Fish and Game Code to Sonoma County Regional Parks. This Project includes management or propagation activities intended to benefit native fish, wildlife, plants, or their habitat, or a combination thereof. Through the installation of beaver dam analogues, biotechnical bank stabilizations, large wood loading, upper watershed process-based restoration, and removal and modification of fish passage barriers, the Project is expected to restore a variety of aquatic, riparian, wetland, and floodplain habitats. These restoration benefits include enhancing streamflow and wetlands, elevation of groundwater levels, reduced erosion and improved water quality, restored habitat for salmonids, and restored watershed function and resiliency. Completion of the Project will benefit multiple native species including of the central California coast (CCC) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), CCC Distinct Population Segment (DPS) steelhead (O. mykiss), north coast DPS foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), and northwestern pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata). CDFW has determined that the Project is a Qualifying Restoration Project pursuant to section 1671(d)(1) of the Fish and Game Code, and the Project is expected to result in a substantial, cumulative benefit to native fish, wildlife, and their habitat.
Contact Information
Name
Michael Stuhldreher
Agency Name
CA Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Minona Heaviland
Agency Name
Sonoma County Regional Parks
Job Title
Natural Resources Park Program Supervisor
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Santa Rosa
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Other Location Info
The approximately 19-acre Project includes 12 sites located in the upper Mark West Creek watershed within the 1,192-acre Mark West Creek Regional Park & Open Space Preserve in unincorporated Sonoma County, northeast of Santa Rosa, State of California; Latitude 38.549024 and Longitude -122.704189; and Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 079-090-008-00, 079-090-016-000, 079-090-014-000, 028-060-062-000, 028-060-063-000, 028-060-058-000, 028-060-064-000, 028-060-053-000, 028-060-067-000, 028-070-036-000, 079-090-015-000, 028-060-066-000, 028-060-056-000, 028-060-054-000, 028-060-047-000, 028-060-048-000.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Public Resources Code section 21080.56
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.56. Under Public Resources Code section 21080.1, subdivision (a), the lead agency is responsible for determining whether a project is exempt from CEQA, and that determination is final and conclusive on all persons, including responsible agencies. Notwithstanding Section 21080.1, subdivision (a), a lead agency’s determination that a project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.56 is only valid if the exemption determination is made after the Director of CDFW has concurred with the lead agency’s preliminary determination that the project meets certain qualifying criteria set forth in Public Resources Code section 21080.56, subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive.
On October 22, 2025, the County of Sonoma, acting by and through its Regional Parks Department made a preliminary determination that the Project meets certain qualifying criteria set forth in Public Resources Code section 21080.56, subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive. On December 8, 2025, the Director of CDFW concurred with the County of Sonoma, acting by and through its Regional Parks Department preliminary determination. On January 6, 2026, the County of Sonoma, acting by and through its Regional Parks Department as CEQA lead agency made a final determination that the Project meets certain qualifying criteria set forth in Public Resources Code section 21080.56, subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, and the County of Sonoma, acting by and through its Regional Parks Department determined that the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.56. CDFW, now acting as a CEQA responsible agency for the issuance of the RMP on September 18, 2026, is bound by the County of Sonoma, acting by and through its Regional Parks Department determination on January 6, 2026, that the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.56.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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