NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE SAN DIEGO RIVER FIRE HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM (SCH# 2026020351
Notice is hereby given that the City of Santee (City) as the lead agency, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the San Diego River Fire Hazard Mitigation Program (Project).Project Background and Description: The City of Santee Fire Department has initiated development of the San Diego River Fire Hazard Mitigation Program (FHMP) to reduce wildfire risk in and around high-priority sites along the San Diego River corridor. This area lies within the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and includes critical public infrastructure, adjacent residential neighborhoods, and biologically sensitive habitats. The need for a targeted, ecologically conscious approach to vegetation management is underscored by increasing fire risk, invasive plant encroachment, and complex access and ownership constraints unique to the corridor. The Santee Fire Department responded to 174 fires near the Project Site in 2024 and 2025, 81 of which were on the Project boundary. On March 29, 2026, an approximately 10-acre fire occurred within the Project Site. Portions of the Project Site are located within Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. As part of the FHMP, a Fuels Treatment Plan (FTP) provides a framework for vegetation management that includes treatment strategies tailored to each of the parcels’ wildfire exposure, access conditions, existing vegetation, and proximity to sensitive resources. The FTP outlines defensible space creation/maintenance standards, prescribes vegetation treatments, and identifies zone boundaries to minimize wildfire risk in the wildland-urban interface. It also documents the species and quantities of vegetation to be removed, defines potential removal processes, and incorporates best management practices to minimize or avoid impacts to resources in the project site. The objectives of the proposed project are identified below:
* Objective 1 – Define strategy for defined fuel treatment zones for reducing hazardous fuel loads within the San Diego River corridor.
* Objective 2 – Enhance community safety within the City of Santee through the reduction of wildfire risk.
* Objective 3 – Reduce horizontal and vertical continuity of fuels and hazardous fuel loads through the removal of non-native and invasive species.
* Objective 4 – Reduce ignition potential and fire intensity within the San Diego River corridor.
Project Case Files: Environmental Impact Report ENV-2026-0001Project Proponent: City of SanteeProject Location: The almost 300-acre Project Site is composed of 33 parcels along the San Diego River corridor through the center of the City of Santee as shown in Figure 1, Project Location. The Project Site extends along the river corridor from Forester Creek at the western project boundary to the City border with the unincorporated Lakeside community in the east, including the open space areas of Mast Park West, Mast Park Wetland Restoration Area, Mast Park East, Mission Creek, Walker Trails Open Space, and Walker Preserve. Surrounding the corridor are urban neighborhoods, commercial districts, transportation infrastructure, parks, and open space preserves, creating a landscape typical of a WUI.Document Availability: The EIR for the San Diego River Fire Hazard Mitigation P rogram can be reviewed during regular business hours at the following locations and on the City of Santee’s website at the following link:
City of Santee Fire Department (Building 5)City of Santee Clerk’s Office (Building 3) atSantee City Hall 10601 Magnolia Avenue, Santee, CA 92071
Santee County Library9225 Carlton Hills Boulevard, Santee, CA 92071
https://www.cityofsanteeca.gov/services/project-environmental-review
Public Review and Comment Period: The EIR can be reviewed during the 45-day public review period starting on Friday, May 8, 2026, and ending at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific) on Monday, June 22, 2026. Written and electronic comments (file size should be a maximum of 10 MB unless a link is requested) addressing the San Diego River Fire Hazard Mitigation Program EIR must be received by mail or email at the following address:
Harley Wallace, Fire ChiefSantee Fire Department Administration10601 Magnolia AvenueSantee, California 92071HWallace@CityofSanteeCa.gov(619) 258-4100 ext. 207San Diego Union-TribunePublished: 5/8/26
