Chapter 1 - Caltrans - State of California

Chapter 2 Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, and Mitigation Measures
valued crops within Santa Barbara County. Strawberries are also important in Ventura
County, as well as nursery stock, lemons, celery, and tomatoes.
There is approximately 1,000 acres of non-preserve agricultural lands located in the
Ventura north coast area. Prime soils occur on about 130 of the 1,000 acres. Most of the
130 acres are zones "C-A" (Coastal Agricultural, 40 acre minimum). The rest of the nonpreserve
agricultural acreage is primarily zoned "C-O-S" (Coastal Open Space, 10 acre
minimum). These other agricultural lands occur in parcel sizes of seven to 65 acres.
According to the 2006 Santa Barbara County Agricultural Production Report, gross
production was valued at approximately $1 billion, which is a $19.1 million increase in
gross value as compared to 2005 figures. According to the 2006 Ventura County Crop
Report, the estimated gross value for agriculture was valued at approximately $1.5
billion, which is a $282 million increase as compared to 2005 figures. According to the
Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, between 1984 and 2006, Santa Barbara
County lost 11,091 acres of agricultural land, representing approximately one percent of
the County’s total inventoried area. Similarly, Ventura County lost 21,204 acres of
agricultural land within the same period. This represents approximately four percent of
the County’s total inventoried area.
About 70 percent, 2,300 acres, of the Ventura County north coast agricultural lands are in
two of the four agricultural preserves under the California Land Conservation Act (a.k.a.,
the Williamson Act) within the project limits. The four preserves are:
1. Rincon Del Mar Preserve: Consists of three preserves, 409 acres of which are in the
zone. The steep slopes have been graded to accommodate avocado orchards. The area is
zoned "C-A" (Coastal Agricultural, 40 acre minimum lot size).
2. La Conchita Preserve: Immediately inland from the community of La Conchita, 342
acres of this preserve are in the coastal zone. The property has steep slopes, and avocado
production is the primary agricultural use. The zoning for the 342 acres is "C-A".
3. Faria Family Partnership: Consists of a single parcel of 249.76 acres almost entirely
within the coastal zone. A portion of the land is used for nursery and field crops, with the
rest open field and hilly terrain. The zoning for the portion of the property within the
coastal zone is "C-A".
4. Claeyssen (Taylor) Ranch Preserve: Seven parcels with coastal zone portions ranging
in size from 15 to 290 acres, totaling about 1,320 acres. Grazing and row crops near the
Ventura River are the primary agricultural uses. The zoning for the lands within the
42 IS/EA VEN-SB US101 HOV Project