Tribal-led Cultural Burns at Miossi Open Space and Johnson Ranch Open Space

The yak tit?u tit?u yak tilhini (ytt) Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region will conduct two culturally significant prescribed burns at Miossi Open Space and Johnson Ranch Open Space, both owned by the City of San Luis Obispo. The burn at Miossi Open Space will cover 13 acres, while the burn at Johnson Ranch Open Space will encompass 0.71 acres, as detailed in attached maps. The objective is to restore traditional tribal land stewardship practices, suppress invasive non-native plant species, and encourage the regeneration of native perennial bunchgrasses like purple-needle grass. Site preparation will be performed using mowers and hand tools, with ignition carried out using natural materials or conventional prescribed fire tools, depending on environmental conditions. The project will be led by a certified Cultural Burn Practitioner and executed under a formal burn plan, in close coordination with CAL FIRE and the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District, in compliance with California Senate Bill No. 310. Biological and botanical surveys confirm no sensitive plant or animal species are present in the project areas, and the effects of the burns are temporary and intended to be ecologically beneficial. The project has been determined eligible for a categorical exemption under CEQA §15304, which applies to minor alterations to land with no significant environmental impact, including restrictions on tree removal, grading on steep slopes, and disturbance of waterways or sensitive habitats. A Notice of Exemption has been filed with the City and County, and the City has claimed exemption from CDFW filing fees based on the absence of impacts to protected species. The City of San Luis Obispo is the lead agency responsible for oversight, with Robert Hill serving as the primary point of contact for administrative coordination. Although no formal contract value, payment terms, invoicing systems, or federal acquisition regulation clauses are specified, the project is structured as a forecast under the City’s procurement framework and relies on interagency collaboration and tribal leadership to ensure cultural and environmental integrity. No subcontracting, options, or federal certification requirements are identified, and performance is limited to the two designated open space sites in San Luis Obispo, with no delivery or shipping elements involved.