Environmental Compliance Documentation Draft Page

As a California state entity, we are required to post certain environmental compliance documents on our website.

Note: CEQAnet is California’s official database of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents. View all of our CEQA documents.

Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration

Notice is hereby given that the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) has completed an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act for the project described below.

Project Title: Arnold Avery Trail Reconciliation, Wayfinding and Outdoor Literacy Project

Project Description: SNC proposes to award a grant to the Arnold Rim Trail Association to support the Arnold Avery Trail Reconciliation, Wayfinding and Outdoor Literacy Project. The project involves trails that would be modified as reroutes, new construction, reconstruction, and obliteration and restoration. After clearance by qualified specialists, all routes determined to be unauthorized would be obliterated and restored. Informational signage would be incorporated throughout the trail system.

Project Location: The Arnold Rim Trail system extends approximately 28 miles on Stanislaus National Forest land and connects the communities of Arnold, Avery, and Hathaway Pines in Calaveras County. No hazardous materials sites listed under California Government Code Section 65962.5 are present within the project alignment.

Filing: On the basis of the IS/MND, SNC has determined that, with the incorporation of the mitigation measures proposed in the Initial Study, the proposed project would not have a significant adverse effect on the environment. Mitigation measures for biological resources will be required to reduce impacts to a less than significant level. Accordingly, SNC intends to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration, pursuant to Section 21080(c) of the Public Resources Code.

Public Comment Period: The IS/MND is available for a 30-day public review and comment period from September 24, 2026 to October 26, 2026. If you wish to comment on the IS/MND, please send any written comments with your name and/or the name of your agency contact person (if applicable), to the following address or email address by October 26, 2026.

Shannon Ciotti
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
11521 Blocker Drive #205
Auburn, CA 95603
Phone: (530) 906-7345
Email: Shannon.Ciotti@sierranevada.ca.gov

Document Availability: A copy of the IS/MND and supporting documents can be reviewed at the SNC office during regular business hours, located at 11521 Blocker Drive #205 in Auburn, CA 95603. The document is also available for viewing online:

View the Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Arnold Avery Trail Reconciliation, Wayfinding and Outdoor Literacy Project

Pub. Resources Code, Sec. 4137

California Public Resources Code section 4137 requires state entities to post information about the hazardous fuel-reduction and vegetation-management projects they fund beginning with projects funded from the 2022 – 2023 fiscal year. We are required to post a description of any maintenance plan in place, a description of any mitigation required and whether it’s been completed, and develop a standardized protocol for monitoring implementation. If a project has mitigation requirements, we link to the environmental compliance documents that detail those requirements.

We administer grants to support hazardous fuel-reduction and vegetation-management projects through our Forest and Watershed Health Grant Program. All projects under this program must meet the long-term maintenance and monitoring requirements set by the grant cycle funding source and the program’s grant guidelines and agreements. All grantees are required to maintain the project site for a minimum of 10 years, and SNC monitors the project sites for either 10 or 25 years, depending on the project funding source.

Note: we are a funding entity and do not utilize a permit mechanism, and Section 4123 of the Public Resources Code does not apply to us.

Pub. Resources Code, Sec. 4799.05

California Public Resources Code section 4799.05 exempts lead state entities engaged in certain forestry activities from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) when the environmental impact of those activities was analyzed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). When we utilize this exemption, we must post a notice of this exemption and describe where the federal NEPA environmental analysis is available.