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SACRAMENTO – Both
urbanization and agricultural
development have slowed in Monterey
County compared with the late 1990s,
according to a new study by the
California Department of Conservation.
Between 2000 and
2002, urban land increased by 1,576
acres, compared with 2,457 acres from
1998-2000. Net increases in irrigated
land dropped to 1,536 acres from the
staggering 14,611-acre increase reported
in the 1998-2000 report.
The Farmland Mapping
and Monitoring Program (FMMP), part of
DOC's Division of Land Resource
Protection, documents land-use
conversion on 45.8 million acres of
California’s private and public land
every two years. The maps and statistics
are designed to help local governments
evaluate land-use planning decisions.
The 2002 analysis is nearly complete
statewide, while 2004 mapping is
underway.
“This information
helps counties and cities see the
patterns and make informed choices about
how they want to direct growth in the
future,” Department of Conservation
Director Darryl Young said. “The
population of California will continue
to grow, and it’s vital that we ensure
there’s enough room for people and
agriculture.”
The Farmland Mapping
and Monitoring Program classifies land
as either farmland (prime being the best
of four types of farmland), grazing
land, urban land, other land or water.
The “other” category includes
low-density "ranchettes," wetlands, and
brush or timberlands unsuitable for
grazing.
In Monterey County,
irrigated farmland categories saw
increases, primarily due to new
vineyards and row crops. More than 86
percent of the net increase in irrigated
land occurred on lesser-quality soils,
known as Unique Farmland. Grazing land
was the only category that experienced a
net decrease, as more than 3,000 acres
were converted to irrigated, urban, or
other low-density rural uses.
In addition, cities
within Monterey County reported that
more than 1,000 acres – including 618
acres of prime farmland – have been
committed to future non-agricultural use
due to the approval of subdivision maps,
the sale of bonds for infrastructure, or
other permanent commitments.
Examples of recent
urbanization in Monterey County include
five developments involving homes,
commercial buildings or parks around
Salinas, ranging from 26-38 acres; a
104-acre housing development in Soledad;
increased housing density in Seaside and
Prunedale affecting 138 and 135 acres,
respectively; and a 33-acre development
in Monterey.
The agricultural land
in Monterey County will continue to face
development pressure in the foreseeable
future. The California Department of
Finance projects that the county’s
population will increase from about
408,700 in 2000 to more than 590,000 by
2020.
According to the
California Department of Food and
Agriculture, the gross value of Monterey
County’s agricultural production was
more than $2.8 billion in 2002, ranking
it behind only Fresno and Tulare among
the state’s 58 counties.
The maps have been
sent to county planning officials and
organizations such as the county Farm
Bureau, Local Agency Formation
Commission, city planners, irrigation
districts and county resource
conservation districts. Printed copies,
enlargements, or digital versions of the
maps are available to the public. Call
(916) 324-0859 or email
fmmp@consrv.ca.gov for more
information.
The latest statewide
study by the FMMP, Farmland Conversion
Report 1998-2000, was released last
June. More than 91,000 acres were
urbanized throughout the state – a
30-percent increase from the 1996-98
mapping cycle – and 27 percent of that
total came from irrigated farmland.
Through the
Department of Conservation, the state
offers programs that provide financial
incentives to keep land in agricultural
use.
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