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Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) in Yolo County Phil Hogan, District Conservationist USDA Natural Resourc

Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) in Yolo County Phil Hogan, District Conservationist USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 221 W. Court, Suite 1 Woodland, CA 95695 phil.hogan@ca.usda.gov. LESA di daerah Yolo, California. YOLO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA LOCATION

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Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) in Yolo County Phil Hogan, District Conservationist USDA Natural Resourc

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  1. Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) in Yolo County Phil Hogan, District Conservationist USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 221 W. Court, Suite 1 Woodland, CA 95695 phil.hogan@ca.usda.gov

  2. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • YOLO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA LOCATION • Lower part of Sacramento Valley • Land Area: 661,760 acres, or 1,034 square miles • Just northwest of Sacramento from I-5 or I-80 Yolo County

  3. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • YOLO COUNTY AGRICULTURE • 1,060 Farms • Average Size: 519 Acres • $333 million market value • Processing tomatoes biggest cash crop, then wine grapes • Ranks ~20th in California • 6% total county employment • Prime Farmland = 48% of the County ag land • Leader in direct marketing • Organic sector growing

  4. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • YOLO COUNTY MAJOR LAND USES

  5. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • REGIONAL GROWTH TRENDS • Yolo County is between rapidly growing Sacramento and Bay Areas • Until recently, major growth has bypassed Yolo County • Growth is rapidly increasing now: • ample supply of relatively inexpensive developable land • relatively inexpensive housing • good supply of water for industrial use • relatively low utility rates • perceived high quality of life • I-80, I-5, I-505 and SP Railroad all induce growth

  6. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • YOLO COUNTY POPULATION TREND • 2002 Population: 172,500 • 2020 Projected Population: 262,400 • This represents a 52% increase

  7. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • FARMLAND PROTECTION MEASURES IN YOLO COUNTY • Williamson Act and Farmland Security Zones: YES • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): YES • General Plan Amendments: YES • Habitat Conservation Plan: YES • Right-to-Farm Ordinances: YES • Sphere of Influence: YES • Yolo Land Trust (Easements): YES • Local Land Evaluation and Site Assessment System (LESA): YES Farmland Protection Measures

  8. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • BACKGROUND ON YOLO COUNTY LESA • LESA not widely used in California • Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) policies • NRCS approached LAFCO to show how LESA can help • LAFCO directed that LESA subcommittee be formed • Several meetings and field tested • Finalized by LAFCO board in 2000 • State LESA model developed by Department of Conservation • Contact Dr. Charles Tyson (916) 324-0862

  9. LESA in Yolo County, California • YOLO COUNTY LESA SUBCOMMITTEE • Yolo County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) • Yolo County Resource Conservation District • Yolo County Community Development Agency • SWCS University of California, Davis Student Club • California Department of Conservation (Chuck Tyson) • City of Davis • Yolo County Board of Supervisors • Cooperative Extension Service • Yolo Land Trust • Planning Consultants • Realtors, Farmers, Yolo County Farm Bureau, USDA NRCS LESA FACTORING

  10. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • INTRODUCTION TO YOLO COUNTY LESA • Lesa is a tool to identify the most important agricultural lands • Maximum score is 100 • Land Evaluation Factors: 50 points • Site Assessment Factors: 50 points • Land Evaluation uses USDA LCC, UC Storie Index, and an irrigation component • Site Assessment is based on parcel size, urban conflict, zoning + LE Factors 50 pts. SA Factors 50 pts. + = 100 pts total LESA score

  11. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • FACTOR WEIGHTING • Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Weight • LE and SA are weighted 50% each off the total LESA score • Maximum LE score is 50 • Maximum SA score is 50 • Maximum LESA score is 100 • Individual Factor Weight • LE Land Capability Class (LCC): 20% • LE Storie Index Rating (SIR): 20% • LE Water: 10% • SA Size: 20% • SA Urban Separation: 15% • SA Zoning: 15%

  12. LESA di daerah Yolo, California

  13. Storie Index • University of California, Davis • Relative Degree suitability of a soil for intensive agriculture • Soil characteristics only • In itself, cannot be considered an index for land valuation

  14. Storie Index • Four factors considered: • Profile Characteristics • Suitability of a soil profile for plant root growth • Surface Layer Texture • Affects ease of tillage and water holding capacity • Slope • Affects water runoff • Other Conditions: high water table, salts, etc.

  15. Storie Index • Each factor is rated separately in terms of percentage of the ideal, or 100% • Storie Index of a soil is obtained by multiplying the four factors • Profile rating 100% X Texture rating 100% X Slope rating 100% X Other condition (saline-alkali soil) 20% = Storie Index = 20

  16. Storie Index • Soils placed in grades according to agricultural suitability: • Grade 1: 80 to 100 Index Rating • Grade 2: 60 to 80 Index Rating • Grade 3: 40 to 60 Index Rating • Grade 4: 20 to 40 Index Rating • Grade 5: 10 to 20 Index Rating • Grade 6: Less than 10 Index Rating

  17. Storie Index • Grade 1: few or no limitations for use for crops • Grade 2: Suitable for most crops, minor limitations • Grade 3: Suitable for few crops or special crops that require special management • Grade 4: Severely limited for crops; careful management • Grade 5: Not suitable for cultivated crops, used for pasture and range • Grade 6: Not suited to farming.

  18. Storie Index

  19. Name of Land Evaluation System Used Storie Index Storie Index: AD-1006

  20. LESA didaerah Yolo, California • PROBLEMS, PERCEPTIONS, LIMITATIONS OF LESA • Various levels of political will to protect farmland • Lack of consensus on prime farmland criteria • Range and forest land uses • NRCS Field Offices lack training

  21. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • PROBLEMS, PERCEPTIONS, LIMITATIONS OF LESA • Irrigated lands • LESA will not protect farmland by itself • Consistency of results • LESA is not LISA • Manipulation of LESA to meet political needs • Landowner fears of numbers attached to t heir land • First thing: agree on the objective of local LESA system!

  22. LE WATER SCORE LESA didaerah Yolo, California

  23. LESA di daerah Yolo, California • LESSONS AND ADVICE • Local initiative • Receptive local government • LESA Committee Diversity • Patience! • Quality • Set deadlines • Technical credibility • Supervisor’s support

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