DOC's Division of Land Resource Protection manages a number of programs designed to promote the stewardship of farmland and open-space land in California. FSZs are a modified version of a Williamson Act contract in which a landowner commits to keeping his or her land in agricultural use for 20 rather than 10 years in exchange for additional tax benefits. CFCP easements currently in progress will protect nearly 12,000 acres. The Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program completed its biennial study of land use in the state through the year 1998. Information in the report is valuable for providing a statewide perspective on land conversion.
Local governments use it to understand and plan land use in their communities.
The rate of urbanization was up 25 percent from the previous two-year survey period. Almost 70,000 acres were urbanized from 1996 to 1998. Watershed coordinators help bring together local government, landowners and community groups in order to improve water quality and natural wildlife habitat and preserve scenery. In addition to watershed planning and management, RCDs are authorized to undertake projects such as agricultural land conservation, recreational land restoration, irrigation management, forest stewardship and conservation education.