Difference between revisions of "Use of Sloped Areas in Monterey County"

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(New page: == Use of Sloped Areas of Monterey County == ---- == Summary == ---- The current update for the Monterey County land use plan is being reviewed and open for comment until February 2, ...)
 
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== Use of Sloped Areas of Monterey County ==
 
== Use of Sloped Areas of Monterey County ==
  
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== Summary ==
 
== Summary ==
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The current update for the Monterey County land use plan is being reviewed and open for comment until February 2, 2009.  One issue is the use of sloped areas in the county, which are currently restricted, but not always explicitly.  The updated plan calls for a permit process that would be required of any conversion of slopes greater than 25% to agricultural land uses.  Development of such lands for residences or commercial uses will be prohibited or restricted, depending on the subarea of the county. The pending permit process has had the effect of pressuring property owners to begin tilling marginal high-slope lands so that use will be "grandfathered in", bypassing the permit process.
 
The current update for the Monterey County land use plan is being reviewed and open for comment until February 2, 2009.  One issue is the use of sloped areas in the county, which are currently restricted, but not always explicitly.  The updated plan calls for a permit process that would be required of any conversion of slopes greater than 25% to agricultural land uses.  Development of such lands for residences or commercial uses will be prohibited or restricted, depending on the subarea of the county. The pending permit process has had the effect of pressuring property owners to begin tilling marginal high-slope lands so that use will be "grandfathered in", bypassing the permit process.
  
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== Location ==
 
== Location ==
  
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Monterey County is on the central coast of California,
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Monterey County is on the central coast of California, the Mediterranean climate supports ecosystems on sloped areas ranging from chaparral and coastal scrub, to grazing lands dominated by introduced annual grasses, to Monterey Pine forests and Oak woodlands.
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== Resouces at Stake ==
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Vegetated slopes provide grazing lands for livestock and habitat for a variety of species.  Sloped areas are usable for vineyards, though with decreasing yield and return on steeper slopes.  Disturbance of the soils leads to increased sediment load in streams and rivers and a loss of topsoil, topsoil which is economically unfeasible to replace.  Increased runoff can add to the flood potential of streams and rivers in the watershed.
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== Stakeholders ==
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Though there are environmentally conscience groups such as the Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and local groups concerned about ecological issues, property owners are the biggest stakeholders monetarily.  Actions against violating property owners are often initiated by neighbors impacted by erosion, increased runoff, and/or the visual impact of changes in sloped areas.
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== Laws, Policies, and Regulations ==
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The use of sloped areas is addressed by several regulatory bodies, the Monterey County General plan addresses the use of sloped areas in the following ordinances: General Plan 4.4.2.4, 4.4.3 and 16.12.  Specific area codes addressing slope include S 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.8, NC 1.3, T 3.6, and Cach 3.2.  Open space codes include O.S.1.3-1.6, 3.4, and 3.6, and agricultural regulations are found in Ag5.1 and 5.4.  The above list is not comprehensive and includes uses other than agricultural.  Most regulations require either a permit process or site mitigation for agricultural (pending approval) or other uses on slopes greater than 25%.
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== Systems ==
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Factors affecting the amount of erosion include percent slope, amount and type of organic matter in the soil, soil type, rainfall, and other local factors.  Disturbed lands will support regrowth of vegetation, but rains or irrigation will likely remove some topsoil before plants are established, and topsoil loss will increase even with establishment of vegetation.  Disking and other mechanical activities cause some downhill movement of soil by the simple movement of equipment, and the percolation of water, enhanced by following the roots into lower strata, is greatly diminished once the upper strata are disturbed. Areas left bare, such as those underneath vines, remain highly erosive.
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== Science ==
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http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2000HyPr...14.1289
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http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/departments/espm/extension/EROSION.HTM
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http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8196.pdf

Revision as of 15:50, 28 January 2009

Use of Sloped Areas of Monterey County



Summary

The current update for the Monterey County land use plan is being reviewed and open for comment until February 2, 2009. One issue is the use of sloped areas in the county, which are currently restricted, but not always explicitly. The updated plan calls for a permit process that would be required of any conversion of slopes greater than 25% to agricultural land uses. Development of such lands for residences or commercial uses will be prohibited or restricted, depending on the subarea of the county. The pending permit process has had the effect of pressuring property owners to begin tilling marginal high-slope lands so that use will be "grandfathered in", bypassing the permit process.


Location

Monterey County is on the central coast of California, the Mediterranean climate supports ecosystems on sloped areas ranging from chaparral and coastal scrub, to grazing lands dominated by introduced annual grasses, to Monterey Pine forests and Oak woodlands.


Resouces at Stake

Vegetated slopes provide grazing lands for livestock and habitat for a variety of species. Sloped areas are usable for vineyards, though with decreasing yield and return on steeper slopes. Disturbance of the soils leads to increased sediment load in streams and rivers and a loss of topsoil, topsoil which is economically unfeasible to replace. Increased runoff can add to the flood potential of streams and rivers in the watershed.

Stakeholders

Though there are environmentally conscience groups such as the Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and local groups concerned about ecological issues, property owners are the biggest stakeholders monetarily. Actions against violating property owners are often initiated by neighbors impacted by erosion, increased runoff, and/or the visual impact of changes in sloped areas.


Laws, Policies, and Regulations

The use of sloped areas is addressed by several regulatory bodies, the Monterey County General plan addresses the use of sloped areas in the following ordinances: General Plan 4.4.2.4, 4.4.3 and 16.12. Specific area codes addressing slope include S 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.8, NC 1.3, T 3.6, and Cach 3.2. Open space codes include O.S.1.3-1.6, 3.4, and 3.6, and agricultural regulations are found in Ag5.1 and 5.4. The above list is not comprehensive and includes uses other than agricultural. Most regulations require either a permit process or site mitigation for agricultural (pending approval) or other uses on slopes greater than 25%.


Systems

Factors affecting the amount of erosion include percent slope, amount and type of organic matter in the soil, soil type, rainfall, and other local factors. Disturbed lands will support regrowth of vegetation, but rains or irrigation will likely remove some topsoil before plants are established, and topsoil loss will increase even with establishment of vegetation. Disking and other mechanical activities cause some downhill movement of soil by the simple movement of equipment, and the percolation of water, enhanced by following the roots into lower strata, is greatly diminished once the upper strata are disturbed. Areas left bare, such as those underneath vines, remain highly erosive.


Science

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2000HyPr...14.1289

http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/departments/espm/extension/EROSION.HTM

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8196.pdf