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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 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 • 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
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
LESA di daerah Yolo, California • YOLO COUNTY MAJOR LAND USES
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
LESA di daerah Yolo, California • YOLO COUNTY POPULATION TREND • 2002 Population: 172,500 • 2020 Projected Population: 262,400 • This represents a 52% increase
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
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
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
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
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%
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
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.
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
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
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.
Name of Land Evaluation System Used Storie Index Storie Index: AD-1006
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
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!
LE WATER SCORE LESA didaerah Yolo, California
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