ARCHIVED REPORTS_DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

Home Browse Search

Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program The FMMP was established in 1982 to continue the Important Farmland mapping efforts begun in 1975 by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service (SCS). The intent of the SCS (renamed the U.S.Natural Resources Conservation Service [NRCS] in 1998)was to produce agricultural resource maps based on soil quality and land use across the nation. The California Department of Conservation sponsors the FMMP and is also responsible for establishing agricultural easements in accordance with Public Resources Code Sections 10250-10255 (CDC 2006a). As part of the nationwide agricultural land use mapping effort,the SCS/NRCS developed a series of definitions known as Land Inventory and Monitoring(LIM) criteria. The LIM criteria classified the land's suitability for agricultural production. Suitability included both the physical and chemical characteristics of soils as well as the actual land use. Important Farmland maps are derived from the SCS/NRCS soil survey maps using the LIM criteria and are available by county. Important Farmland maps classify land into one of the following eight categories: Prime Farmland,Farmland of Statewide Importance,Unique Farmland,Farmland of Local Importance, Grazing Land,Urban and Built-Up Land, Other Land, and Water. The Important Farmland map for San Joaquin County designates the WQCF site as Urban and Built-Up Land, while the greater WQCF property is designated Farmland of Statewide Importance (Exhibit 4.1-1). Farmland of Statewide Importance is described as"Farmland similar to Prime Farmland but with minor shortcomings, such as greater slopes or less ability to store soil moisture. Land must have been used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the four years prior to the mapping date."Urban and Built-Up land is described as"Land occupied by structures with a building density of at least 1 unit to 1.5 acres, or approximately 6 structures to a 10-acre parcel. This land is used for residential, industrial,commercial, construction, institutional,public administration,railroad and other transportation yards, cemeteries, airports, golf courses, sanitary landfills, sewage treatment,water control structures, and other developed purposes."(CDC 2006b.)The Important Farmland map for San Joaquin County also designates portions of the proposed wastewater collection system, recycled-water distribution system, and outfall pipeline alignments as Prime Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance(City of Manteca 2003b). Williamson Act The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, also known as the Williamson Act, is designed to preserve agriculture and open space lands by discouraging their premature and unnecessary conversion to urban uses. The act enables local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use. In return, landowners receive property tax assessments which are much lower than normal because they are based on farming and open space uses as opposed to full market value. Small portions of the wastewater collection system and recycled-water distribution system pipeline alignments south of Woodward Avenue traverse lands under Williamson Act contract(City of Manteca 2003b). Regional and Local Plans, Policies, Regulations, and Ordinances City of Manteca Right to Farm Ordinance Chapter 8.24 of Manteca Municipal Code is a"Right to Farm" Ordinance intended to protect agricultural productivity in the City. The Ordinance states: It is the policy of this City to preserve,protect,and encourage the use of viable agricultural land for the production of food and other agricultural products.When nonagricultural land uses extend into or approach agricultural areas,conflicts often arise between such land uses and agricultural operations. Such conflicts often result in the involuntary curtailment or cessation of agricultural Manteca WQCF and Collection System Master Plans EIR EDAW City of Manteca 4.1-5 Land Use and Agricultural Resources