1. Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program
DRAFT GUIDELINE WORKSHOPS
October 24 | Oroville, CA
October 29 | Bakersfield, CA
October 30 | Watsonville, CA
11/24/2019

2. Strategic Growth Council
$130 million
Department of Conservation
$5 million
Housing and Community Development $120 million
Do we want to include somewhere? Asked Julie if she wanted to use since she is going first.
Ag Lands Conservation
Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities
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3. Goals of the SALC Program:
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL LANDS CONSERVATION PROGRAM
Goals of the SALC Program:
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide other co-benefits,
Focus on agricultural lands most critical/ at risk of conversion to non-agricultural uses, and
Leverage the investments.
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4. Proposed SALC Program Structure
Strategy FY : ~$1m
Easements FY 2014: ~$4m
Management Practices Future Years
Program Elements
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5. Agricultural Land Strategy Grants to Identify important/critical ag lands and prepare strategies to guide protection
Eligible applicants: counties and/or cities in collaboration with partners
Maximum grant award up to $100,000, with a required 10% local match
Example projects –updates to General Plans to include an agricultural element, inventories of agriculturally zoned lands to establish local priorities for conservation, community consensus-building activities to develop ag preservation strategies.
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6. Strategy Grants – Scoring Criteria 100 points total
Need for the proposed plan or strategy
40 points
Integration of Entities and Existing Resources
25 points
Community Involvement and Participation
20 points
Disadvantaged Community Impacts
5 points
Organizational Capacity
10 points
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7. Strategy Grants – What to Submit1
Application Form Cover Sheet 2
Answers to the application scoring criteria questions (no more than 8 pages). 3
Work plan, which describes the specific steps that will be taken to develop the ag land strategy or plan, including benchmarks, target completion dates, and a cost estimate. 4
Work Plan Summary 5
Area map of what will be covered by the proposed plan 6
Signed authorizing resolution from governing body. 7
Disadvantaged Community evidence (if applicable) 8
Support letters/ evidence of collaboration.
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8. Agricultural Conservation Easements to permanently protect important/critical ag lands
Eligible applicants: cities, counties, nonprofits, resource conservation districts, regional park or open space districts or authorities.
No maximum award, but requires a match of 50% or more toward the direct easement acquisition total.
Example projects – acquisitions that demonstrate risk of conversion to non-agricultural use; contributes toward AB 32 goals; is part of a long-term commitment to ag land conservation.
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9. Agricultural Easements: Criteria for Consideration
Project demonstrates the contribution that the easement will make toward meeting AB 32 goals, including but not limited to:
Decreased number of parcels or development rights, thereby avoiding future increases to vehicle miles travelled;
Locations that would support the establishment of greenbelts or urban separators;
Carbon sequestration potential;
Participation in land management or energy efficiency programs that contribute to overall improved efficiency in the agricultural operation
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10. Agricultural Easements: Criteria for Consideration (Continued)
Parcel is large enough to sustain commercial agricultural production, and is in an area that possesses the necessary market, infrastructure, and agricultural support services
Without conservation, the land proposed for protection is likely to be converted to non-agricultural use in the foreseeable future.
The proposal is consistent with the city or county general plan, and the governing body (by resolution) approves the proposal.
The applicable city or county has a general plan that demonstrates a long-term commitment to agricultural land conservation.
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11. Agricultural Easement Grants– What to Submit1
Application Form Checklist and Cover Sheet 2
Executive Summary (1 page maximum) 3
Budget 4
Easement Project Summary 5
Project Characteristics (6 pages maximum) 6
Documentation of Public Notice 7
Preliminary Title Report and Assessor's Parcel Map 8
Appraisal 9
Landowner Letter of Support 10
Conflict of Interest Certification 11
Easement Monitoring Plan (3 pages maximum) 12
Other components and certifications, as applicable
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12. Upcoming Milestones
Strategy Grants (up to $1 M available) December 17: Guidelines Approval, SGC Council Meeting January 2015: Call for Proposals Released March 2015: Applications Due June 2015: Awards Recommend to SGC Council for Approval
Agricultural Easements (up to $4 M) December 17: Guidelines Approval, SGC Council Meeting January 2015: Call for Proposals Released March 2015: Applications Due June 2015: Awards Recommended to SGC Council for Approval July 2015 and beyond: Applications will be accepted at any time and will be reviewed periodically (3x per year) for approval at future Council meetings
Agricultural Lands Management Practices Proposed for future funding cycles.
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13. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL LANDS CONSERVATION PROGRAM
Comments on the draft SALC program guidelines should be submitted by OCTOBER 31, 2014, to
More information on the SGC website at:
THANK YOU!
11/24/2019