Project-Specific Analysis (PSA) and Addendum to the CalVTP PEIR
The San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) and Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County (RCDSCC), in partnership with California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, and Sempervirens Fund, are pleased to announce the completion of the Project-Specific Analysis (PSA) and Addendum for the Coastal Santa Cruz Mountains: State Parks Forest Health Initiative. This document was discussed at the publicly noticed meeting of the RCD’s Board of Directors on July 17, 2025, and evaluates proposed ecological restoration and forest health treatments across coastal portions of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Butano State Park, Año Nuevo State Park, and adjacent conservation lands.
This PSA/Addendum has been prepared in accordance with the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) and on December 11, 2025 the RCD plans to distribute a Notice of Impending Development (NOID) pursuant to the San Mateo County Forest Health and Fire Resilience Public Works Plan (PWP), which will begin the project approval process by the California Coastal Commission. Together, the CalVTP and PWP provide streamlined compliance for vegetation treatment projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act (Coastal Act).
Project Overview
The Coastal Santa Cruz Mountains: State Parks Forest Health Initiative proposes to implement ecological restoration treatments on approximately 11,994.7 acres of parklands and conservation properties, of which 2,661.7 acres are within San Mateo County. The project is designed to:
- Enhance ecosystem resilience following the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire
- Reduce hazardous fuel loads to support safe reintroduction of prescribed fire
- Improve habitat quality for native plants and wildlife
- Promote biodiversity by reducing conifer encroachment into grasslands, shrublands, and hardwood communities
- Support long-term forest health, carbon storage, and climate adaptation
- Improve cross-boundary stewardship of contiguous forested lands that across the landscape
Treatment activities include manual thinning, mechanical treatments, prescribed broadcast and pile burning, and limited, targeted herbicide application to control invasive species. All treatments incorporate Standard Project Requirements (SPRs) and Mitigation Measures from the CalVTP PEIR, as well as the Coastal Vegetation Treatment Standards (CVTS) required under the Coastal Act and associated PWP.
A complete description of treatment methods, ecological objectives, resource protections, and permitting processes is included in the PSA/Addendum, which can be found here: Coastal Santa Cruz Mountains – State Parks Forest Health Initiative Project Specific Analysis
Public Review
To date, no public comment has been received regarding the project. The public may review and comment on the proposed project until the California Coastal Commission’s hearing on this matter scheduled for:
FEBRUARY 4, 2026
Oceano Hotel & Spa
280 Capistrano Rd.
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
RCD Project Contact:
Timothy Federal, Senior Program Manager
Email: timothy@sanmateoRCD.org
About the San Mateo Resource Conservation District: The San Mateo Resource Conservation District is a local hub for conservation, helping the people of San Mateo County build a more thriving natural environment for all. The district provides comprehensive, non-regulatory services to protect, conserve, and restore natural resources in partnership with land owners and managers, technical advisors, area jurisdictions, government agencies, and others. For more information visit www.sanmateoRCD.org.
About Public Works Plans: A PWP is a land use planning document that plans for and sets a framework for implementing a specific public works project or array of public works-related activities. A PWP provides a land use planning alternative to Local Coastal Programs (LCPs) for obtaining approval of large or phased public works projects, as well as any development proposed by a special district, and remains under the authority of the Coastal Commission irrespective of coastal permit jurisdictional boundaries. A PWP is an alternative to project-by-project review for public works, which would otherwise require multiple coastal development permits for different components of the public works project. For more information contact the Coastal Commission at statewideplanning@coastal.ca.gov.