Heron Hill Hazard Mitigation

The proposed project is to improve public safety by removing risk-prone non-native trees along public roadways, power lines, and in the defensible space. The project area is a former house site in unincorporated Santa Venetia, bound by North San Pedro Road to the north, approximately 4 acres in size. The project area is characterized as a non-native forest type consisting of trees planted along the road, former driveway, and surrounding a concrete slab where the former house was demolished including eucalyptus, planted in windrows, Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), and acacia (Acacia ssp.). Understory species include French broom (Genista monspessulana) and poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum). A seasonal pond created by the construction of North San Pedro Road is located at the edge of the road. The proposed project would remove the non-native hazardous trees in the project area. Native trees would only be removed if identified as a fall hazard. There would be no restriction on diameter for invasive non-native or hazardous native tree removal. Herbicide would be applied to invasive species after cutting, either as a cut-stump or spray treatment. Work would be largely manual with chainsaws. Tracked or wheeled chippers, and a skidsteer, may be used in areas with adequate access. Material would be disposed of by chipping on-site or hauling away. Project implementation would begin in Fall 2026 and would be implemented as-needed based on tree assessments conducted by arborists or Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD) staff. Access for project implementation would be from North San Pedro Road and Heron Hill Fire Road. The proposed project would be implemented by contractors and funded by Measure A Wildfire Fuel Reduction. MCOSD would implement appropriate Best Management Practices (BMPs) consistent with the MCOSD’s Road and Trail Management Plan and Vegetation Biodiversity Management Plan including bird nesting surveys if project implementation occurs between February 1 and August 31, to ensure that no trees with active nests or rookeries would be removed and bat surveys yield negative results. All tree removal BMPs would be implemented. All tools, equipment, and clothing would be clean and free of dirt and vegetative material and treated with a 10 percent bleach solution after working to reduce the spread of sudden oak death. Implementation of the proposed project would not affect wetlands and/or surface waters including creeks, streams, lakes, San Pablo Bay or the seasonal pond. The invasive target trees do not occur in the vicinity of the seasonal pond and all cut or chipped material left on-site would be left outside of this area. No regulatory permit authorizations would be required because implementation of the proposed project would not affect jurisdictional waters or special-status species or habitats.