Urban encroachment on agriculture in Northern California

Urban Encroachment on Agriculture in Northern California

In the past few years, the continued loss of rich agricultural lands in Northern California to urban encroachment has emerged as an issue of significant concern to land use specialists, regional planners, government officials and historical researchers alike. The population in California is expected to increase by about one third over the next 30 years. It is estimated that the majority of this population will spread to the metropolitan areas, which are already facing difficulties in making accommodations for new development. As new developments grow, the existing land typically used for agriculture seems to be diminishing. As a result, California is slowly using up all of its agricultural resources to the growth of cities to maintain the population. This is an increasing concern for California, and regional planners have estimated that the irreplaceable loss of land will have harmful lasting effects into the future. Agriculture in California is a $26 billion dollar industry, and if not abated, the potential loss over the next 40 to 80 years is predicted to devastate California's agricultural base (Californians for Population Stabilization, 2002). Thus, new studies in urban planning are critical to ensure that agriculture has a secure future in Northern California.

Purpose of the Study long-term research study conducted with the goal of examining California's urban encroachment issue will become a critical factor for the state officials to consider when making decisions regarding land planning in California's future. The purpose of such a study would take into consideration many of the factors that will be discussed below. California is the third largest state in the United States, with a landscape that contains mountains, hills, peaks and numerous fertile basins. California's population consists of more than 34 million people, with future growth predicted to be 45 million people n 2020. The urban areas and economic production of California are found in the valleys and lowlands, and manufacturing, agriculture, and related activities are California's principle sources of income. They are based in large part on the state's wealth of natural resources, its productive farmlands, its large and highly skilled labor force, and its ability to market its output both at home and abroad (Encarta, 1006). If past trends continue, the majority of California's population growth will occur at the edges of existing metropolitan areas, thus increasing the need for population planning. As suburban growth consumes ever more critical habitat, remaining natural areas in California take on new importance as ecological preserves, especially in coastal and desert areas (Landis & Reilly, 2001).

In addition to population planning, the encroachment of urban growth will have severe impacts on local land use and the environment. This paper will provide a case study of the past, present and future affects of urban encroachment in Northern California, and will offer the state's governor solutions to adequately prepare the legislature for future encroachment issues. It will focus on the San Joaquin Valley area, but will touch on other areas as well. The purpose of the study is to examine the past history of urban encroachment, in correlation with statistical and graphical data, to determine the direction and pattern urban encroachment will take in the future. The literature review in this paper will provide an illustration of the affects of urban encroachment in California over the last 60 years, noting patterns and trends. The paper will conclude with recommendations for protecting the agriculture in Northern California from future urban encroachment.

History of San Joaquin Valley

The San Joaquin Valley area is a large area that consists of 8 different counties; it can be described as the southern portion of the Central Valley of California that extends from the Sierra Nevada to the Coast Ranges. The Mexican-American settlement of the San Joaquin Valley began in the 19th century, and since that time, this region has been a significant agricultural region. In the Central Valley, average temperatures are 80 degrees Fahrenheit in July and 45 degrees Fahrenheit in January (MSN Encarta, 2006). Precipitation varies from more than 30 inches in a year in the valley's northern part to less than 6 inches at its southern tip (MSN Encarta, 2006). As a result of these fair temperatures, the San Joaquin Valley area has historically been a rich agricultural region, with the capability to nurture a diverse and changing crop pattern over the years. The rich agricultural land is also the result of soil that consists of materials washed down from the surrounding mountains that contains trace elements. The areas of California that are not rich ion agricultural lands consist of dense forests where many species live and thrive.

The Gold Rush of 1849 can be attributed for changing the pattern of growth in California. As a result of the Gold Rush, people flocked to the state in search of becoming rich. Many stayed and made homes there, and in the 1970's the Central Pacific Railroad was extended into the valley. Although the farmers had many conflicts with the railroad, the railroad connected markets and the agricultural industry in California rose exponentially. As a result, during the time between the 19th and 20th centuries, the San Joaquin Valley underwent a significant transformation, from a "sparsely inhabited natural area to a center of large-scale agriculture (Teitz et.al., 2005)." During this period the wetlands and natural waterways were converted to farmlands, and farming was so strongly ties to transportation that in many cases the wheat fields ended where the railroad line ended (Teitz et.al., 2005). Agriculture became the only source of income in the valley, maintained by the railroad that connected towns. In the 1930's the United States Bureau of Reclamation sponsored a project named the Central Valley Project. This project consisted of the building of an extensive system of dams, reservoirs, and irrigation canals to supply water to the Central Valley for irrigation and urban use. As a result, fishing and forestry became more important to the people that lived there.

After the Gold Rush, minerals such as petroleum were exploited, and as the population increased, other manufacturing industries sprouted up. The motion-picture, radio, and even television industries added other dimensions to the economy (MSN Encarta, 2006). World War II (1939-1945) increased industrial development, government, educational services and tourism. California suffered a mild recession in the early 1990's, but fully recovered toward the end of the decade. For example, in 1997, California topped all of the other states with farm sales of 23 billion dollars. Several of the state's commodities have annual sales of more than 1 billion dollars, including milk, cream, grapes, vegetables, melon, cattle, poultry, eggs and cotton seed (MSN Encarta, 2006). California produces more variety and more crops than any of the other states, making its farms more productive. California accounts for nearly the entire U.S. production of walnuts, almonds, nectarines, olives, dates, figs and pomegranates (MSN Encarta, 2006). In fact, almost every crop grown in the United States is grown in some part in California.

Conservationists already consider urban encroachment on farmland to be a serious problem around the cities growing in the south. One of California's greatest problems is the lack of an adequate water supply to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. This is problematic because in the 1940's and 1950's, California's annual fishing catch was larger than any other state. However, this has deceased as a result of the increasing value of Alaska's fish catch. Among the most important commercial fish caught in California are species of halibut, tuna, salmon, mackerel, crab and shrimp (MSN Encarta, 2006). In the drier parts of the state, cattle and sheep are raised, and California leads the nation in egg and milk production as a result. In the parts of California not covered by rich agricultural lands, dense forests also contribute to another economic activity. Lumbering is an important aspect found in the Sierra Nevada and northwestern California, with about two-fifths of the land classified as commercial forest. Mining is also important in California, but not nearly important as its agricultural production. Thus, as this brief historical overview indicates, agriculture is the single most important economic activity that is central to California's San Joaquin Valley's successful existence.

Geographical patterns are key to understanding the manner in which urbanization spreads in an area. Historically the San Joaquin Valley area has grown, but the majority of this growth occurred during the period between the 19th and 20th centuries. However, an examination of the growth pattern reveals that the current population density of the San Joaquin Valley is 5.6 persons per urbanized acre (Teitz et.al., 2005). Additionally, some counties have a population density that is higher than in the agricultural areas; this is said to be a function n of household size rather than more compact development patterns in cities. Population density statistics measure the number of people occupying one acre of urbanized space. In 2000, the California consensus reported 33,871,648 people, which is an increase of 13.8% from the previous decade. This is a 30% increase from the population in 1980. In 2005, the average population density was 89 persons per square mile, and the majority of the population is located in southern California, the San Francisco Bay area, and the Central Valley (MSN Encarta, 2006). The sections below examine the geographical patterns of California in relation to the issue of urban encroachment.

Literature Review

Many researchers have studies the historical patterns of agriculture in California and have determined that it's loss is quickly approaching. These researchers have studied the decline of agriculture as a result of urban encroachment. Researchers have defined urban "encroachment" as consisting of related growth, noise, and environmental issues. Research by Grunwald (1993), involved an analysis of the probable pattern of urbanization in California as indicated by the study of current trends. This study concluded that if existing trends continued, the increase of urban and metropolitan growth along Highway 99 in California would eliminate any sense of travel through an agricultural region that comprises most of Highway 99 today. Additionally, the Grunwald (1993) research concluded that new sources of water need to be tapped for interregional transport to the Central Valley from Northern California, because the demands would be too high. Grunwald (1993) concludes that urban demands for water would be satiable only by the permanent sale of agricultural water rights to urban water agencies in the valley. This research recommends actions that the California state government needs to take, such as a regional approach to decision-making. This regional approach to decision-making, according to Grunwald (1993), would be regional planning that recognizes the need for an immediate approach between the extremes of regional government organization at the local level and at the state level.

Grunwald's 1993 research explains how the state exercise of authority must extent broader than what is presently provided by currently existing statutes. According to Grunwald (1993), the present day planning policies of the state are not as strong as they were in the 1960's when water, highway, recreation and higher education planning had peaked. Other researchers have built on Grunwald's research and as a result, have highlighted the importance of urban planning for the preservation of agriculture in California's future. An environmental management plan is a plan that describes the processes that an organization will follow to maximize its' compliance and minimize harm to the environment. It supports an environmental assessment because an environmental management plan assist an organization in mapping it's progress toward achieving continual improvements. The level and detail of an environmental assessment plan varies based on the type of organization, the complexity of its processes and the maturity of the organization in understanding its environmental responsibilities. According to the research, all plans consist of: 1) policy, 2) planning, 3) implementation and operation, 4) checking and corrective action, and 5) management review and commitment to improvement. After the assessment is completed, the organization can match the assessment to an overall policy and planning phase that will help anchor the organization to a core set of beliefs, or environmental guiding principles that will keep all organization members on the right track.

While some research studies have focused on the affects of urban encroachment on agriculture, other studies have included species in their studies of urbanization, since wild species populations have some effect on agricultural patterns. Some research regarding the affects of urban encroachment in Northern California note the effects on endangered and threatened species habitats. Some researchers have studied nature as it is harmed by the spread of military operations, which is a form of urban encroachment that is notably increasing. Research on the effects of urban encroachment as a result of military operations in California by Landis and Reilly (2001), indicate that more than half of California's plant and animal species are listed as threatened or endangered, and many of California's larger military operations contain large areas of these habitats. The California Department of Finance (DOF) estimates that California's population will grow by more than 10 million persons between 2000 and 2020. More than 90% of California's population growth will occur within existing metropolitan areas, and almost 60% will occur in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and Ventura County (Landis & Reilly, 2001). Studies by Landis and Reilly (2001) conclude that with respect to future urban encroachment, where population growth occurs is as important as how much occurs.

Many researchers have studies the affects of geographical indicators of where people settle in relation to urban encroachment in California. These researchers have used patterns and trends derived from historical data on urban growth to project the future shape and extent of urban areas. Teitz et.al. (2005), uses an accommodating urban development scenario, that assumes that the underlying urbanization patterns of the last 60 years will continue 40 years into the future. According to Teitz et.al., this scenario assumes no significant regional constraints on urban growth will occur. This is a realistic expectation due to the fact that the San Joaquin Valley has very few natural obstacles that would prevent growth, such as mountains. Additionally, there are very little federally protected lands that do not allow for new developments. This analysis by Teitz et.al. (2005) differs from Landis and Reilly (2001)'s research slightly, in that Landis and Reilly do not address the issue of unprotected lands.

Landis and Reilly (2001) studied the issues surrounding threatened and endangered species as compared with major military installation locations. Landis and Reilly (2001) studied past urbanization patterns and military locations, and determined that military development occurred on undeveloped lands, where wild species cultivated. Their research used indicators to measure the amount, quality, and share of threatened and endangered vertebrate species habitat within the boundaries of each military location. For example, For example, at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, the urban development in 1996 was 8%. This is projected to increase to 50% by 2020. At the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, in 1996 the urban development was 85%, but is only projected to increase to 86% in 2020. At Camp Pendleton, the urban development for 1996 was 9%, expected to increase to 16% by 2020. They examined many more military locations in California and concluded that the military locations most likely to be immediately impacted by future urban growth were those at the fringe of fast growing suburban counties (Landis & Reilly, 2001). Their research is summarized in Chart 2, which depicts the forecasted urbanization development on California military bases.

They found that locations in more remote areas would be less likely to suffer immediate urban encroachment, as illustrated by the predicted growth for the location in Monterey. The research also concluded that while most California military locations will suffer from increasing urban encroachment, the largest encroachment impacts will be limited to just a few locations. Another study conducted in 1995 by the American Farmland Trust, examined urban encroachment in a smaller area that extended from Sutter County to Kern County. This study concluded the following regarding the loss of agricultural lands: 1) Housing should be better designed with somewhat higher densities overall; 2) Fragmented urban sprawl should be ended and replaced by contiguous urban growth and infill of vacant lands; 3) The most important farmland be designated as strategic agricultural reserve, with a secure supply of affordable water; and 4) The creation of an officially sanctioned public or private task force, or commission to lay the groundwork for further action to achieve more compact and efficient urban growth (American Farmland Trust, 1995). This study concluded the same main finding of Grunwald's (1993) research, that the anticipated urban pattern will ultimately lead to a trend in agricultural loss.

Teitz et.al. (2005) also address the issue of agricultural loss in their analysis of the prime farmland conservation scenario, which permits "urbanization to continue following the historical pattern but prohibits urbanization of all 3.2 million acres of prime farmland in the San Joaquin Valley." This research states that this land is available for urban development, but is protected as "farmland of statewide importance." Teitz et.al.'s 2005 research also analyzes proposals for a high speed rail system that are currently underway to connect the Bay Area and Sacramento to Los Angeles. Under this scenario, the researchers predict that the probability of urbanization will increase within a 20-mile radius of the stations. The positive side to this analysis is that the urbanization is predicted to stay within the 20-mile radius of the rail stations, and would not go outside this radius. Finally, research by this group also assumes that Highway 65 will be extended and upgraded, and would increase east-west routes. The increase of east-west routes would result in new development along these routes, and growth would occur along the sides of the highway. Other researchers have built on this research, and have mapped out results of these predictions and how agricultural patterns in California would be affected.

Platzek and Cone (1998) studied population growth and urban encroachment over a longer period of time than most of the other researchers estimated. They studied California's Central Valley, which is currently one of the world's most important farming regions, and made predictions up until the year 2080. Their rationale behind this elongated study was to study the pattern of urbanization over the lifetime of one person. Their research indicates that in 1990, approximately 740,000 acres, or 7.3% of the valley floor had already been urbanized (Platzek & Cone, 1998). According to their studies, in 1990, the population of the Central Valley counties was approximately 3.6 million, and in 1997 had grown to 5.7 million.The valley floor has about 10.2 million acres of which nearly 92 million are identified as "original irrigable farmland (Platzek & Cone, 1998)." Their research made many predictions regarding population increases and how many acres urbanization would occupy in the future. By 2080, urbanization may occupy more than 4.0 million acres, or 40% of the valley floor, and the amount of remaining farmland would drop to about 3.9 million acres or only 48% of current farmland acreage (Platzek & Cone, 1998).