Sustainable Agricultural Land Conservation (SALC) Strategy. Butte County Planning Commission June 29, 2017

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1 Sustainable Agricultural Land Conservation (SALC) Strategy Butte County Planning Commission June 29, 2017

2 Goals of Today s Workshop Describe the SALC project and work to date Demonstrate how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are being developed by the team and used in the SALC analysis. Solicit feedback from the Planning Commission and public: What additional information would be helpful to support formal review of the SALC strategy by the public and the Planning Commission? What additional information about agricultural lands and GHG emissions/sequestration would be helpful to the PC in its other reviews? Other suggestions on SALC strategy content or deliverables? Note: All information presented today is DRAFT in both form and content.

3 SALC Strategy Development: $100,000 Grant Funded by CA Cap-and-Trade through the Climate Investments Program Goals: 1. Identify critically threatened agricultural lands 2. Achieve: GHG reductions Carbon sequestration Water conservation Water recharge Related goals and requirements 3. Develop a strategy to protect threatened agricultural lands and achieve identified sustainability goals

4 SALC Strategy Focus Area: Agricultural Lands in Butte County

5 How are GHGs and agriculture related? Conserving agricultural land and implementing sustainable ag. practices reduces GHG emissions AND sequesters (stores) carbon in vegetation and soils, preventing it from being released into the air. Some specific examples of this relationship follow.

6 Avoided Conversion of Grazing Land to Urban Areas Preventing this conversion on a 160-acre parcel is equivalent to avoiding annual greenhouse gas emissions from: Sources: Butte County SALC Project, EPA GHG Equivalencies Calculator Note: Presented information is in draft stage and may be subject to change. Source: University of Reno

7 Avoided Conversion of Crop Production to Urban Areas Preventing this conversion on a 20-acre parcel is equivalent to avoiding annual greenhouse gas emissions from: Source: Shutterstock Source: SFGate Sources: Butte County SALC Project, EPA GHG Equivalencies Calculator Note: Presented information is in draft stage and may be subject to change.

8 Compost Additions on Grazing Land Practicing compost additions on a 160-acre parcel is equivalent to sequestering annual greenhouse gas emissions from: Source: Marin Carbon Project Sources: Butte County SALC Project, EPA GHG Equivalencies Calculator Note: Presented information is in draft stage and may be subject to change.

9 Avoided Conversion of Grazing Land to Cropland Preventing this conversion on a 160-acre parcel is equivalent to avoiding annual greenhouse gas emissions from: Sources: Butte County SALC Project, EPA GHG Equivalencies Calculator Note: Presented information is in draft stage and may be subject to change. Source: UCCE

10 Rice Cultivation - Delayed Flooding Practicing delayed flooding on an 80-acre parcel is equivalent to reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions from: Source: Rice Knowledge Bank Sources: Butte County SALC Project, EPA GHG Equivalencies Calculator Note: Presented information is in draft stage and may be subject to change.

11 SALC Project Overview: Tasks 1. Mapping Define and delineate agricultural lands with greatest probability of conversion Identify lands whose conservation best meets SALC sustainability goals Identify lands that meet other conservation priorities and requirements Identify lands already protected or not at development risk 2. Technical Advisory Committee Involvement Review technical approach and information Make recommendations 3. Draft Strategy Develop strategy to support conservation of farmlands with high potential to achieve goals AND high conversion potential

12 Task 1: Mapping 4 Categories 1. Lands Likely to be Converted to Non-Ag. Uses 2. Conservation Priorities SALC Program Goals 3. Conservation Priorities Other Conservation Values and Requirements 4. Lands Already Protected Lands at Low or Zero Development Risk Lands that are Not a Part of the Study

13 Mapping Category 1 - Lands Likely to be Converted to Non-Ag. Uses Criteria from the CA Strategic Growth Council

14 Mapping Category 1 Lands Likely to be Converted to Non-Ag. Uses Example: Specific Plans and Special Planning Areas

15 Mapping Category 1 Lands Likely to be Converted to Non-Ag. Uses Example: Domestic Water and Wastewater Service Areas

16 Mapping Category 2 - Lands with SALC Conservation Values Example: Rangelands

17 Mapping Category 2 - Lands with SALC Conservation Values Example: Oak Woodlands

18 Mapping Category 2 - Lands with SALC Conservation Values Example: Groundwater Recharge Areas Source: Butte County Department of Water and Resource Conservation

19 Mapping Category 3 - Lands with Other Conservation Priorities and Requirements Example: Critical Habitat Map: US Fish and Wildlife Service

20 Mapping Category 3 - Lands with Other Conservation Priorities and Requirements Example: Wetlands/ Natural Communities (Map: Butte Regional Conservation Plan)

21 Mapping Category 3 - Lands with Other Conservation Priorities and Requirements Example: Scenic Byways Source: Butte County General Plan 2030

22 Mapping Category 4 - Lands Already Protected Example: Conservation Easements

23 Task 2: Soliciting Stakeholder Feedback Butte County Farm Bureau Butte County Cattlemen/Cattlewomen Natural Resources Conservation Service Local Agency Formation Commission Farm Advisor Local Land Trusts and Conservancies City and County Planning Staff Butte County Association of Governments USDA/Farm Service Conservation and environmental groups Representatives from the Board of Supervisors and local City Councils Butte County Resource Conservation District Water providers and irrigation districts Developer interests Butte County Williamson Act Advisory Committee representative Others

24 Task 3: Analysis and SALC Strategy Development Subtask: GIS Analysis and GIS Information Development

25 G.I.S. Geographic Information System A geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data.

26 G.I.S. is Features, Tables, and Layers that allow G.I.S. operations

27 A type of G.I.S. operation: Identify agricultural lands within.5 miles of unincorporated residential lands with lot sizes of less than 2 acres Identify parcels zoned for agriculture use (AG-20, AG-40, AG-80 AG-160) from Butte County data (parcel.shp)

28 A type of G.I.S. operation: Identify agricultural lands within.5 miles of unincorporated residential lands with lot sizes of less than 2 acres Identify parcels zoned for residential use (FCR-20, FR-1, FR-10, FR-2, FR-20, FR-40, FR-5, HDR, LDR, MDR, MHDR, PUD, RCR-1, RR-10, RR-5, VLDCR, VLDR, VLDR-2.5) from Butte County data (parcel.shp)

29 A type of G.I.S. operation: Identify agricultural lands within.5 miles of unincorporated residential lands with lot sizes of less than 2 acres Identify the unincorporated residential parcels that are less than 2 acres

30 A type of G.I.S. operation: Identify agricultural lands within.5 miles of unincorporated residential lands with lot sizes of less than 2 acres Now we have the 2 layers needed to complete the operation

31 A type of G.I.S. operation: Identify agricultural lands within.5 miles of unincorporated residential lands with lot sizes of less than 2 acres Next step: Select agricultural parcels that are located within.5 miles of unincorporated residential parcels that are less than 2 acres

32 A type of G.I.S. operation: Identify agricultural lands within.5 miles of unincorporated residential lands with lot sizes of less than 2 acres Operation complete: We now have our layer Ag Parcels within Half Mile of Residential Parcels less than 2 acres in Butte County

33 The SALC team is also developing our own layers for use in analytical operations

34 The SALC team is also developing our own layers for use in analytical operations To construct layers, research must be done to find the appropriate data from credible sources Source: Other sources for Butte County roadway development include: Butte County General Plan 2030 (Circulation Element)

35 The SALC team is also developing our own layers for use in analytical operations The data is then georeferenced (placed where it is actually located on earth), and all the data from the excel file is stored in the G.I.S. table.

36 The SALC team is also developing our own layers for use in analytical operations Now our team has constructed a layer ready for G.I.S. operations

37 Task 3: Analysis and SALC Strategy Development Subtask: Identifying Incentives for Sustainable Farming Conservation Easements Funding available through SALC and other funding programs Approved Carbon Offset Programs Avoided Conversion of Grassland to Cropland Approved as a voluntary offset by the Climate Action Reserve Rangeland Composting Approved as a voluntary offset by American Carbon Registry Approved as a mitigation measure by CAPCOA (CA Air Pollution Control Officers Assoc.) Rice Cultivation Approved by ARB as an offset In CA Cap-and-Trade program

38 Task 3: Analysis and SALC Strategy Development Subtask: Preparing the Final Deliverables Updated and Improved GIS Information SALC Technical Report SALC Executive Summary Online Sustainable Farming Incentives Search Tool Farming Incentives Information Sheets Etc.

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40 Task 3: Analysis and SALC Strategy Development Subtask: Creating an Online Incentives Search Tool Example: Los Angeles County Solar Rooftop Planning Tool Preliminary Butte County SALC Tool Interface

41 Next Steps Now through August Complete mapping Confirm mapping through stakeholder input Develop analysis Confirm analysis through stakeholder input Board of Supervisors Workshop September Planning Commission Review October Board of Supervisors Review

42 We appreciate your feedback and questions! Project Lead: Principal Planner Claudia Stuart, AICP (530) Core Team Members: Jesse Hudson Gabriel Strelecki Nick Bateman Butte County SALC Webpage: Grants/AgLandsConservation.aspx