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1% r .76tiai Study—LID Annexation IL AGRICULTURE RESOURCES — In determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the California Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model prepared by the California Department of Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland. Would the project: a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of ❑ ❑ ❑ 0 Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency,to non-agricultural use? b)Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use,or a Williamson ❑ El E] 0 Act contract? c) Involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to ❑ E] E their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland, to non-agricultural use? Potential impacts to agricultural resources were addressed at a project level in the River Islands EIR. This EIR considered potential for construction impairment of agricultural use and the fact the vast majority of the Stewart Tract affected by River Islands will be urbanized. However, the Paradise Cut portion of the project area will remain in agriculture, with conversion of some parts of Paradise Cut to habitat areas; no urbanization will occur in this area. The only potential service to this area from LID will be to serve pump stations that pump San Joaquin River system water into the site (from the property's riparian and appropriate rights)for irrigation purposes. Williamson Act Contracts associated with the first phase of the River Islands project (approximately 1,800 acres) were canceled by the Lathrop City Council action in May of 2003. The remaining lands slated for urbanization have contracts that have non-renewed and will likely come out of the contract when these contracts expire in 2011, since it not likely that phase 1 lands will be fully developed at that time. Many mitigation measures were adopted for these impacts and the proposed project does not create any additional impacts. However, a Statement of Overriding Considerations (SOC) was adopted by the Lathrop City Council that related to cumulative impacts County-wide that could not be reduced to a level of insignificance. The SOC was adopted at the time the City certified the River Islands EIR on January 28,2003. In addition to the mitigations adopted with the EIR, the project proponent for River Islands has entered into an agreement with a local land trust that will provide $2,200 per acre of converted urban land to purchase fee title or agricultural easements as additional mitigation for loss of agricultural lands on the Stewart Tract as the result of urbanization. The annexation of area into LID does not impair use or directly involve the conversion of agricultural land; such impacts are a result of the River Islands development project which will create these impacts no matter what the service providers are for the project. The project entitlements for River Islands recognize that either LID or PG&E have the ability to serve the project. Since River Islands has been thoroughly analyzed at a project level previously, no additional mitigation measures as a result of the project are necessary. 21