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To the east are open agricultural lands and conformance with good soil husbandry. related dispersed development typical of Due to the lower productive capacity of the this valley region. Much of the property is soils and the high water costs,the predomi- visible to the west-bound traveler on nant use tends towards small grain produc- Interstate 205. From Interstate 580 heading tion. east, views of the site are blocked by hills until past the Mountain House Road exit. The utilization of the balance of the land in the subject area is divided between native B. Existing Land Use pasture, irrigated pasture, nonproducing areas and miscellaneous related uses. Both The Mountain House land area is princi- the native pasture and irrigated pasture are pally used for various types of agricultural utilized for grazing purposes and comprise production. Historically,the area was used about 15%of the area. The area devoted to for dryland and irrigated pasture. Winter this production is typcially the least produc- and spring rains provided abundant grass for tive or the least adaptable to other types of livestock grazing and the level to gently fanning. sloping acreage provided early farmers with land to raise winter cereal grains and other The nonproducing areas are along the non-irrigated crops. During the 1970's, various waterways in the area and are demand for agricultural products by a unused due to water seepage and flooding hungry world stretched the limits of known hazards. There are several homesites and and developed agricultural lands within the farmsteads located throughout the area counties. Fanners seeking higher returns which are primarily related to the farm from smaller investments developed the operations conducted thereon. area. The leveling of the land and the installation of wells and pumps and the C. Environmental Factors advent of the irrigation district brought the area into more intensive cropping. Under Biological Resources: other economic forces,this area would have remained in dryland farm uses and native The Mountain House Area, extending from pasture. the western banks of Old River into the foothills of the Diablo Range, is dominated Existing use of the site is illustrated in by lands currently under cultivation or Figure 4. Approximately 80% of the land in previously disturbed by agricultural activi- the subject area is fanned to semi-intensive ties. Small areas,however,in less disturbed crops. Alfalfa for hay, dry edible beans, locales may still provide suitable habitats cereal grains, corn and sugar beets are all for native plants and wildlife which histori- grown within the planning area. These cally occupied this region. The study area crops are typically grown in a rotation in was surveyed by a qualified biologist, with Site Description 3.2