Stanislaus growth measure passes. Local voters sent two strong messages Tuesday.  That they are ready for change in how the city of Modesto operates and that they want growth in Stanislaus County brought under better control. Measure E calls for citizens to vote before the county approves any major new housing developments on Ag land outside of cities.

“ Davis Sphere of Influence”   Feb. 05, 2008 Davis Enterprise

The city of Davis sphere of influence was last updated in 1988.  Twenty years later, it’s coming up for review, and the agency that administers the sphere is proposing a smaller boundary to preserve more prime agricultural land.

“Water Laws May Throttle Growth” January 14, 2008 Los Angeles Times

Statues force a district near Lake Perris to assess whether supply will be available for huge warehouse project, which is now on hold.

American Farmland Trust Releases Report on Farmland Conversion Trends

AFT has release a report titled “Paving Paradise: A New Perspective on California Farmland Conversion” Some of the major findings:

One sixth of all the land urbanized in California since the Gold Rush was urbanized between 1990 and 2004.

Urban development is disproportionately targeting the state’s best farmland and is very inefficient, consuming an acre of land for every 9.4 people.

In the state’s most important agricultural regions, a larger percentage of high quality farmland is being developed, and development is less efficient, than in the state as a whole.

Rural “ranchettes” the most inefficient kind of development, may account for a quarter of all the land devoted to developed uses in the Central Valley , the state’s premier agricultural area.

Cook Cattle Ranch Easement

The Trust for Public Land and the California Rangeland Trust announced the protection of the Cook Cattle Ranch, a 2235 acre working ranch located just 13 miles east of Stockton , where similar properties are being subdivided and sold as ranchettes. A conservation easement ensures this family operation will be spared that fate, and preserves its highly productive grasslands for grazing and agricultural use.