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southeasterly trending direction(Figure 4.2-1).These irrigation canals supply the existing agricultural operations
<br /> on the project site, as well as agricultural operations downstream and southeast of the project site.
<br /> EXISTING AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
<br /> The two on-site dairies operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.The dairies are often the source of cow and
<br /> wastepond-related odors, carried by prevailing winds going toward the east. See Section 4.12,"Air Quality,"for
<br /> further discussion.
<br /> The Mountain House Master Plan(MHMP)area,including the College Park project site,includes agricultural
<br /> lands planted with alfalfa,beans,wheat,and Sudan grass,and irrigated and non-irrigated pasture.These lands
<br /> have been chemically sprayed for pest control in the past.The types of chemical applications are directly related
<br /> to the type of crop.The chemical properties and the methods of application vary; some crops are treated with
<br /> aerial application,by helicopter or fixed-wing aircrafts; others are treated with a ground application. Generally,
<br /> the frequency of pesticide spraying for alfalfa is two to four times per growing season. Other crops, such as oats,
<br /> beans,and wheat,are not usually sprayed(SJCCDD 1994).Pesticides typically used for these crops include
<br /> paraquat(herbicide),2,4-D (herbicide), Roundup (herbicide),and Sevin(insecticide). Other pesticides, including
<br /> herbicides and rodenticides,may be used(Lanigan 2004).Frequency of spraying varies from year to year,
<br /> depending on whether there are problems with pests such as weevils.Use of restricted pesticides is required to be
<br /> reported to and approved by the San Joaquin Agricultural Commissioner's Office,which enforces U.S.
<br /> Environmental Protection Agency's requirements, and the California State Agricultural Commission. See Section
<br /> 4.9, "Public Health and Safety,"for further discussion.
<br /> EXISTING IMPORTANT FARMLAND
<br /> As indicated in Figure 4.2-2,the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency
<br /> designates approximately 55%of the 815-acre College Park project site and the off-site infrastructure site
<br /> location as Prime Farmland, 35%as Farmland of Local Importance, 5%as Urban and Built-Up Land, and 5%
<br /> (Pombo property)as Other Land(California Department of Conservation[CDC]2000).Prime Farmland is
<br /> defined as land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for the production of crops,
<br /> including the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high yield crops,and
<br /> must have been used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the 4 years before the mapping date.
<br /> Farmland of Local Importance is defined as land of importance to the local agricultural economy, as determined
<br /> by each county(CDC 1994).Together,the Prime Farmland and Farmland of Local Importance on the project site
<br /> (730 acres total)represents"Important Farmland."
<br /> EXISTING WILLIAMSON ACT LANDS
<br /> T
<br /> Several parcels within the project site and off-site infrastructure locations are currently under Williamson Act
<br /> contracts(Figure 4.2-2). The Williamson Act is state legislation that allows landowners to enter into an agreement
<br /> ., with counties whereby the property owners agrees to maintain the land in agriculture for a period of at least 10
<br /> years.In exchange,the landowners are allowed a reduction in property taxes for the subject parcel. Since the early
<br /> 1980s,approximately 16 million acres of land statewide have been enrolled under Williamson Act contracts
<br /> (CDC 2004). For the 2001 tax year(the most recent data available), San Joaquin County had 542,916 acres of
<br /> farmland under Williamson Act contracts,including continuing contracts and nonrenewals.This is 738 more
<br /> acres than the previous year,but a decrease of 16,871 acres from 1991.The CDC estimates San Joaquin County
<br /> had 542,178 acres of land under Williamson Act contract in 2000 and 559,787 acres in 1991 (CDC 2004).The
<br /> ` long-term trend is thus a decrease in farmland and farmland under Williamson Act contracts Countywide.
<br /> As indicated in Figure 4.2-2, six project parcels are still under active Williamson Act contracts.These include
<br /> k' Assessor Parcel Numbers(APNs)209-450-14 and 209-450-15 (Souza),209450-16(Teixeira),209-060-11 and
<br /> College Park at Mountain House Spec'rfic Plan 111 Draft EIR EDAW
<br /> San Joaquin County 4.2-3 Land Use and Agriculture
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