BALTIMORE RAVINE SHADED FUEL BREAK
INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
CITY OF AUBURN, CALIFORNIA
Prepared for:
City of Auburn Fire Department
1225 Lincoln Way
Auburn, CA 95603
Prepared by:
Mason, Bruce & Girard, Inc.
707 SW Washington Street, Suite 1300
Portland, Oregon 97205
(503) 224-3445
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January 15, 2025
Funding for this project provided by Cal Fire’s Wildfire Prevention Grants Program
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Contents
I. REGULATORY CONTEXT ...................................................................................................................1
1.1 Stage of CEQA Document Development ...................................................................................1
1.2 Regulatory Guidance .........................................................................................................................1
1.3 Initial Study Purpose and Comment Period.......................................................................................1
1.4 Mandatory Findings of Significance...................................................................................................2
II. INTRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ...........................................................................2
2.1 Project Location .................................................................................................................................2
2.2 Project Need, Background, and Objectives.......................................................................................2
2.3 Project Description.............................................................................................................................2
2.3.1. Mastication ................................................................................................................................4
2.3.2. Hand Thinning ...........................................................................................................................5
2.3.3. Pile Burning ...............................................................................................................................6
2.3.4. Herbicide Application.................................................................................................................6
2.3.5. Prescribed Grazing....................................................................................................................6
2.4 Current Land Uses, Planning, and Previous Impacts........................................................................6
2.5 Other Agency Involvement ................................................................................................................8
2.6 Analysis Methodology and Assessment Area ...................................................................................8
III. ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE .............................................................................................................8
3.1 Vegetation Types...............................................................................................................................8
3.2 Topography and Soils: .....................................................................................................................11
3.3 Hydrology.........................................................................................................................................13
IV. EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ..............................................................................15
4.1 Analysis of Impacts to Aesthetics ....................................................................................................15
4.1.1. Discussion ...............................................................................................................................15
4.1.2. Mitigations ...............................................................................................................................19
4.1.3. Conclusion...............................................................................................................................19
4.2 Analysis of Impacts to Agriculture and Forestry Resources............................................................19
4.2.1. Discussion ...............................................................................................................................21
4.3 Analysis of Impacts to Air Quality ....................................................................................................21
4.3.1. Discussion ...............................................................................................................................22
4.3.2. Mitigations ...............................................................................................................................23
4.3.3. Conclusion...............................................................................................................................23
4.4 Analysis of Impacts on Biological Resources ..................................................................................24
4.4.1 Special Status Animals.............................................................................................................26
4.4.2 Special Status Plants ...............................................................................................................41
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4.4.3 Sensitive Natural Communities ................................................................................................46
4.4.4 Wetlands...................................................................................................................................46
4.4.5 Fish and Wildlife Movement Patterns.......................................................................................47
4.4.6 Local Policies and Ordinances .................................................................................................47
4.4.7 Habitat Conservation Plans......................................................................................................47
4.4.8 Conclusion................................................................................................................................47
4.5 Analysis of Impacts on Cultural Resources .....................................................................................47
4.5.1 Discussion ................................................................................................................................48
4.5.2 Mitigations ................................................................................................................................48
4.5.3 Conclusion................................................................................................................................49
4.6 Analysis of Impacts to Geology and Soils .......................................................................................49
4.6.1 Discussion ................................................................................................................................50
4.6.2 Mitigations ................................................................................................................................51
4.6.3 Conclusion:...............................................................................................................................52
4.7 Analysis of Impacts to Energy .........................................................................................................52
4.7.1 Discussion ................................................................................................................................54
4.8 Analysis of Impacts to Greenhouse Gas Emissions........................................................................54
4.8.1 Discussion: ...............................................................................................................................54
4.8.2 Mitigations ................................................................................................................................56
4.8.3 Conclusion................................................................................................................................56
4.9 Analysis of Impacts to Hazards and Hazardous Materials ..............................................................56
4.9.1 Discussion ................................................................................................................................58
4.9.2 Mitigations ................................................................................................................................58
4.9.3 Conclusion................................................................................................................................59
4.10 Analysis of Impacts to Hydrology and Water Quality ....................................................................59
4.10.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................60
4.10.2 Mitigations ..............................................................................................................................60
4.10.3 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................62
4.11 Analysis of Impacts to Land Use and Planning .............................................................................62
4.11.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................63
4.12 Analysis of Impacts to Mineral Resources.....................................................................................63
4.12.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................64
4.13 Analysis of Impacts to Noise..........................................................................................................64
4.13.1 Discussion: .............................................................................................................................65
4.13.2 Mitigations ..............................................................................................................................65
4.13.3 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................65
4.14 Analysis of Impacts to Population and Housing ............................................................................65
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4.14.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................66
4.15 Analysis of Impacts to Public Services ..........................................................................................66
4.15.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................67
4.16 Analysis of Impacts to Recreation .................................................................................................67
4.16.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................67
4.17 Analysis of Impacts to Transportation/ Traffic ...............................................................................68
4.17.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................69
4.18 Analysis of Impacts to Tribal Cultural Resources ..........................................................................69
4.18.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................70
4.18.2 Mitigations ..............................................................................................................................70
4.18.3 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................70
4.19 Analysis of Impacts to Utilities and Service Systems ....................................................................70
4.19.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................72
4.20 Wildfire ...........................................................................................................................................72
4.20.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................72
4.21 Mandatory Findings of Significance...............................................................................................73
4.21.1 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................74
REFERENCES ...........................................................................................................................................74
APPENDIX A - MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PLAN ..................................................77
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I. REGULATORY CONTEXT
1.1 Stage of CEQA Document Development
☐ Public Document. This completed CEQA document has been filed by the City of Auburn at
the State Clearinghouse on October 9, 2024 and is being circulated for a 30-day state agency
and public review period. The review period ends on November 8, 2024.
☒ Final CEQA Document. This final CEQA document contains changes made considering
comments received during the public and agency review period.
1.2 Regulatory Guidance
The City of Auburn Fire Department, acting as CEQA Lead Agency, is proposing to implement
the Baltimore Ravine Shaded Fuel Break (“Project”) on 212 acres of land between Interstate 80
and the City of Auburn at Baltimore Ravine. The purpose of the Project is to reduce, modify, and
manage fuels with the goal of enhancing mitigation efforts during a wildland fire. The Project aims
to protect human life and public and private resources through fuels reduction.
This Initial Study – Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS-MND) describes the environmental impact
analysis conducted for the Project and evaluates potential environmental effects that could result
from Project implementation. This report follows the State CEQA Guidelines which are codified at
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, Sections 15000-15387, to
demonstrate compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; Public Resources
Code 21000-21189).
1.3 Initial Study Purpose and Comment Period
The purpose of the IS-MND is to present to the public and reviewing agencies the environmental
consequences of Project implementation, and to describe adjustments made to the project to
reduce effects to a less-than-significant level. The IS-MND is being circulated for public and state
agency review and comment for a 30-day review period as indicated on the Notice of Intent to
Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (NOI) filed with the State Clearinghouse. The review
period begins on October 9, 2024 and ends on November 8, 2024.
The requirements for providing an NOI are found in CEQA Guidelines Section 15072. They
require that the lead agency (City of Auburn) post the NOI with the county clerk, send the NOI to
relevant trustee agencies, and circulate the NOI using one of the following procedures:
Publication in a newspaper circulated in the area affected by the proposed project,
Posting of the NOI on and off site in the area where the project will be located, or
Direct mailing to the owners and occupants of property contiguous to the project.
The City of Auburn has elected to utilize the direct mailing option, along with posting the NOI on
site. An electronic version of the NOI and CEQA document may be viewed here:
www.auburn.ca.gov/421/Public-Notices
Comments regarding the Project’s potential environmental effects may be submitted to the
contact below. Comments must be received via email or postmarked prior to November 8, 2024
to be considered by the City of Auburn. Comments will be considered, after which the City may
(1) adopt the MND and approve the Project, (2) undertake additional environmental studies; or
(3) abandon the project.
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.