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<br /> L4.3 Agricultural Resources
<br /> TABLE 4.3-3
<br /> FARMLAND CONVERSION FROM 1998 TO 2000 IN STANISLAUS AND SAN JOAQUIN COUNTIES
<br /> Total Acres Inventoried 1998-2000 Acreage Changes
<br /> Land Use Category Acres Acres Net
<br /> 1998 2000 Lost Gained Change
<br /> Stanislaus County
<br /> Prime Farmland 166,558 165,364 1,835 641 - -1,194
<br /> Farmland of Statewide Importance 27,398 27,753 379 734 355
<br /> r
<br /> Unique Farmland 48,994 53,305 239 4,550 4,311
<br /> Farmland of Local Importance 37,650 34,328 3,385 63 -3,322
<br /> Grazing Land 116,645 114,314 2,507 176 -2,331
<br /> r Agricultural Land Subtotal 397,245 395,064 8,345 6,164 -2,181
<br /> San Joaquin County
<br /> _ Prime Farmland 429,173 423,158 6,267 252 -6,015
<br /> Farmland of Statewide Importance 96,800 93,846 3,206 252 -2,954
<br /> Unique Farmland 52,719 57,977 955 6,213 5,258
<br /> r Farmland of Local Importance 53,677 56,009 4,837 7,169 2,332
<br /> Grazing Land 152,699 150,332 2,377 10 -2,367
<br /> Agricultural Land Subtotal 785,068 781.322 17,642 13,896 -3,746
<br /> SOURCE: California Department of Conservation,2002;(Tables A-38 and A-26)
<br /> Impact Analysis
<br /> Impact 4.3.1: Implementation of the project would result in the disturbance of Prime
<br /> Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance. This would be a less-than-significant
<br /> impact.
<br /> As described previously in the setting discussion,agricultural lands within the proposed mining
<br /> area meet the qualifications for Prime Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance(DOC,
<br /> 2000). In general,these classifications are used for lands that have been used for irrigated
<br /> agricultural production at some time during the four years prior to the mapping date(2000).
<br /> Active agricultural production(orchards) occurs over half of the project site with the remaining
<br /> acreage currently not under production.
<br /> 6. Given that no new permanent development(e.g., residential,commercial,etc.) is proposed as part
<br /> of the project, no absolute conversion of Prime Farmland or Farmland of Statewide Importance to
<br /> non-agricultural use would occur,as the land base would still be available for agricultural usage
<br /> tr following completion of the project and final reclamation.
<br /> RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 4.3-9 ESA 1203015
<br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report May 2006
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