1. Agriculture and Land Stewardship Planning
California Mitigation Summit
California Council of Land Trusts
July 15, 2014

2. Motivation Proposed projects could have huge impacts on agriculture
Social and economic impacts not well addressed by CEQA or NEPA
Public wants involvement in program planning
BDCP, CVFPP, High Speed Rail, solar energy projects, fire management, water projects…
Across California, if we’re moving a lot of dirt, more often than not we’re impacting farmland.
Large-scale projects affect numerous interest groups
Social and economic impacts often matter the most to the affected public
UC Small Farm Program

3. Critical Need & Response
Engage Delta Farm Community in BDCP Agriculture Issues
Form Agriculture & Land Stewardship Work Group
The most important realization was the need to get farming interests involved in the development of solutions

4. Stewardship Approach Gather mitigation ideas
Meet with agricultural interests
Build a set of creative options
Refine options with input from agriculture
“Creative options” do not distinguish CEQA impacts from social and economic impacts
Strategies could be used Statewide; currently the focus for DWR is the Delta and Central Valley, BDCP and CVFPP

5. Principles Voluntary actions Consistent with project objectives
Provide benefits where impacts occur
Keep farmers on the land
Central Valley Joint Venture

6. Developed in Cooperation with
California Department of Food and Agriculture
California Department of Conservation
Delta Conservancy
Delta Stewardship Council
Delta Protection Commission De

7. Agency Group CA Department of Fish & Wildlife
CA Department of Parks & Recreation
State Water Resources Control Board
CV Regional Water Quality Control Board
Governor’s Office of Planning and Research
USDA – Natural Resource Conservation Service
US Fish & Wildlife Service
NOAA Fisheries

8. Briefings Delta Land Trusts Resource Conservation Districts
California Farm Bureau Federation
US Bureau of Reclamation
Delta Five-County Farm Bureaus
State Board of Food and Agriculture
California Water Commission
Reclamation Districts
Groups we have met with and which have provided feedback

9. Engagement Formal — commission meetings, conferences
Semi-formal — local governments, permitting agencies, reclamation districts and other
local agencies
Informal — individuals, farm bureaus, nonprofits
Interactive Website
Up front time and staff intensive hoping for a better quality outcome

10. Develop Agriculture and Land Stewardship Plans
Framework
Develop Agriculture and Land Stewardship Plans
Integrate projects with existing uses
Address economic and social impacts
Mitigate for loss of farmland
Loss of farmland is a CEQA impact

11. ALS Strategy Tool Box Categories
Help maintain agriculture
Incentives for conservation on farmland
Support agricultural economy
Planning by project proponents
We currently have about 38 mitigation strategies in these categories

12. Examples of Strategies
Reduce Conflict Between Agriculture and Nearby Habitat Projects
Good neighbor policy starts with consultation with landowner on how to avoid conflict between farming and habitat projects.
It includes several elements: management of weeds and wildlife that could threaten crops; use of buffer zones between farm fields and habitat; endangered species assurances; compensation for damages…

13. Examples of Strategies
Agricultural Conservation Easements
Work with counties to identify areas subject to potential growth pressures that could be addressed by using easements to conserve highly productive farmland in perpetuity.
These can help meet local goals for land conservation and mitigate environmental impact resulting from loss of farmland.
CalCan

14. Examples of Strategies
Improve Transportation Infrastructure
Rural counties need updating of transportation corridors to improve movement of agricultural products and supplies.
This would also help emergency response, e.g., during floods and other natural disasters.

15. Examples of Strategies
Develop Land Use Studies
From SACOG
RUCS or similar programs which identify existing land uses and provide a way to model the effects of change—green-print planning
Support informed decision making; empower negotiating partners
promote economic development, e.g., funds for packing plants; EDCs
Promote Economic Development
UCANR

16. Examples of Strategies
Identify Benefits of Funding for Open Space Subventions
e.g., Williamson Act
May reduce need for payments in lieu of property tax with project funds
May reduce potential conflict with local governments

17. Implementation and Funding
Identify Governance for Agricultural Mitigation
Land Trusts
RCDs
Conservancies
Commissions
Counties
Other
When funds for mitigation are identified, we need to know who holds the money, who spends the money, and on what.

18. https://AgriculturalLandStewardship.water.ca.gov/
Kamyar Guivetchi, PE
Statewide Integrated Water Mgmt
CA Department Water Resources
(916)