Presentation for thePolicy Advisory Committee

California Transportation Plan 2040April 15, 2014

Agricultural Land Stewardship Planning

• Proposed projects could have huge impacts

on agriculture through land use changes

• Social and economic impacts not well suited

to CEQA, NEPA action

• Public wants involvement in program

planning

UC Small Farm Program

DWR Recognized a Critical Need:

• Engage Delta Farm Community in the BDCP Ag Issues

DWR Strategy:

• Create Agricultural Land Stewardship Work Group

Our Agricultural Stewardship Approach: • Gather mitigation ideas

• Meet with agricultural interests

• Build a set of creative options

• Refine options with input from agriculture

Principles• Voluntary actions• Consistent with project objectives• Provides benefits where impacts occur• Keep farmers on land

Central Valley Joint Venture

De

California Department of Food and Agriculture

California Department of Conservation

Delta Conservancy

Delta Stewardship Council

Delta Protection Commission

Developed in cooperation with:

Agency Group

• CDFW• State Parks• State Water Quality Control Board• Regional Water Quality Control Board• Office of Planning and Research• USBR• USFWS• NOAA Fisheries

Resource Conservation Districts

California Farm Bureau Federation

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Delta Five-County Farm Bureaus

State Board of Food and Agriculture

California Water Commission

Reclamation Districts

Delta Land Trusts

Types of Engagement

• Formal — commission meetings, conferences• Semi-formal — local governments, permitting

agencies, reclamation districts and other local agencies• Informal — individuals, farm bureaus,

nonprofits• Interactive Website

• Background documents

• Planning Framework

• Strategies

Work Products

Framework Develop Agricultural Land

Stewardship Plans• Integrate projects with existing uses

• Mitigate for loss of farmland

• Address economic and social impacts

Examples of Strategies

Reduce Conflict Between Agriculture and Nearby Habitat Projects

Identify Benefits of Funding for Open Space Subventions e.g., Williamson Act

Examples of Strategies

Examples of Strategies

Agricultural Conservation Easements

CalCan

Improve Transportation Infrastructure

Examples of Strategies

Examples of Strategies

UCANR

Develop Land Use Studies

Promote Economic Development

Examples of Strategies

Identify Governance for Agricultural Mitigation

• RCDs• Land Trusts• Conservancies• Commissions• Counties

Thank You

https://AgriculturalLandStewardship.water.ca.gov/