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San Joaquin County Community Environmental Setting,Impacts,and Mitigation Measures Development Department Agricultural Resources,Land Use,and Planning ■ Farmland of Statewide Importance: Lands with agricultural land use characteristics, irrigation water supplies,and physical characteristics similar to those of Prime Farmland but with minor shortcomings, such as steeper slopes or less ability to retain moisture. ■ Unique Farmland: Lands with lesser quality soils used for the production of California's leading agricultural cash crops. These lands usually are irrigated but may include nonirrigated orchards or vineyards,as found in some of the state's climatic zones. ■ Farmland of Local Importance: Lands of importance to the local agricultural economy,as determined by each county's board of supervisors and a local advisory committee. r ■ Grazing Land: Lands in which the existing vegetation is suited to the grazing of livestock. ` Prime Farmland,Farmland of Statewide Importance,Farmland of Local Importance,and Grazing Land are located in the project vicinity(DOC 2001). With the exception of a very small area of land in the northeastern comer of the site,the entire project site and much of the surrounding area is classified as Prime Farmland(DOC 2001). Local Regulation San Joaquin County General Plan Resources Element—Agricultural Lands. The Resources Element of the County General Plan establishes objectives and policies for lands designated V A/G. These goals and policies, in general, call for the establishment of designated farmlands (i.e.,Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, Unique Farmland, and Farmland of Local Importance),preservation of agricultural land, enforcement of agricultural land conversions,establishing minimum parcel size and buffers,establishing Williamson Act contracts,and implementation of the County's right-to-farm ordinance. San Joaquin County Williamson Act Implementing Guidelines In accordance with Section 51231 of the Williamson Act, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors adopted the San Joaquin County Development ` Title, Chapter 9, Division 18 (San Joaquin County 1995), identifying uses that are compatible with the agricultural,recreational,or open space use of land dedicated as agricultural preserves and subject to Williamson Act contract. These rules state that properties entering into a Williamson Act contract are restricted by said contract to a list of compatible uses set forth in §9-1810.3. Among the uses considered to be compatible with the Williamson Act are .. "quarry operations,provided it is rehabilitated for agricultural uses" (§9-1810.3.b.1.W). DeSilva Gates Quarry Project Draft Environmental Impact Report 3.8-5 As 05105.5 r