PAGE 1 Show Image
RESOURCES ELEMENT -
z
w
ADVANCE PLANNING
z
PROGRAM
0
0
C)'
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PAGE 2 Show Image
COUNTY OF ORANGE
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AGENCY
COMPONENT II
ADVANCE PLANNING PROGRAM
RESOURCES ELENENT
MICHAEL M. RUANE
DIRECTOR
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
ROGER R. STANTON DONALD J. SALTARELLI
First District Third District
JAMES W. SILVA WILLIAM G. STEINER
Second District Fourth District
MARIAN BERGESON
Fifth District
PAGE 3 Show Image
ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
First District Michael Potts
Second District Shirley Commons-Long
Third District Clarice Blamer
Fourth District Chuck McBurney
Fifth District Thomas Moody
Prepared under Direction of:
Thomas B. Mathews, Director of Planning Function
Joan S. Golding, Manager of Advance Planning
Element Planning Section:
Robert Aldrich, Chief
Brian Judd
RESOURCES ELEMENT
April 18, 1984
(GENERAL PLAN MODERNIZATION)
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RESOLUTION
No. 84-551
Revised: 05/22/85 Resolution No. 85-791/RES 85-1
11/13/85 Resolution No. 85-1620/RES 85-3
02/19/86 Resolution No. 86-193/RES 85-2
05/06/87 Resolution No. 87-621/RES 87-1
09/28/88 Resolution No. 88-1355/RES 88-1
05/24/89 Resolution No. 89-793/RES 89-1
05/07/91 Resolution No. 91-533/RES 91-1
11/08/94 Voter Approved Measure A Initiative/Res 94-1
BJ:hdCOVER.wp (1/15/96)
PAGE 4 Show Image
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter One: Introduction
A. Overview RES-l-1
B. Scope and Purpose of Element RES-l-1
C. Relationship to the Advance Planning Program RES-1-3
I. Component I: Long-Range Planning Framework RES-l-3
2. Component II: The General Plan Elements RES-1-3
3. Component III: Community Profiles RES-1-3
D. Related Planning Programs and Agencies RES-1-3
1. Orange County Preferred-Ill Demographic
Projections RES-1-4
2. National and State Planning Agencies RES-l-4
Chapter Two: Inventory of Current and Future Prospects
A. Introduction RES-2-l
B. County Growth Trends RES-2-l
1. Data Sources RES-2-l
2. Development Patterns and Trends RES-2-l
C. Characteristics of Existing County Resources RES-2-ll
1. Natural Resources RES-2-11
a. Agricultural Resources RES-2-ll
b. Mineral Resources RES-2-15
c. Wildlife and Vegetation Habitats RES-2-22
d. Landforms RES-2-26
2. Energy Resources RES-2-33
a. Introduction RES-2-33
b. Identification of County Energy Resources RES-2-33
c. Existing and Projected Consumption Patterns RES-2-38
d. Energy Resource Utilization by Sector RES-2-44
3. Water Resources RES-2-48
a. Introduction RES-2-48
b. Identification of County Resources RES-2-48
c. Water Resources Management RES-2-57
d. Water Use in Orange County RES-2-63
4. Air Resources RES-2-68
a. Introduction RES-2-68
b. Historical Background RES-2-68
c. Air Quality Overview RES-2-71
d. Air Quality Analysis RES-2-75
e. County and Regional Air Resources Management RES-2-82
5. Open Space RES-2-86
a. Introduction RES-2-86
b. Open Space/Conservation Program RES-2-86
Implementation to Date
c. Summary of Inventory Data RES-2-87
d. Conclusion RES-2-93
6. Cultural-Historic Resources RES-2-94
a. Overview RES-2-94
b. Background RES-2-94
c. Location/Sensitivity RES-2-95
-1-
PAGE 5 Show Image
Chapter Three: Constraints and Opportunities
A. Overview RES-3-l
B. Constraints RES-3-l
1. Environmental Constraints RES-3-1
2. Governmental Constraints RES-3-2
3. Economic and Market Constraints RES-3-2
4. Legal Constraints RES-3-2
C. Opportunities RES-3-3
1. Environmental Opportunities RES-3-3
2. Governmental Opportunities RES-3-3
3. Economic and Market Opportunities RES-3-4
4. Legal Opportunities RES-3-4
Chapter Four: Natural Resources Component
A. Overview RES-4-l
B. Goals and Objectives RES-4-l
C. Policies RES-4-2
D. Implementation Programs RES-4-3
Chapter Five: Energy Resources Component
A. Overview RES-5-l
B. Goals, Objectives and Policies RES-5-l
C. Implementation Programs RES-5-3
Chapter Six: Water Resources Component
A. Overview RES-6-l
B. Goal, Objectives and Policies RES-6-l
C. Implementation Programs RES-6-2
Chapter Seven: Air Resources Component
A. Overview RES-7-1
B. Goals and Objectives RES-7-l
C. Policies RES-7-l
D. Implementation Programs RES-7-l
Chapter Eight: Open Space Component
A. Introduction RES-8-l
B. Goals, Objectives and Policies RES-8-4
C. Open Space/Conservation Program Map RES-8-5
D. Implementation Programs RES-8-14
Appendix 1. Open Space Dedication Definitions RES-8-21
Appendix 2. Description of Financing Program Funds RES-8-23
-11-
PAGE 6 Show Image
Chapter Nine: Cultural and Historic Resources Component
A. Overview RES-9-l
1. Background RES-9-l
2. Purpose RES-9-3
B. Goals, Objectives and Policies RES-9-4
C. Implementation Programs RES-9-8
Appendices
A. Resources Element Implementation Programs RES-A-l
B. Related Planning Agencies RES-B-l
C. Mineral Resources Background Material: RES-C-l
SMRRA and Related Programs
D. Chronology of Air Quality Legislation and Planning RES-D-l
E. Comparative Control Measures of the 1988, 1982 RES-E-l
and 1979 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP)
F. List of Acronyms/Abbreviations RES-F-l
G. Bibliography RES-G-1
H. Board of Supervisors Resolution RES-H-l
-iii-
PAGE 7 Show Image
LIST OF TABLES, CHARTS AND MAPS
Tables
2-1 Orange County Demographic Projections RES-2-2
2-2 Projected Population Growth Trends RES-2-5
2-3 Projected Housing Growth Trends RES-2-7
2-4 Projected Employment Growth Trends RES-2-9
2-5 Aggregate Resources of the Orange County P-C Region RES-2-20
2-6 Projected Aggregate Consumption Orange County Region RES-2-2l
2-7 Water Volume Comparisons RES-2-48
2-8A 1985 Emissions in Orange County RES-2-80
2-8B 2010 Emissions in Orange County RES-2-8l
2-9 Regional Open Space RES-2-89
2-10 Non-Regional Open Space RES-2-90
2-11 Other Open Space RES-2-91
2-12 Total Open Space - All Sources RES-2-92
Charts
2-1 Orange County Socioeconomic Projections RES-2-3
2-2 Countywide Energy Consumption RES-2-39
2-3 Energy Demand in Orange County RES-2-41
2-4 Electric Power Generation by Energy Source/Technology RES-2-42
2-S Natural Gas Supplies Available to Southern California RES-2-43
2-6 Energy Use by Sector RES-2-45
2-7 Residential Energy Consumption RES-2-46
2-8 Orange County Water Resource Sources RES-2-49
2-9 Orange County Groundwater Basin and History RES-2-59
2-10 Water Use in Orange County RES-2-64
-lv-
PAGE 8 Show Image
Maps
1-1 Regional Statistical Areas RES-1-2
2-2 Population RES-2-6
2-3 Housing Units RES-2-8
2-4 Employment RES-2-10
2-5 Important Farmlands of Orange County (Generalized) RES-2-13
2-6 Orange County Agricultural Preserves (Generalized) RES-2-1G
2-7 Orange County Mineral Resources (Generalized) RES-2-18
2-8 Wildlife Habitat Areas (Generalized) RES-2-23
2-9 Orange County Landforms (Generalized) RES-2-27
2-10 Orange County Energy Resources (Generalized) RES-2-34
2-11 Orange County Groundwater Basin RES-2-5l
2-12 California Water Delivery Systems RES-2-55
2-13 Paleontology - General Areas of Sensitivity RES-2-97
2-14 Prehistoric Archaeology - General Areas of Sensitivity RES-2-98
2-15 Orange County's Historical Areas RES-2-99
Oversize Figures
1 Open Space/Conservation Program Map Fold-out
2 Open Space/Conservation Program Implementation Fold-out
PAGE 9 Show Image
PAGE 10 Show Image
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
A. Overview
The Resources Element, one of eight elements of the General Plan,
contains official County policies on the conservation and management of
resources. The eight elements provide the mid-range (15- to 20-year)
portion of the planning program and focus on objectives and policies at
the Regional Statistical Area (RSA) level (See Map 1-i.) All elements
have the same horizon year (2000) and growth assumptions to ensure
internal consistency. The Resources Element identifies policies and
programs in other County General Plan Elements that affect resources and
provides guidance for future resource planning studies for the
unincorporated portion of the county.
The Resources Element text is divided into eight chapters. The first
chapter provides an overview of the scope and purpose of the Resources
Element. Chapter Two is an inventory of existing and projected future
growth and development patterns and the resource characteristics of the
county. Future demands, planning constraints, and the resultant resource
deficiencies are presented in Chapter Three. Chapters Four through Eight
("The Components") each focus on a separate resource category: natural
resources, energy, water, open space, and cultural-historic. In addition
to goals and objectives, these chapters provide implementation policies
and programs that address the constraints and deficiencies identified in
Chapter Three. Reference materials and supporting data for the Resources
Element text are contained in the appendices.
B. Scope and Purpose of the Element
The Resources Element sets forth a comprehensive strategy for the
development, management, preservation, and conservation of resources that
are necessary to meet Orange County's existing and future demands. This
strategy is expressed as an integrated framework of resource goals,
policies, and programs. The goals of the element are consistent with
state requirements and are primarily based on quantified obj.ectives, an
assessment of resource needs, and identification of problems impeding the
development, management, preservation, or conservation of county
resources. The policies and programs of the Resources Element form an
effective implementation plan to meet the established goals.
Consequently, the Resources Element serves to guide and direct local
government decision-making in resource-related matters and also
facilitates coordination with regional, state, and federal resource
policies and programs.
The primary objectives of the Resources Element development effort
include:
1. Restructuring the 1978 versions of the Open Space and Conservation
Elements into a single Resources Element text, a chapter of Component
Ii of the Advance Planning Program.
RES-l-1
PAGE 11 Show Image
MAP 1-1
~rr ¼ \
Orange County Regional Statistical Areas
PAGE 12 Show Image
2. Development of the Resources Element text in accordance with Section
65302 of the California Government Code.
3. Integration of the Resources Element with other General Plan
Elements, particularly with respect to policies contained in the Land
Use, Recreation, and Housing Elements.
C. Relationship to the Advance Planning Program
1. Component I: Long-Range Planning Framework
Component I provides the long-range planning framework and general
goals for the Advance Planning Program. Included within this document
are broad resource goals that provide a basis for the more specific
goals and policies contained in the Resources Element.
2. Component II: The General Plan Elements
The General Plan addresses a 15- to 20-year time frame. Component II
is a compendium of eight General Plan Elements, including the
Resources Element.
A major goal of the Resources Element is to promote the development,
management, preservation, and conservation of resources to meet the
current and projected needs of Orange County. While this goal is a
high priority, it must be achieved while maintaining internal
consistency among the other elements of the General Plan as required
by state law. Therefore, the Resources Element does not replace nor
supercede any of the other General Plan elements; instead, the
Resources Element addresses, amplifies and supports open space and
resource concerns identified in the other General Plan elements.
The Resources Element is implemented by various coordinated programs
that are developed to support and carry out its goals, quantified
objectives, and policies. The Resources Element is the most current
expression of County resource policies. It achieves internal
consistency with the other General Plan elements through the use of
common socioeconomic projections and assumptions and the pursuit of
common major goals such as balanced land use and conservation of
natural resources.
3. Component III: Community Profiles
The Community Profiles are the most detailed portions of the Advance
Planning Program. They are short-range in scope and focus on
community-level policies and programs. The Community Profiles depict
existing and proposed open space, conservation, and natural resource
areas and inventory the geographic distribution of these resources.
D. Related Planning Programs and Agencies
This section summarizes the various federal, State, regional, local, and
non-governmental agencies and programs that influence County resource
planning activities. For a complete listing of related planning
agencies, see Appendix B.
RES-1-3
PAGE 13 Show Image
1. Orange County Preferred-Ill Demographic Projections
Orange County Preferred-Ill (OC?-III) contains demographic
projections for housing and population. The projections, which have
been adopted by the Board of Supervisors, provide a single data
reference for policy-making and program planning.
OCP-III is used throughout the General Plan (e.g., Land Use, Housing,
and Transportation Elements). Moreover, the projections are used by
the Orange County Transportation Commission, Orange County Transit
District, and County of Orange for all long-range planning and
budgeting activities.
Regional Statistical Areas (RSAs) are the geographic units used for
the development of these policy projections. These projections are
disaggregated to Community Analysis Areas (CAAs) for the purpose of
performing Development Monitoring Program (DMP) and Areawide Fiscal
Impact System (AFIS) analyses. DMP and AFIS analyses are conducted
by the County Administrative Office in order to determine the impact
of existing and projected development on infrastructure facilities
and fiscal resources. CAA projections are disaggregated by EMA to
the Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ) level for transportation planning
purposes.
OCP-III served as the County's official input to the SCAG-82 Regional
Growth Forecast Policy. SCAG-82 will be implemented through SCAGs
(Southern California Association of Governments) regional planning
activities, project review, and coordination with city, county,
state, and federal governments. The adopted growth forecast is
utilized in the development of the Air Quality Management Program and
the Regional Transportation Plan, which are mandated by federal and
state law.
2. National and State Planning Agencies
While many federal, state, and private entity plans and decisions may
impact Orange County planning activities, the U.S. Departments of
interior and Agriculture and the California Resources Agency wield
special influence upon County resource planning programs.
The U.S. Departments of the Interior and Agriculture are responsible
for the majority of the various federal resource management programs.
The Department of Agriculture provides resource management services
for many areas in the county, in particular the Cleveland National
Forest. The U.S. Department of the Interior focuses on resource
development and conservation issues such as fish and wildlife protec-
tion and petroleum extraction on federal lands.
The California Resources Agency is an umbrella agency comprised of
the numerous State functions that either plan or manage the use and
protection of California's resources. Included within this agency
are the California Energy Commission and the Departments of
RES-1-4
PAGE 14 Show Image
Conservation and Fish and Game. These agencies, and the many others
located in the Resources Agency, have considerable influence on
County resource planning activities and often mandate specific County
programs to promote statewide resource goals (e.g., Local Coastal
Plans, Air Quality Management Plans).
BJ.hdCHAP1 .wP (11/20/95)
RES-1-5
PAGE 15 Show Image
PAGE 16 Show Image
CHAPTER TWO: INVENTORY OF CURRENT CONDITIONS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
A. Introduction
This chapter provides an insight into current county growth conditions
and the manner in which future growth may be influenced by the
preservation, development, and utilization of natural, energy, water,
open space, and cultural-historic resources. The chapter is divided into
two sections. The first section presents a detailed inventory of current
conditions and projected levels of population, housing and employment.
The second section presents an inventory and analysis of county resources
for both current and projected future conditions.
B. County Growth Trends
1. Data Sources
For the purposes of the General Plan, 1980 was selected as the
baseline for data collection and analysis. The prime advantage of
using 1980 as the base year is the availability of Census data, which
serve as benchmarks for population, housing, and income trends. In
addition, the primary source of land use data -- the Orange County
Land Cover Survey -- was compiled in 1980. This survey was conducted
by the Environmental Systems Research Institute in cooperation with
the County and Southern California Edison.
The horizon year of the County1s General Plan is 2010. All
projections and analyses of physical and socioeconomic conditions in
the county are keyed to this 30-year time frame. Table 2-1 on the
following page contains a summary of population, housing and
employment trends that are expected to occur during the study period.
These projections are broken down by Regional Statistical Area (RSA).
Chart 2-1 graphically illustrates the relationships between RSAs for
these three variables.
The source of the demographic projections is the Orange County
Preferred (OCP) forecast. The most recent iteration known as Orange
County Preferred-1985 (OCP-85) was adopted by the Board of
Supervisors on February 19, 1985. In addition to its use by County
agencies, OCP-85 is the County's official input to the SCAG Regional
Growth Forecast Policy. The OCP projections can be amended in the
following ways: 1) concurrent with the processing of a project that
is inconsistent with the projections; 2) through annual review as a
part of the Development Monitoring Program; or 3) as part of the two
to three-year SCAG Regional Development Guide update process.
2. Development Patterns and Trends
During the past 20 years, the focal point of Orange County's growth
has shifted gradually southward. In the 1950s and 60s the majority
of new development occurred in the northern areas of the county such
as Anaheim, Fullerton, Orange, Westminster and Fountain Valley.
During the 1970s, as vacant land became more scarce in these northern
RES-2-l
PAGE 17 Show Image
TABLE 2-1
ORANGE COUNTY DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS
POPULATION HOUSING EMPLOYMENT
RSA 1980a/ 2010b/ 1980a/ 2010b/ 1980a/ 2010b/
35-J 156,248 165,400 52,454 59,800 55,200 86,400
36-A 168,782 202,300 64,578 80,900 100,600 125,600
37-H 338,682 389,200 124,875 145,700 146,000 212,000
38-I 321,137 378,900 119,038 150,900 90,300 133,500
39-F 170,644 257,400 74,920 112,500 146,800 237,200
40-D 134,696 279,800 66,072 134,600 32,600 109,900
m
Co
41-B 116,686 245,900 39,276 86,200 54,900 94,200
42-G 377,316 488,800 130,103 167,400 211,600 336,100
43-C 95,954 242,300 32,885 93,500 17,400 62,800
44-E 52,564 181,100 17,313 69,200 60,000 172,800
COUNTY
TOTAL 1,932,709 2,831,100 721,514 1,100,700 915,400 1,750,500
Sources: al 1980 Census
kI County of Orange: OCP-85 Projections
BKJ:RES. tab2-1 November 13, 1985
PAGE 18 Show Image
mO
C,,
0 ~
080 I I I I I I I I I I I : i ~ otI ?~
o
0~
0-c,)
-~0
c')O
~me
m
C,)
CA)
0
C)
(71
C)
PAGE 19 Show Image
areas, the center of growth shifted to the south with the rise of new
communities like Irvine, Mission Viejo, and Laguna Niguel. For
analytical purposes, North County is generally considered to be the
area north and west of the Costa Mesa Freeway (State Highway 55) and
contains RSAs 35-J, 36-A, 37-H 38-I, 41-B, and 42-G. South County is
represented by RSAs 39-F, 40-D, 43-C, and 44-E.
Table 2-2 and Map 2-2 compare the projected population growth trends
in the north and south portions of the county. During the 30-year
study period, about 56 percent of the county1s net population growth
is projected to occur in the southern RSAs. Although the rate of
growth in North County is declining, this area will still contain the
majority of the county's population throughout the study period. In
1980, 77 percent of the county1s 1,932,709 people lived in the north.
By 2010, it is expected that this figure will fall to 66 percent.
The difference in growth between north and south becomes more
apparent when the internal growth rates of the two areas are
compared. Between 1980 and 2010, the population of the northern
portion of the county is expected to grow by 391,649, or 26 percent.
South County will add 506,742 persons during the same period; this
represents an increase of 112 percent, however.
The projected increase in the county's housing stock reflects the
population trend identified above. (See Table 2-3 and Map 2-3.) Due
to a projected decline in the average household size from 2.68 to
2.57 persons per dwelling unit countywide, the number of new units
expected to be built between 1980 and 2010 represents a slightly
higher percentage increase than that for the population itself.
Consequently, while the county's population is projected to rise by
46 percent (898,391 persons) between 1980 and 2010, the housing stock
is expected to increase by 52 percent (379,186 units) over the same
interval.
During the next two decades, the spatial distribution of new
residential construction is expected to beskewed slightly toward
South County. Fifty-eight percent of the projected 379,186 new units
built in the county between 1980 and 2010 are expected to be located
in the southern area. Although the northern portion of the county is
growing much less rapidly than the south on a percentage basis, by
2010 nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of all housing units will still
be found in the northern RSAs.
County employment patterns are very similar to the population and
housing distributions described above. (See Table 2-4 and Map 2-4.)
As of 1980, 72 percent of the county's 915,400 jobs were located in
North County. This is very similar to the population distribution
identified in Table 2-2. By 2010, a moderate southward shift in the
employment distribution is projected to occur. The magnitude of this
shift is nearly equal to the anticipated shift in population and
housing. South County is projected to receive about 50 percent of
the new jobs created between 1980 and 2010. Again, this figure is
similar to the projected differential growth in population and
RES-2-4
PAGE 20 Show Image
TABLE 2-2
PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH TRENDS
NORTH COUNTY vs. SOUTH COUNTY
1980-2010
North COUfltYa/ South Countyb/ County Total
1980 2010 Change 1980 2010 Chance 1980 2010 Change
Total Population 1,478,851 1,870,500 +26% 453,858 960,600 +112% 1,932,709 2,831,100 +46%
Pat. of Total 77% 66% -11% 23% 34% +11% 100% 100%
Populat ion
Growth - - 391,649 - - 506,742 - - 898,391
Pat. of Growth - - 44% - - 56% - - 100%
~ Average
m
Household Size 2.79 2.71 -0.08 2.37 2.34 -0.03 2.68 2.57 -0.11
Notes: ~a/ Includes RSAs 35-J, 36-A, 37-H, 38-I, 41-B and 42-G
~b/ Includes RSAs 39-F, 40-D, 43-C and 44-E
Sources: 1980 Census
County of Orange: OCP-85 Projections
Orange County EMA/Advance Planning Division
November 13, 1985
BKJ: RES. tab2-2
PAGE 21 Show Image
.::: I ULOCK: *U.~~O
m
Co
a)
POPULATION SOURCE: Orenge County IMAPI
Bv Regional Statistical Area I OCP-85 liii
PAGE 22 Show Image
TABLE 2-3
PROJECTED HOUSING GROWTH TRENDS
NORTH COUNTY vs. SOUTH COUNTY
1980-2010
North COUfltYa/ South CountybI County Total
1980 2010 Change 1980 2010 Chance 1980 2010 Change
Total Units 530,324 690,900 +30% 191,190 409,800 +114% 721,514 1,100,700 +53%
Pat. of Total 74% 63% -11% 26% 37% +11% 100% 100%
Growth - 160,576 - - 218,610 - - 379,186
Pat. of Growth - - 42% - - 58% - - 100%
Note: a/ Includes RSAs 35-J, 36-A, 37-H, 38-I, 41-B and 42-0
~b/ Inaludes RSAs 39-F, 40-D, 43-C and 44-E
Sources: 1980 Census
County of Orange: OCP-85 Projections
Orange County EMA/Advance Planning Division
November 13, 1985
BKJ:RES. tab2-3
PAGE 23 Show Image
2010
1
n..1~ooo
I ThLOCK: ~ OWULLIWe UNITE
m
HOUSING UNITS SOURCE: OrBnge County MAP
Bv Regional Statistical Area OCP-85 2-3
PAGE 24 Show Image
TABLE 2-4
PROJECTED EMPLOYMENT GROWTH TRENDS
NORTH COUNTY vs. SOUTH COUNTY
1980-2010
North C0UfltYa/ South ~ County Total
1980 2010 Change 1980 2010 Change 1980 2010 Change
Total Units 658,600 987,800 +50% 256,800 582,700 +127% 915,400 1,570,500 +72%
Pat. of Total 72% 63% -9% 28% 37% +9% 100% 100%
Growth - 329,200 - - 325,900 - - 655,100
~ Pat. of Growth - - 50% - - 50% - - 100%
m
Co
`0
Note: a! Includes RSAs 35-J, 36-A, 37-H, 38-I, 41-B and 42-G
bI Includes RSAs 39-F, 40-D, 43-C and 44-E
Sources: 1980 Census
County of Orange: OCP-85 Projections
Orange County EMA/Advance Planning Division
November 13, 1985
BKJ:RES.tab2-4
PAGE 25 Show Image
nto(~coo
I ULOCK: K~.K.* ~
EMPLOYMENT SOURCE: Orange County MAP
B" Regional Statistical Area OCP-85 2-4
PAGE 26 Show Image
housing. Overall, the county's employment base is projected to grow
faster than population, with a 72 percent gain between 1980 and 2010.
This compares to a projected population growth of 46 percent during
the same period.
As the county continues to grow, the pressure on local resources will
increase. Urbanization affects agriculture, parkland, wildlife
habitat and natural vegetation most directly, since these resources
often compete with development for the same land. All resources will
experience increasing demand as the urbanized area expands, but the
methods employed to meet these demands will vary. For example, an
adequate supply of land resources for parks already exists in the
unincorporated areas, but it is necessary that affirmative steps be
taken to set aside parks and recreation areas during the planning and
development review process. The demand for some other resources,
such as energy and water, cannot be met entirely within the borders
of Orange County. The County must ultimately depend on other
agencies for the provision of an adequate supply of these resources.
One of the major purposes of the Resources Element is to provide a
clear statement of County policy so that timely steps can be taken to
ensure that an adequate supply of all necessary resources will be
available to meet the county's growth needs.
C. Characteristics of Existing County Resources
1. Natural Resources
This section will present discussions related to agricultural
resources, mineral resources, wildlife and vegetation habitat, air
resources, and landforms.
a. Agricultural Resources
1) Introduction
Orange County, once a rural county supported primarily by an
agricultural economy, has long been a notable agricultural
community of statewide and national significance. Fruits
and vegetables grown in the county were shipped throughout
the United States and abroad. The county's agricultural
communities have experienced tremendous growth and decline
over the years. These communities are presently
experiencing urban growth.
Major crops grown during the early 1900s included oranges,
apricots, and walnuts. Also important were peaches, apples,
sugar beets, beans, alfalfa, olives, potatoes, and peppers.
Agriculture was the county's number one industry, and by
1925, Orange County was number six in the state on the basis
of crop value.
The 1930s and 1940s were marked by radical agricultural
change. Apricot and walnut production decreased drastically
RES-2-ll
PAGE 27 Show Image
as did the acreage devoted to sugar beets. However, citrus
production reached a peak of over 75,000 acres. Steadily
increasing in importance were truck crops and nursery
products. This same period marked the temporary rise of
cattle and poultry production.
Agriculture's decline, which began in the mid-1940s, was
stemmed briefly during the 1950s. Though citrus production
fell drastically, truck crops, nursery stock, and
strawberries grew dramatically both in acreage and dollar
value. In the 1960s and 1970s, Orange County experienced
rapid suburbanization further reducing the county's
agricultural land.
Significant amounts of agricultural land have been converted
to urban development. Still, agriculture, from a dollar
value standpoint, has done remarkably well on less than
one-third the acreage cultivated twenty years ago. In 1981,
17 crop categories were million dollar enterprises.
Further, Orange County agricultural products ranked 18th in
dollar value among California's 58 counties.
2) Current Conditions
There are several unique features that have contributed to
the county's continued agricultural successes. The
predominately mediterranean climate is a major asset. This
climate is characterized by: modest amounts of
precipitation in the winter, summers nearly or completely
dry: warm to hot summers with mild winter temperatures; and,
nearly year-round sunshine. Further, this climate permits a
longer growing season and enables county farmers to plant
two or more crops a year on the same field as well as to
harvest and ship their produce when other regions are
dormant.
The other major county agriculture attribute is soil
fertility. In 1982, over 34,000 acres were crop-producing.
This figure is up 5,000 acres from 1980. Yearly
fluctuations occur due to land lying fallow rather than an
actual increase in agricultural acreage. In 1982, specialty
crops such as strawberries, winter celery, tomatoes, and
avocados were prominent. Other important crops included
sweet corn, asparagus, cauliflower, green beans, cucumbers,
lettuce, parsley, and bell peppers.
Of the 34,000 crop acres farmed in 1982, approximately
26,000 acres were included in the land inventory and
monitoring program maintained by the State Department of
Conservation. This agency classifies important farmland by
four categories: prime farmland, unique farmland, farmland
of statewide importance and farmland of local importance.
(See Map 2-5.) Through this process, the State can assist
RES-2-12
PAGE 28 Show Image
m
C,,
CA)
LEGEND
~ Important Farmlands (parcels)
- - Important Farmlands (linear)
I Source: State Department of I MAP
(Not A Plan) I 1
I Important Farmlands of Orange County (generalized) E Conservation * 2~5
PAGE 29 Show Image
in the maintenance of these valuable resources. Following
are the definitions of these four farmland categories.
a) Prime farmland is land best suited for producing food,
feed, forage, fiber and oilseed crops. It has the soil
quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to
produce sustained high yields of crops. Production
should occur economically when the land is treated and
managed (including water management) according to
modern farming methods. Estimates show nearly 26,000
acres of prime farmland existed in 1982.
b) Unique farmland is land other than prime farmland and
farmland of statewide importance that is currently used
for the production of specific high value food and
fiber crops. It has the special combination of soil
quality location, growing season, and moisture supply
needed to produce sustained high yields and/or high
quality yields of a specific crop when treated and
managed according to modern farming methods. Examples
of such crops are citrus, olives, strawberries,
avocados, fruit, and vegetables. In 1982,
approximately 2,000 acres of unique farmland existed.
c) Farmland of statewide importance is land other than
prime farmland that has a good combination of suitable
physical terrain and soil for producing foods, feed,
forage, fiber, and oilseed crops. The land must be
available for use as cropland, pastureland, rangeland,
and forest land. In 1982, nearly 2,000 acres of this
type of farmland existed.
d) In some local areas there is concern for certain
additional farmlands for the production of food, feed,
fiber, forage, and oilseed crops, even though these
lands are not identified as having national or
statewide importance. These lands are to be identified
by a local committee made up of concerned agencies
called together by the State Department of
Conservation. The local committee will review the
lands under this category on a five-year basis. In
1982, approximately 17 acres of additional farmland of
local importance existed in the county, all of it
within the City of Irvine.
3) Future Prospects
Urban areas encroach on agricultural lands throughout the
county creating pressure to convert farmland to urban uses.
The rising costs of irrigation water, agricultural land tax
rates, labor costs, and damage from vandalism have increased
production costs making it more difficult to have a
successful agricultural operation.
RES-2-14
PAGE 30 Show Image
The State enacted the Williamson Act in 1965 in response to
increasing land taxes which were forcing agricultural land
into more intensive uses. The act assesses agricultural
land at a lower rate than non-agricultural land. In
exchange, landowners enter an agreement with the local
jurisdiction to limit the uses on the contracted land for at
least 10 years. Presently, 63,000 acres within the county
are held in agricultural preserves under Williamson Act
provisions. The Irvine Company holds approximately 39,000
acres and the Rancho Mission Viejo Company another 24,000
acres in agricultural preserves. Map 2-6 shows the land
areas held in agricultural preserves. Since 1980, nearly
13,000 acres have been removed from agricultural preserves
and subsequently planned for urban development.
Growth projections through 2000 indicate the continued
urbanization of the county. This urban development will
continue to convert agricultural acreage to more intensive
land uses. However, objectives and policies presented in
Chapter Four: Natural Resources Component identify opportu-
nities for the preservation and maintenance of agricultural
acreage. These policies will assist in the preservation of
agricultural land in areas where infrastructure has not yet
been provided for more intensive activities.
b. Mineral Resources
1) Introduction
Orange County is blessed with significant amounts of mineral
resources. Of particular importance are those mineral
resources necessary to meet the county1s existing and future
development needs, such as construction aggregate.
Construction aggregate resources are the focus of this
section of the Resources Element. Although other mineral
resources are important to the county's future growth, they
are categorized by their ultimate application (e.g.,
petroleum resources in Chapter Five: Energy Resources
Component) in other sections of this element. Much of the
information utilized for the assessment of county mineral
resources is based on the State of California's Mineral Land
Classification/Designation Program, described in greater
detail below.
2) State Mineral Land Classification/Desi~nation Program
In 1975, the State adopted the Surface Mining and
Reclamation Act (SMARA). The primary objectives of (SMARA)
are the assurance of adequate supplies of mineral resources
important to California's economy and the reclamation of
mined lands. These objectives are implemented through land
use planning and regulatory programs administered by local
RES-2-15
PAGE 31 Show Image
m
C,)
I')
a)
LEGEND
~ Agricultural Preserves
(Williamson Act)
Plan) nge County E MAP 1
j Orange County Agricultural Preserves Cgeneralized) 1(8:;;.: Ora I\ 2-6
PAGE 32 Show Image
government with the assistance of the State. The Department
of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, and the
State Mining and Geology Board are the agencies responsible
for administering this program at the State level.
The act's mineral resource conservation objective is
achieved through a mineral inventory and land use planning
process termed classification/ designation, which jointly
involves the Division of Mines and Geology, the State Mining
and Geology Board, and local government. Information on the
location of important mineral deposits is developed by the
Division through a process of mineral land classification.
In turn, the classification report is used by the Board in
designating deposits that are of economic significance to a
region, the state, or the nation. A more detailed
discussion of the process is provided in Appendix C.
In 1982, the State Mining and Geology Board adopted the
Classification Report for Orange County. The designation of
mineral lands of regional significance occurred in April of
1983. These two actions provide the basis for the inventory
and analysis that follows.
3) Location and Availability of Mineral Resources
The location of the areas classified and designated as
deposits containing significant sand and gravel resources
are identified in California Division of Mines and Geology
Special Report 143, Parts III and IV, for the Orange County
Region. (See Appendix C.) In the Orange County Region,
resource areas are located in portions of the Santa Ana
River, Santiago Creek, San Juan Creek, Arroyo Trabuco, and
other areas. (See Map 2-7.)
The depiction of mineral resource areas in this text is not
intended to represent a commitment to mineral extraction for
these areas. Rather, the following exhibits respond to
SMARA's mandate to recognize these mineral resource areas in
the General Plan. Any mineral extraction proposals would be
reviewed on a project-by-project basis, and require approval
of a zone change to the (SG) "Sand and Gravel Extraction"
Zoning District and compliance with CEQA.
The specific mineral areas classified and designated are
indicated as "resource sectors." Based upon guidelines
developed by the State Mining and Geology Board and the
State Geologist, a resource sector is an area judged to
contain a significant deposit of construction-quality
aggregate that is available, from a general land use
perspective, to meet the future needs of the Production-
Consumption (P-C) region. The boundaries of each resource
sector generally encompass fairly uniform deposits. For
examples, sector boundaries would be established between
RES-2-17
PAGE 33 Show Image
m
C,)
LEGEND:
Mineral Resource Areas
I urce: $tatg Mining a MAP
I Orange County Mineral Resources (generalized) Plan) I I
~ ~~ot A Reclamation Act 2-7
PAGE 34 Show Image
that part of a natural deposit formed on an alluvial fan and
that part within the confines of an adjacent modern stream
channel and its floodplain. The use of these resource
sectors provides a reliable method of estimating the tonnage
of material available in each mineral deposit.
Table 2-5 describes the existing amount of aggregate
resources in the Orange County region. It should be noted
that because of geologic and economic factors the Orange
County P-C region includes portions of Riverside County
(Temescal Wash and Mayhew-Coldwater Fan). The inclusion of
these areas, however, does not significantly affect the
demand for mineral resources within the Orange County
region.
4) Existing and Projected Mineral Resource Consumption
Using a variety of data, such as regional population
projections and historic aggregate production estimates, the
State Mining and Geology Board calculated the 50-year demand
for aggregate resources for the Orange County region. (See
Table 2-6.) In summary, the State Mining and Geology Board
forecasts that the Orange County region has a 50-year demand
of 850 million tons of aggregate against current reserves
(presently mined) of 257 million tons. The utilization of
the county's aggregate resources to meet this demand will
depend on the availability and quality of these mineral
resource areas.
RES-2-19
PAGE 35 Show Image
TABLE 2-5
AGGREGATE RESOURCES* OF THE
ORANGE COUNTY P-C REGION
Million
Resource Area Sector Short Tons
Santa Ana River: A 25.3
B 66.7
C 22.4
D 19.3
E 9.3
F 48.0
G **
H **
I **
Total: 331.1
Lower Santiago Creek: J 333.6
K 30.0
Total: 263.6
Upper Santiago Creek: L 5.1
M 34.1
N 17.0
Total: 56.2
Ternescal Wash: 0 5.1
P 25.8
Q 49.0
R 47.4
Total: 127.3
Mayhew- Coldwater Fan: 5 330.3
Total: 330.3
San Juan Creek: T 149.7
Total: 149.7
Arroyo Trabuco: U 101.2
V 29.3
Total: 130.5
GRAND TOTAL: l.388.7
* Includes the categories of measures (indicated and inferred).
** Cannot be shown due to confidentiality of producer data. However, they
are reflected in the sector totals.
Source: California Division of Mines and Geology Special Report 143, 1981.
RES-2-20
PAGE 36 Show Image
TABLE 2-6
PROJECTED AGGREGATE CONSUMPTION
ORANGE COUNTY REGION
Aggregate Consumption
Year (Million Tons)
1980-1985 71
1985-1990 76
1990-1995 80
1995-2000 83
2000-2005 85
2005-2010 87
2010-2015 89
2015-2020 90
2020-2025 92
2025-2030 93
Source: California Division of Mines and Geology
Special Report 143, 1981.
RES-2-21
PAGE 37 Show Image
C. Vegetation and Wildlife Habitats
1) Introduction
Wildlife habitat often refers to both vegetation and
wildlife. The term relates to the natural environment and
to those plant and animal species that inhabit it. Orange
County's climate and topography have created an environment
that sustains a wide range of plant and animal life. The
county rises over 5,000 feet in elevation from the coast to
the crest of the Santa Ana Mountains, offering habitat for
eight major vegetation communities and wildlife species.
Map 2-8 presents a generalized depiction of the county's
wildlife habitat areas.
2) Current Conditions
A description of the various vegetation communities found in
Orange County follows. The Master Environmental Assessment
(MEA), a computerized sensitivity mapping system that
supports the County's environmental review process, provided
source information for this discussion. Air photography
interpretation and existing field research were the primary
sources for defining and selecting the eight major
vegetation and wildlife habitats presented in the MEA.
a) Grassland - Characterized by varied topography and
climate. Less than 10 percent of this habitat contains
trees. Primary vegetation are bunch grasses and annual
grass species such as brome, wild oats, and barley.
Wildlife are generally low in numbers except where
grassland contains the added cover of shrubs and/or
trees, then smaller mammals such as skunks, raccoons,
and coyotes are prevalent.
b) Coastal Sage Scrub - This habitat may include up to 30
percent oak thee coverage with scrub understory in a
mixed environment or be limited solely to low growing
brush dominated by sagebrush, black and white sage,
prickly pear cactus, and various grasses. This habitat
is normally found on dry slopes and may provide forage
for quail, rabbit, and deer as well as a variety of
smaller birds and mammals.
c) Chaparral - This habitat may be chamise dominated or a
mixture of less than 30 percent oak tree coverage with
scrub understory. This habitat ranges from 1,000 to
5,000 feet elevation and is characterized by chamise,
scrub oak, ceanothus, and manzanita. Greater
vegetation variety is present on north facing slopes.
This habitat is very susceptible to fires which is an
essential part of the habitat's life cycle. Old growth
RES-2-22
PAGE 38 Show Image
C
C,) C,)
C
~N ~ ~
0
C~O
v~ ~
U
U
a)
N
a)
~ i~OdM3~
a)
0)
C,)
I
a)
RES-2-23
PAGE 39 Show Image
provides little wildlife value while new growth makes
excellent deer habitat. Many fur-bearing mammals
including bobcat and mountain lion may be found in this
habitat.
d) Oak Savannah - A unique vegetation type, this habitat
is similar to the grassland habitat except that a
higher percentage ranging from 10 to 30 percent is
forested. Walnut trees may occur in conjunction with a
grass understory.
e) Southern Oak Woodland/Forest - The differentiation
between woodland and forest is based on the presence of
oak trees. A woodland contains between 30 percent to
70 percent oak trees with scrub and/or grass understory
while a forest contains greater than 70 percent oak
trees. The tree canopy is low to medium height,
generally open and containing Live Oaks and California
Bay trees. This habitat is most often found along
valleys and lower north facing slopes where more
abundant moisture is available. This habitat provides
a good foraging area for most animal wildlife.
f) Riparian Woodland/Forest - Riparian habitat is perhaps
the most valuable wildlife habitat because of the
presence of water. This habitat type is characterized
generally by a dense narrow vegetation band along a
stream course. Live Oak, Sycamore, Willow, and Alder
trees dominate low brush.
g) Conifer Woodland/Forest - This habitat is generally
found at higher elevations between 4,000 and 5,000 feet
but may be found at elevations as low as 900 feet. Big
Cone Spruce, Coulter Pine, and Oak dominate a brush
understory. An area near the northwestern tip of the
Cleveland National Forest contains a stand of Tecate
Cypress unique to this habitat type. This vegetation
habitat makes good wildlife habitat for nearly all
mammals and birds. The majority of this habitat lies
within the boundaries of the Cleveland National Forest.
h) Marsh - Marsh habitat may be either freshwater or
saltwater. Freshwater marsh areas are characterized by
shallow standing or slow moving water with tule,
cattail, rushes, sedges, and pond weeds. The habitat
generally abounds with wildlife including various
waterfowl, ducks, geese, and coots. Saltwater marshes
occur along tidal areas away from direct surf and wave
action. Vegetation types include salt grass, pickle
weed, and other salt-tolerant plants. These areas have
critical waterfowl and waterbird including gulls,
terns, and plovers with nesting and wintering areas.
Further salt marshes are critical to many fish and
marine organisms.
RES-2-24
PAGE 40 Show Image
The Master Environmental Assessment assists this
section and the County's ability to protect wildlife
habitat through the sensitivity mapping of rare and
endangered species and rare and unique plant life.
Seven rare and endangered bird species identified by
the State Department of Fish and Game may be found in
Orange County. They include the Light-footed Clapper
Rail, California Clapper Rail, California Least Tern,
California Brown Pelican, Southern Bald Eagle, American
Peregrine Falcon, and California Black Rail. Among the
care and unique plant life are the limited kelp beds
along the southern coast and rare species of
succulents, grasses, brush, cypress, and pines.
3) Future Prospects
As Orange County continues to develop additional
pressure will be placed on the natural environment.
Wildlife habitat will most likely shrink in size or be
forever lost to urbanization. However through multi-
purpose programs, the environmental review process, and
coordination among many jurisdictions, much has been
and can be achieved to preserve and protect wildlife
habitat in Orange County.
The county shoreline is a special resource for which
the County has prepared Local Coastal Programs in
response to the requirements of the Coastal Act of
1976. Further, the coastline is marked by several
special coastal marine life refuges and ecological
reserves. (See Figure 1, the Open Space/Conservation
Program Map.) Important among these features are the
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, the San Joaquin Marsh,
and the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. South
from Newport Harbor are seven other marine life
refuges.
Inland, wildlife habitat is protected through the
continued existence and operation of wildlife
sanctuaries such as the Audubon Society's Starr Ranch
Wildlife Sanctuary and the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary,
owned and operated by California State University,
Fullerton. The Cleveland National Forest also provides
an extensive wildlife and vegetation habitat under
federal control.
The County's regional parks and open space corridor
network of open space corridors shown on the Open
Space/Conservation Program Map provide further wildlife
protection. The regional parks provide permanent
habitat, while the various open space and conservation
corridors represent opportunities for permanent
wildlife protection and conservation.
RES-2-25
PAGE 41 Show Image
d. Land Forms
1) Introduction
The natural setting of Orange County provides a diverse
combination of mountains, hills, flatlands, and shoreline.
These landforms and associated major canyons, ridgelines,
and coastal areas, all contribute to the diversity of Orange
County's environment. Landforms are distinctive natural
topographic features of the Orange County area. Manor
landforms, few in number, must be considered natural as well
as aesthetic resources. Land uses which do not use the
available land to its best advantage or which alter the
topography can detract from the county's appearance, deplete
its stock of resources, and contribute to erosion and
sedimentation. The following sections identify the county's
topographic resources and describe existing efforts to
preserve and protect these resources.
2) Inventory of Landform Resources
Orange County, a somewhat rectangular land mass trending
approximately 40 miles along the coast of the Pacific Ocean
and extending inland approximately 20 miles, covers 798
square miles. (See Map 2-9) It is predominantly an
alluvial plain, generally under 300 feet in elevation in the
west and central section. Several low-lying mesas interrupt
the plain along the northern coast. The plain is
semi-enclosed by the Santiago Foothills and the Santa Ana
Mountains which rise to 5,600 feet on the east, the Puente
and Chino Hills in the north, and the San Joaquin Hills to
the south. Geologic hazards in the form of faults,
landslides, and unstable formations occur frequently
throughout the hillside area. These hazards are discussed
in greater detail in the Safety Element. Specific sub-areas
of the county and their associated landform resources are
described below.
a) Coastal Features
(1) North Coast
North of the Santa Ana River, the shoreline is
characterized by broad sandy beaches extending
into shallow offshore waters. Behind the coastal
strand extensive saltwater marshes once existed.
Those at the Santa Ana River mouth and Huntington
Beach have been drained. The Bolsa marshlands,
at one time with an outlet to the ocean at Warner
Avenue now connected to Sunset-Anaheim Bay, have
been considerably altered by tidal gates and
berms for access to oil wells that are scattered
RES-2-26
PAGE 42 Show Image
TRABUCO PEAK
~
TU8TIN , `,
ALLUVIAL ~
PLAIN f~~b j~
~ ~
3 ,,~ , ½
q j,; ;;;F; ;Jij2' ~` *t'(.;;W:Th~,,¼' *& `;4~~" `L.;~;'$!%P,.P;i;
I\) f ` +6
Li~ ~
I Orange County Landforms (generalized) I ~ County ~ I 2MA9P ~
PAGE 43 Show Image
throughout the sloughs. Seven-hundred acres of
relatively unaltered marshland (some oil
extraction also occurs here) exist as a federal
wild-life sanctuary on the Seal Beach Naval
Weapons Station. Anaheim Bay, the outlet for the
inland saltwater ways, has been developed as a
port to service the naval base.
(2) South Coast
South of the Santa Aria River the coastal bluffs
of the Newport mesa and uplifted marine terraces
extend to the San Diego County line. Beaches
vary in width from broad sandy beaches at Newport
Beach and from Doheny Beach southward to rocky
cobble or headlands and sandy coves along the
coast from Laguna Beach to Dana Point. Some are
wave cut, forming scenic wave terraces, caves,
arches, and seastacks; others are set back from
the immediate waterline and are of weak, easily
erodible materials. Streams draining the
interior hills and valleys of the South County
area create irregularities in the coastal bluffs
as they descend to sea level. San Juan Cheek,
the largest of these, enters the ocean at Doheny
State Beach Park near the Dana Point Marina.
(3) Shoreline
The National Shoreline Study of the U.S. Corps of
Engineers indicates that along the 42-mile
shoreline there are 33.4 miles of sandy beaches,
0.8 miles of gravel and cobble beach, 6 miles of
rocky headlands, and 1.8 miles additional
stretches without effective beach. The shoreline
has experienced critical erosion for 12.5 miles
from Anaheim Bay to Newport Beach Pier requiring
periodic sand replenishment to maintain the
beaches for recreation. A 2-mile stretch along
Capistrano Beach is also classified as critically
eroding. Only 1.6 miles of the county coast is
classified as non-eroding; the remaining 26.1
miles is classified as non-critically eroding.
An additional shoreline feature, the Newport
Submarine Canyon, is thought to capture beach
sands that would normally redeposit on the coast.
This situation heightens the need for beach sand
replenishment activities.
(4) Newport Bay
One of the most remarkable features of the coast
is Newport Bay. Really two distinct forms, Lower
RES-2-28
PAGE 44 Show Image
and Upper Newport Bay are also dissimilar in
development. Lower Newport Bay, a product of
vast quantities of sand deposited by the Santa
Aria River in the last century, parallels the
coast for about 3 miles. It contains several
large and small islands, is extensively
bulkheaded to protect property from tidal
fluctuations, and is one of the largest small
craft harbors in the world, with anchorage for
over 8,000 boats. Upper Newport Bay, a 3-mile
expanse, is an incised valley of the San Diego
Creek drainage system, predating the pleistocene
epoch. The surrounding 40 feet to 100 feet
bluffs are well developed with residential
neighborhoods. The lower part of the estuary is
also developed with marina facilities, an aquatic
park and other land uses. Most of it, however,
remains in a relatively natural state with three
large marshy islands and extensive mudflats.
This portion of the bay is part of an ecological
reserve at the point where San Diego Creek enters
the bay.
b) Coastal Plain. Hills. and Mountains
The low coastal plain, devoid of interesting landforms
except for the coastal area and the Santa Aria River, is
contrasted by the adjoining hills, mountains, and
canyons. viSaddleback1, the twin-peaked heights of the
Santa Aria Mountains, is the signature landmark of
Orange County. Besides the dominant ridgeline of the
Santa Aria Mountains, major ridgelines occur in the
Lomas de Santiago and the San Joaquin Hills. Numerous
canyons and valleys of great beauty occur, including
the Santa Aria Canyon, Capistrano Valley, Laguna, Aliso,
Wood, Moro, San Juan, Trabuco Santiago, Modjeska,
Silverado, Limestone, and Black Star Canyons, to name
just a few. Rock outcroppings as in the Laguna Canyon
and geologic formations such as the Sinks and Fremont
Canyon add interest to the relatively undeveloped
landscape.
c) Watershed. Watercourses. and Floodplains
(1) Watershed
Watershed is defined as the area drained by a
given stream. Beginning at the sea outlet and
working back upstream the divides between major
watersheds can be derived. Some natural
watershed areas in Orange County have been
altered to drain elsewhere through the use of
flood control projects.
RES-2-29
PAGE 45 Show Image
The Santa Ana River watershed is the most
extensive in Orange County, running through a
three-county area from its headwaters in the San
Bernardino Mountains to its outlet in the Pacific
Ocean. Santiago Creek and its tributaries form a
major tributary to this watershed. Surprisingly,
most of western Orange County is not drained by
the Santa Aria River but by a series of flood
control channels which empty into Coyote Creek,
the San Gabriel River, or the estuaries and
coastal waters. Two other large watershed areas
are San Juan Creek with its tributary, Trabuco
Creek and San Diego Creek which drains a major
portion of central Orange County into Upper
Newport Bay. The Aliso Creek watershed, though
extending for nine miles, -is relatively confined
in area. The Laguna Canyon watershed and others
along the coast are still smaller.
(2) Watercourses
Dendritic in appearance, county watercourses
range from the merest trickling stream to the
Santa Aria River. Nearly all are intermittent,
flowing mostly in the rainy winter months. Deep
in the Cleveland National Forest there are a few
springs that run year round; there is generally a
trickle in the Santa Aria River in summer in its
upper reaches.
Many county watercourses have been altered, most
notably the Santa Aria River which was given a
definite and direct outlet to the sea in 1920
instead of its meandering outlets which have
ranged from Anaheim Bay to Lower Newport Bay.
Many watercourses have been straightened and
fortified with sand levees or concrete channels
for flood control purposes. Most of the larger
watercourses have been left with unlined stream
bottoms to maintain the capacity for water
absorption [groundwater recharge) or aesthetic
values. Along the upper reaches of many steams,
reservoirs and dams have been constructed among
the largest Irvine Lake, Villa Park, Carbon
Canyon, Fullerton, and Brea Dams. Other
alterations include the extraction of sand and
gravel, which have resulted in large open pits in
need of rehabilitation.
(3) Floodplains
It is normal for watercourses to periodically
overflow their stream beds, and, in Orange
RES-2-30
PAGE 46 Show Image
County, historical records show flooding over
substantially all of low-lying western Orange
County by the Santa Aria River. Following the
construction of Prado Dam, destructive floods
with loss of life and severe damage, such as
occurred in 1938, have been prevented. In spite
of numerous improvements to the Santa Aria River
Channel and a network of flood control
facilities, the floodplain of the Santa Aria River
remains the same and can expect to be subject to
a standard project flood (statistically occurring
approximately every 200 years) that will inundate
the cities sited on the floodplain. Other
floodplains less extensive in size and confined
by topography, present a potential for causing
property damage under flood conditions. These
floodplains include Santiago Creek; Modjeska and
Silverado Canyons; San Diego Creek; Peters Canyon
Wash; Laguna, Aliso, Brea, Tonner and Carbon
Canyons; and San Juan, Oso and Trabuco Creeks.
4) Future Prospects
Landf orms, simply by their nature, continually undergo
alteration by natural or man-made forces. Though no formal
landform management program exists, many programs do provide
management, conservation, protection, and preservation of
the natural environment in the public interest.
a) Hillsides
The County's Grading Ordinance strictly regulates
hillside grading with regard to soil stability. Cut
and fill slopes are generally limited to a ratio of two
horizontal to one vertical. It provides for erosion
control measures at the time of development.
Through the Flood Control District, drainage
requirements are assessed in a number of Master Plans
of Local Drainage. Grading and drainage requirements
for streets and highways are the responsibility of the
County and CalTrans (a State agency).
At the County level, hillsides and other landform (e.g.
watercourses) resources are addressed through community
and corridor planning activities. These efforts are
conducted at a scale appropriate for each resource
concern, such as the Aliso Creek Corridor Specific Plan
which encompasses the creek's entire watershed.
RES-2-31
PAGE 47 Show Image
b) Shoreline
Approximately two-thirds of the county shoreline is in
public ownership with the prospect of additional miles
of beach frontage being placed in public ownership in
the near future. The Coastal Act, implemented in
Orange County through Local Coastal Programs (LCPs),
establishes resource management plans and programs for
the county's shoreline. LCPs also regulate private
development near and along the shoreline in accordance
with Coastal Act objectives. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers also participates in shoreline facility
construction and management efforts and studies beach
erosion and other shoreline issues.
c) Watercourses. Floodplains. and Watershed
The Orange County Flood Control District is empowered
to control the flood and storm waters of the district
and to conserve water for beneficial use. Since its
formation in 1927, the powers of the Flood Control
District have been enlarged by the State legislature.
These additions now empower the district to utilize its
works for recreation purposes, to acquire additional
lands for environmental enhancement, to test and
monitor the quality of water in its work, and to
purchase and reclaim water for beneficial use.
Watershed management, the integration of all aspects of
surface water and related natural resources such as
soils and vegetation with land use, has not been
undertaken in the county except by the U.S. Forest
Service for the Cleveland National Forest. Watershed
management is the prime objective in the multi-purpose
planning and management of the forest. For the rest of
the county, the complexity of agencies and areas of
authority make the approach difficult.
d) Scenic Areas
Orange County, with is varied topography and proximity
to the ocean, abounds in scenic areas. From its
signature landmark, Saddleback in the Santa Ana
Mountains, to its ocean view of Santa Catalina Island,
the county offers a variety of unique visual
opportunities. The development of state, regional, and
local parks to take advantage of these opportunities is
continuing. The County also applies sign restriction
zoning in most of its planned communities and on its
major arterials to assure that scenic views are
maintained. The Scenic Highways Component of the
Transportation Element also provides preservation
measures to assume scenic views. The ocean views from
RES-2-32
PAGE 48 Show Image
state highways also require special consideration in
Local Coastal Programs. However, the preservation of
scenic vantage points (visual access) has been limited
to a few turnouts, along the Ortega Highway, Chapman
Avenue, and Santiago Canyon Road, and parks on the
coastal bluffs at San Clemente and Corona Del Mar State
Beach Parks, Dana Point, and Laguna Beach.
2. Energy Resources
a. :ntroduction
The importance of energy resources has been made clear in recent
years as a result of increases in the price of energy, the state
and national interests in reducing dependence on foreign energy
sources, and increasing concern with the environmental impacts
associated with traditional energy sources such as coal. In
response to these factors, energy conservation through both
reductions in energy use and the development of energy efficient
technology has emerged as an important substitute for energy
resource supplies. In this section, an overview of the countyY5
energy resource supply and consumption trends is provided
through: 1) an identification of county energy resources; 2) a
description of existing and future countywide energy consumption
characteristics; and 3) a description of energy consumption by
sector (e.g., residential). This background information
provides the basis for the goals, objectives, policies, and
programs contained in Chapter Five: Energy Resources Component.
b. Identification of County Energy Resources
Although Orange County does not have sufficient energy resources
to meet its own needs, the county does have significant existing
and potential energy resources within its boundaries. The
county's energy resources, illustrated in Map 2-10,' are divided
into two major categories: petroleum resources and renewable
resources. Economic deposits of other energy-producing minerals
such as uranium and coal have not been identified in Orange
County.
1) Petroleum Resources
Orange County's petroleum resources are in the form of oil
and natural gas deposits. These two non-renewable resources
are formed through a slow geologic process and are found at
various sites throughout Orange County. The primary
petroleum resource areas of the county are Huntington Beach
and the Brea/La Habra foothill regions. (See Map 2-10)
Oil and gas in Orange County are associated with a number of
sub-surface geologic structures in the Los Angeles
sedimentary basin. The on-shore fields are aligned with the
Newport-Inglewood and Whittier fault zones which have
facilitated the entrapment of petroleum resources.
RES-2-33
PAGE 49 Show Image
CD~
LEGEND
(`1)
Biomass Resources Petroleum Resource Areas
(Methane from existing
& closed landfills)
A. Olinda Landfill Geothermal Resource
B. Santiago Cyn. Landfill Areas (potential)
C. Bee Gyn. (potential) (1)
D. Coyote Cyn. Biomass resource potential exists
E. Prima Deshecha in agricultural areas (see Map 2-5)
[ Orange County Energy Resources (generalized) ~ I 2M:;;j
PAGE 50 Show Image
Oil extractions which began in 1897 in Orange County, has
been declining on the whole over the past decade due to
depletion of the fields. A secondary recovery phase is
underway in most fields where production is stimulated by a
waterf boding program. This secondary phase is expected to
last 10 years, during which annual production will be
similar to that of the initial phase. At the end of that
phase, when production is no longer economically feasible,
it has been estimated that as much as 50 percent of the
resource may still be unrecovered. Within the next 10
years, technological advances may make additional recovery
phases economically feasible.
There are presently four major categories of petroleum
operations in Orange County. They are:
o On-shore - Conventional: vertical wells, distributed
evenly about the field, each well equipped with certain
treatment facilities, storage or shipment lines,
pumping units.
o On-shore - Directional: wells grouped into drill sites
for economy, physical and land use restrictions,
engineering considerations; equipment concentrated in
relatively small areas leaving surface available for
other use; more expensive to drill than vertical hole;
limitations to degree of deflection but may extend a
mile horizontally from surface site.
o Off-shore - Man-made Island: fill islands in shallow
water (up to 45 feet) with directionally drilled wells,
connected to shore with submarine production and supply
lines, mobile drilling rigs.
o Off-shore - Fixed Platform: in relatively shallow
water (up to 300 feet) for economic reasons,
directionally drilled wells, production and maintenance
facilities on platform, submarine production and supply
lines.
Petroleum resource development is regulated by numerous
federal, state, and local regulations. In general, federal
agencies are concerned with petroleum operations on federal
lands, the State of California is concerned with coastal
areas and environmental protection (e.g., water quality),
and the County enforces the local Oil and Zoning Codes which
regulate oil and gas production operations. However, since
federal and state laws are constantly evolving in the area
of petroleum resources, a detailed discussion of appropriate
statutes and regulations regarding petroleum resources would
quickly become outdated. Therefore, such laws and
regulations are monitored and implemented by County staff on
an ongoing basis (rather than defined within this text).
RES-2-35
PAGE 51 Show Image
2) Renewable Resources
This category of energy resources includes solar, wind,
biomass, and geothermal resources. At the present time,
these resources do not comprise a significant portion of the
county's energy supply. These energy resources, however,
have considerable potential and can be developed as both
substitutes for oil, natural gas, and other energy supplies
used for electricity generation and to reduce consumption of
these supplies.
Solar Energy: Solar radiation in the form of sunlight can
be utilized for energy production in two ways. The first
method, active solar systems, involves the use of mechanical
devices to convert solar energy to heat or electricity. The
second, passive solar systems, utilizes natural heating and
cooling from the sun through proper orientation and building
design. For the purposes of the following discussion, it is
assumed that the amount and quality of solar radiation
received by the county will be adequate for the use of solar
technologies.
Active Solar Energy Systems:
(a) Solar Water Heating
Solar water heating systems involve the use of solar
collectors and storage tanks to heat domestic water.
Solar water heating systems can provide 60 to 80
percent of the hot water demands for a household and
are generally supplemented with a natural gas or
electric system. Water heating is one of the more
common uses of solar energy.
(b) Solar Space Heating
Solar space heating is most commonly used in new
residential dwelling units, although some retrofitting
of existing structures has occurred. Generally, space
heating systems utilize solar collectors to collect
heat which is then stored in a rockbed. Heated air is
then drawn into the existing gas furnace, as necessary.
(c) Solar Swimming Pool Heaters
Solar heating systems are utilized for pool heating
either singly or in conjunction with natural gas pool
heaters. The technology is very similar to solar water
heating except that, because of the lower heat
requirements, simpler and, consequently, less expensive
solar collectors are utilized.
RES-2-36
PAGE 52 Show Image
(d) Photovoltaic Systems
Photovoltaic (PV) solar systems convert sunlight to
electric energy through the use of a solar cell array.
PV systems can be utilized for either small scale
applications (residential structure) or for centralized
power generation. The primary emphasis at this time,
however, is to continue research and development
programs which are intended to make PV costs
competitive with other energy supplies.
Passive Solar Energy Systems:
(a) Swimming Pool Covers
A plastic or fiberglass cover placed over a swimming
pool surface can reduce heat loss. Studies have shown
that pool covers can result in a 91 percent reduction
in natural gas use when utilized in conjunction with
solar pool heaters.
(b) Passive Heating and Cooling
Passive space heating systems are generally comprised
of two features. First, southern exposure and glazing
of the structure is provided. Second, storage device,
such as rock beds, are utilized to store heat.
Passive cooling is generally the result of proper
shading strategies. Roof overhangs and insulated
shutters and drapes protect a structure from excess
heat absorption while vents provide natural cooling
through day and night breezes.
Wind Energy: The State Energy Commission predicts that wind
systems will produce 10 percent of the energy required for
electric generation by the year 2000. Like solar energy,
wind energy has been used for centuries to provide for many
human needs. For electricity generation, the wind's energy
drives a rotor which then powers an electric generator.
Rotors are generally constructed of two or three blades
mounted on a tower.
Geothermal Resources: Geothermal fuels can replace
conventional fuels in many space heating and cooling and
agricultural applications as a direct use energy resource.
Geothermal resources can also produce electricity through
the use of geothermal steam to run turbines. Because of
this versatility, geothermal resources can play an important
role in meeting future energy demands.
California has numerous sites which have been identified as
geothermal resource areas. In Orange County, the only
RES-2-37
PAGE 53 Show Image
potential geothermal sites are in Huntington Beach and at
the hot springs in Trabuco Canyon. Presently, none of these
areas are being utilized for geothermal extraction
activities.
Biomass Resources: Biomass resources refers to organic
materials, either wastes, residues, or specific crops, which
can be converted to an energy resource. Biomass can be
converted to an energy fuel to replace conventional sources
or directly used in combustion processes. Several local
sources of biomass exist in Orange County. These include:
o Solid waste
o Existing landfills
o Certain high yield agricultural crops
o Agricultural and wood residues
These sources can produce gaseous fuel, heat/steam process
electricity, and liquid fuels through either a
microbiological or thermochemical conversion process. As
stated above a variety of energy fuels can be provided from
biomass. The specific products are described below:
o Methane gas
o Ethanol and methanol (alcohol fuels)
o Steam and high temperature heat through direct combustion
o Oil and natural gas through pyrolysis
o Synthetic fuels
c. Existing and Prolected Consumption Patterns
The following section describes the general consumption patterns
for the three major categories of energy supplies in Orange
County: 1) electricity, 2) natural gas, and 3) transportation
fuels. Both existing patterns and projected consumption
estimates are provided for each energy supply category. A
general breakdown of countywide energy consumption in these
three areas is provided in Chart 2-2.
1) Electricity
The Southern California Edison Company (SCE) provides
electricity to most of Orange County, with San Diego Gas and
Electric (SDG&E) providing electric service to about 6
percent of the households in the southern portion of the
county (Capistrano Valley/San Clemente Foothill region).
Utilities generally provide supply data at the service area
level since electrical supply is delivered without regard to
jurisdictional boundaries (e.g. County of Orange).
Therefore, some interpolation is necessary to disaggregate
supply data to the county level. An analysis of utility
data indicated that Orange County's existing (1980) electric
RES-2-38
PAGE 54 Show Image
Natural Gas
29%
*The electricity category includes the consumption
and loss of energy resources by the conversion
and transmission process.
Countywide Energy Soiarce: Orang. County
~ C2HILRJ ~
Consumption I
RES-~39
PAGE 55 Show Image
capacity was almost 18,000 gigawatt-hours per year. This
capacity is almost 50 percent higher than the county1s
present electric demand (see Chart 2-3) but allows for peak
demand periods and maintenance and repair of generation
facilities. Future demand is projected to be 21,000
gigawatt-hours per year, which will require an expansion in
the present electric capacity to meet the projected demand.
In contrast to other county energy supplies such as natural
gas, electricity is produced through the consumption of
other primary resources (See Chart 2-4). Since almost
two-thirds of the energy input is lost in the transmission
or production process, electricity is also a major consumer
of energy in addition to providing energy. This is an
important consideration in examining future supply sources
for electricity generation.
2) Natural Gas
The only supplier of natural gas in Orange County is the
Southern California Gas Company (SCG). SCG currently
receives over 90 percent of its supply from out-of-state
sources (See Chart 2-5). Currently supply is estimated to
be approximately 99 million cubic feet (mmcf) per year,
which is approximately equal to existing natural gas demand.
The balanced supply and demand is due to the fact that, at
present, natural gas demand dictates the amount of imported
natural gas supply.
Existing supply considerations are complicated by the fact
that natural gas is distributed according to priorities
established by the State Public Utilities Commission. The
highest priority is residential use with utility steam
generating plants being the lowest priority. Thus, in many
ways, the county's natural gas supply is a function of
pricing and distribution regulations and not production
rates. However, the diminishing supply of natural gas in
the state is an important consideration in examining future
demand. These existing and future demands are described in
Chart 2-3.
3) Transportation Fuels
Petroleum (crude oil) is the primary source for Orange
County's transportation fuel supply. Transportation fuels
are generally refined in the Southern California area. Of
each barrel of crude oil refined, 43 percent is converted to
gasoline while 5 percent is used for diesel fuel. The
remainder is used for commercial and industrial petroleum
products.
RES-2-40
PAGE 56 Show Image
10,000 Existing 1980 Projected 2000
0
C,)-
0
~-Q)
0
1000
CD
500
51.
0 5. -
NATURAL ELECTRICITY Qi~ SO?> NATURAL ELECTRICITY Q~ ~
GAS ~ GAS ~ ~
0 Residential NOTE.
w Natural gas presented in million cubic feet per year.
z STATIONARY CommerciaI~ Electricity
USERS presented in gigawatt sours per year `C.
W~J Industrial ::::%.:`:.:::::. (gigawatt equals one billion kilowatts). `fp)
TRANSPORTATION USERS Transportation fuels are in millions of gallons per year.
I Source: Orange County (1982) ECHARTE
I Energy Demand in Orange County CommIssion (1980) 2-3
Oran~eCount~Trans~ortationII
PAGE 57 Show Image
Combine Cycle
(Oil/Gas)
6%
Combustion Turbine
(Oil/Gas) 3%
Hydroelectric
6%
1980
(Existing)
Combine Cycle
(Oil/Gas) Geothermal 4%
Cogeneration 1%
Fuel Cells 2%
Combustion
Turbine
(Oil/Gas)
7%
Hydroelectric
2000
(Future)
Source/Technology I (1980)
I ~yEl~e~cer~igcy Power Generation Source: California Energy Commission ~ C2HZR4T ~
RE8242
PAGE 58 Show Image
73mmct Oftshore
.3%
1980
(Existing)
115 mmcfd 5%
2000
(Projected)
NOTE: mmctd-- miIIior~IIiion cubIc feet per day.
Gas I Source: Southern California Gas I I
I Natural
Available to Supplies U Company (1980) ~ c2'¾A5RT ~
Southern California
~ES-243
PAGE 59 Show Image
Southern California refineries process about one million
barrels of crude oil each day (SCAG, 1982). The major
sources of the local supply are Alaska and California
(including Orange County) oil fields. Although oil reserves
in both of these states provide an adequate supply for
Orange County's needs, the existing transportation fuel
supply must be considered in the context of international,
federal, and state supply conditions. Any disruption of
international or domestic oil supplies would eventually
affect the availability of oil to California and,
subsequently, Orange County.
d. Energy Resource Utilization by Sector
A discussion of energy utilization by each sector of Orange
County's economy is provided below. A description of each
sector as a component of countywide utilization trends is
contained in Chart 2-6. This figure and the following
discussion provide the context for analyzing specific energy
consumption patterns and evaluating conservation opportunities
within each sector.
1) Residential Sector
The residential sector comprises almost 90 percent of all
electrical customers in the county but consumes only 33
percent of the total county energy demand. Residential
electrical consumption has increased 4 percent annually
since 1974 despite increased energy conservation efforts.
Like electrical consumption patterns, over 90 percent of all
natural gas customers are in the residential sector. In
contrast to electricity consumption, however, the
residential sector accounted for over half of the total
natural gas consumption for Orange County in 1980. Most of
the residential natural gas demand is for space heating,
although water heating and cooking are also important.
Chart 2-7 provides a breakdown of residential sector end-use
consumption for both Orange County and California.
2) Commercial Sector
The commercial sector includes retail activities,
office/professional uses, government activities, and
agricultural production. Although the commercial sector
comprises only 8 percent of all electrical customers in the
county, it consumes over 30 percent of the total electrical
demand. Commercial sector electrical demand has increased at
an average rate of 4.6 percent annually since 1973. Most of
the electrical use in the commercial sector is devoted to
office lighting and cooling.
RES-2-44
PAGE 60 Show Image
ELECTRICITY USE
NuMBER CONSUMPTION
OF PER
CUSTOMERS CONSUMPTlON CUSTOMER
703.616 111766X IO5KWH 1OOOKWH
INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL
1.0% 27.6%
GOVERNMENT
0.9% GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL
COMMERCIAL 7.9% 499.6
8.4% COMMERCIAL
31.4% GOVERNMENT
147.5
RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL
89.8% 33.2% 62.3
RESIDENTIAL
- - 6.2
NOTE: KWl+ Kilowatts per hour or 1000 watts.
NATURAL GAS USE
NUMBER CONSUMPTION
OF PER
CUSTOMERS CONSUMPTION CUSTOMER
533,184 91,101 MMCF MCF
INDUSTRIAL INDUSThIAL INDUSTRIAL
1.0% 20.6% 3,434
COMMERCIAL
4.2% COMMERCIAL
26.7%
RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL
94.8% 52.7% COMMERCIAL
1,095
RESIDENTIAL
___________ 95
NOTE: MC~ million cubic feet.
MMCFz millionmillion cubic feet.
Energy Use by Sector Source: Southern California Gas
I E Company* I
Southern California Edison C~HAR~T
RES-2-45
PAGE 61 Show Image
Clothes Dryer
3% Space Cooling
& Other Refrigeration 4%
20%
ffil½½;ook mg
Pools 3%
4%
I Residential Energy Consumption Soufc~: (C;9Iif8o1i~iia Energy Commission ~ 02HAR7T I
RES~-46
PAGE 62 Show Image
The commercial sector comprises less than 5 percent of the
natural gas customers in Orange County. This sector,
however, accounts for over 25 percent of existing natural
gas consumption with total consumption increasing at an
annual average rate of 7 percent since 1971. As with the
residential sector, space heating is the largest natural gas
end-use for the commercial sector.
3) Industrial Sector
The industrial sector comprises only about 1 percent of
electrical customers in the county. In contrast, the
industrial sector consumes almost 28 percent of all the
electricity used within the county. Consequently, the
industrial sector has the highest electrical demand per
customer of the three stationary sectors (which excludes
transportation).
This sector comprises only 0.2 percent of all natural gas
customers yet consumes 20 percent of the total amount used.
Industrial sector natural gas consumption has been declining
at a rate of 9.3 percent annually since 1971, however.
4) Transportation Sector
The two major users of transportation fuels in Orange County
are private automobiles and commercial vehicles. Gasoline
consumption has increased at a 3.8 percent annual rate since
1975 as a result of the increase of vehicle miles travelled
(VMT) within the county. While it is still a relatively
small segment of the transportation sector demand, diesel
fuel consumption has increased at an annual rate of 11.4
percent since 1972.
RES-2-47
PAGE 63 Show Image
3. Water Resources
a. Introduction
Orange County's economy and general life-style are dependent
upon an adequate and dependable supply of water. Water is
increasingly used for a variety of residential, commercial,
agricultural, and industrial purposes, in addition to its value
for recreational uses and aesthetic enjoyment. The increasing
demand, coupled with limited availability and declining water
quality, has made the planning and management of water resources
indispensable. The interrelationship of water resource supply
and use is complicated by natural forces as well as the
multitude of agencies that have been formed to develop and
protect this essential resource. In this component, the
interrelationship of water supply and use is presented through:
Section b) an identification of county water resources, both
local and imported; Section c) water management activities; and
Section d) a description of countywide water use
characteristics. These topics provide an overall view of the
complex water resource needs of Orange County.
b. Identification of County Water Resources
Prior to the turn of the century, precipitation, the Santa Aria
River, and shallow supplementary wells were the principal
sources of water for the County. The extensive tapping of
groundwater resources in order to support irrigated agriculture
and population growth permitted saltwater intrusion on coastal
areas which prompted the need for imported water supplies. The
County is now dependent on a water resource network comprised of
both local and imported supplies. The general relationship
between precipitation and local and imported water sources is
illustrated in Chart 2-8 and described more fully below.
Throughout this section the term acre-feet of water will be used
as a unit of measurement for water resources. An acre-foot of
water, abbreviated AF, is that quantity of water that would
cover an acre of land to the depth of one foot. Table 2-7
provides additional comparative water volume data.
TABLE 2-7
1 acre-foot = 43,560 cubic ft. or 325,900 gallons
1 million gallons = 3.07 acre-feet
1 million gallons per day (MGD)= 1,120 acre-feet per year
RES-2-48
PAGE 64 Show Image
(1isN,?7 AND RAIN
/~// i//i/I
........ ....
* GountyWaterResourceSources I ~ c;A~r 1
Orange (Hydrologic Cycle) Source: Orange County Water District I
RES-2-49
PAGE 65 Show Image
1) Local Resources
A large portion of northern Orange County is underlain
within groundwater basin (or aquifer) which is primarily
supplied by the Santa Aria River watershed as depicted in Map
2-li. The groundwater basin acts as a huge water storage
facility. When water is available1 it is percolated or
directly injected into the aquifer. When water is needed,
it is pumped out and piped to various destinations. This
basin is divided into the Santa Aria Forebay area and the
Coastal Plain Pressure Area. The forebay area of this
groundwater basin is overlain with relatively porous soils
which allow water to percolate into the groundwater table.
The Coastal Plain Pressure Area is noted for a clay layer
over its seaward half which is impervious to percolation.
The Santa Aria River channel between Katella Avenue and
Imperial Highway is typically a wide, sandy bed. This reach
is the principal groundwater recharge area for the Basin.
Other Orange County streams provide some additional water
supply. The Santiago Creek, San Diego Creek, San Juan
Creek, and Aliso Creek drainage systems have permeability
and percolation rates that vary widely, although they are
significantly smaller in scale than the basin underlying the
Santa Aria River.
Management of a groundwater basin is a complex and expensive
task. The Orange County Water District (OCWD) is
responsible for the management of the Orange County
Groundwater Basin. By capturing natural Santa Aria River
flows, intermittent storm run-off, reclaiming treated
wastewater and purchasing imported water, OCWD protects the
quantity and quality of the natural underground reserves. A
brief chronology of OCWD activities follows:
o In 1933, the California Stat& Legislature established
the OCWD and provided the authority to protect the
groundwater in the Basin.
o Until 1940, the Basin and the local streams that supply
it constituted the sole source of OCWD water. With
Orange County water use increasing and upstream
jurisdictions diverting larger volumes, OCWD began
importing Colorado River water in 1940. These
purchases were made through the facilities of the
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
(MWD).
o In 1949, OCWD began percolating the imported water
underground to recharge the groundwater basin.
o In 1954, Orange County Water District began to levy
pump taxes and assessments in an attempt to slow the
RES-2-50
PAGE 66 Show Image
m
C,)
SOURCE: MAP
ORANGE COUNTY GROUNDWATER BASIN PLANNING 2-11
GRAPHICS
PAGE 67 Show Image
depletion of groundwater resources. The assessments
also provided the necessary funds for purchasing water
to recharge the Basin.
o A 1969 judicial decision awarded OCWD a guaranteed
annual flow of 42,000 acre-feet in the Santa Ana River
below Prado Dam. In 1974, the first deliveries of
State Project water reached Prado Dam for the purposes
of replenishing groundwater reserves.
To maintain local water resources, OCWD utilizes spreading
basins and percolation ponds to recharge the Basin. This
includes an extensive groundwater replenishment system
covering a six mile reach along the Santa And River. In
addition, the Santiago Creek Replenishment Project is
another OCWD effort capable of recharging an additional
25,000 AF into the Basin. The project consists of a pump
station and pipeline to transfer water from Burns Pit on
the Santa Ana River to the Bond and Blue Diamond pits along
Santiago Creek (a tributary to the Santa And River).
With respect to other groundwater basin development
opportunities, the San Juan Creek depicted in Map 2-11 is
also a valuable asset to local water resources. The natural
safe yield of its groundwater basin is about 15,000 AF per
year with the potential for additional groundwater storage.
Programs for additional utilization of the San Juan Creek
Basin are being implemented and developed by the San Juan
Basin Authority, a joint powers agency created in 1971 to
manage the groundwater basin.
It is important to note that local water resources are made
up of a combination of groundwater and imported supplies.
Local groundwater producers and pumpers are allowed to pump
up to 70% of their domestic demands from the ground without
potential overdraft to the Orange County Basin. Their
remaining demands must be met by imported supplies, a
combination of Colorado River water and water from northern
California. Dependence on imported supplies can be reduced
however, by augmenting local water resources with
cost-effective local development projects such as water
reclamation. The use of reclaimed water on large greenbelt
areas (parks, golf courses, cemeteries, street medians,
etc.) reduces the need for limited and costly imported
potable supplies.
Water conservation programs will play an increasing role in
the future of Orange County. Through improvements in
landscaping technology combined with new in-home low-flow
products and a greater public awareness of water as a scarce
resource, the quality of life in the County can be
maintained while the per capita water demand can be reduced.
RES-2-52
PAGE 68 Show Image
The continuing development of these local resources will
contribute to the adequacy and dependability of Orange
County's water supply.
2) Imported Resources
Viewed as a unit, Orange County is heavily dependent upon
imported water. Just 44 percent of the county's Municipal and
Industrial (M&I) demand is currently met by local resources.
This fits into a pattern of steadily increasing reliance upon
imported water. For this reason, the county's supplies will, in
the foreseeable future, continue to be tied to those of the
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), the
master wholesaling water agency for imported water supplies.
MWD supplies the imported water demands of most of its member
agencies from two sources: the Colorado River and State Water
Project. The City of Los Angeles, an MWD member agency,
partially supplies itself with imported water from its own
system, the Los Angeles Aqueduct (Owens-Mono System). The need
for a dependable water supply as well as the two primary MWD
sources are described below and depicted in Chart 2-9 on page.
a) Dependable Water Supply Status
"Dependable water supply11 is defined as a firm source of
water that is available year after year which does not vary
due to climatological variations. Orange County1s goal is
to have a reliable, dependable system of water supply that
would provide enough water to meet its constituents needs
under all hydrological conditions.
Historically, a combination of local resources and MWD
imported water has been available to meet these demands.
However, MWD cannot meet the existing and predicted demand
without using excess water supplies which others have a
priority right to utilize. As those other areas exercise
their priority water rights, MWD's back-up supply will
shrink resulting in possible annual shortfalls.
MWD does not intend to rely on "luck" of weather conditions
or the "possibility" that excess waters presently available
will continue to be there, especially since other areas of
water origin are developing rapidly. Historically, MWD has
been successful in anticipating and providing for the future
water needs of its member agencies and their constituents.
Today, however, due to entitlement cutbacks on the Colorado
River, an uncompleted State Water Project, Federal and State
water policies in disarray, groundwater contamination and
loss of Los Angeles' entitlements from Owens-Mono Basin, MWD
is presently 700,000 acre feet behind its ability to provide
reliable water service to its customers. With above-normal
demand, Orange County will be experiencing a shortfall
exceeding 100,000 acre feet. Fifty six percent of Orange
RES-2-53
PAGE 69 Show Image
County's water supply comes from outside the County.
One-third of Orange County's water agencies are 100%
dependent on imported water. Orange County no longer has
the dependability we once had to provide the needed imported
water supply.
Based on recent attempts to augment existing supplies and
given a ten to twenty-year lead time for major projects,
Orange County may face serious difficulties meeting the
demand for water in the future. On the other hand, many
projects and proposals for water supply augmentation and
distribution are on the table. Based on the law of averages
and a few wet years, coupled with Southern California's
water management programs, MWD could have sufficient
supplies to the year 2000. It is impossible to predict the
exact scenario that will follow, however, emphasis on water
management is mandatory.
b) The Colorado River System
The Colorado River has been described as both the most
controlled and litigated river system in the United States.
It yields an average of 15.1 million acre feet (maf)
annually. This amount is divided by law and agreements
among the states of the Colorado River Basin and Mexico as
per the Colorado River Compact of 1922. California's share
is set at 4.4 maf/year; the MWD service area has had 1.2 maf
available to it until 1990. There is now some variability
to this annual share as Arizona increases its allocation.
MWD's Colorado River Aqueduct, which brings the water most
of the way to Orange County, went into service in 1941.
The allocation of Colorado River water is changing
drastically. MWD has lost rights to more than 50 percent of
its allotment as a result of a 1962 U.S. Supreme Court
decision which settled a major water rights dispute between
California and Arizona in favor of Arizona. This loss,
combined with existing and anticipated federal court
decisions affirming the claims of Native Americans, and
increased diversions by a few upstream users, could reduce
MWD's allotment to just 450 thousand acre feet (TAF) by the
year 2000. The Metropolitan Water District has entered into
a 35-year agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District,
in which water conservation facilities and programs will be
installed in Imperial's agricultural lands and 100,000
acre-feet per year of conserved water will be diverted into
the Colorado River Aqueduct by MWD.
The post-1985 allotments cited above can reasonably be
considered firm even in the event of a drought in the
Colorado River source regions. Because storage capacity on
the Colorado River exceeds six years' required deliveries,
RES-2-54
PAGE 70 Show Image
I''
I California Water Delivery Systems I Source: MWD ~ 2Mf12 ~
RES-2-55
PAGE 71 Show Image
MWD's allotment can be considered secure over a dry period
of up to fifteen years.
c) The Sacramento River System and State Water Project
The Sacramento River system is the most important freshwater
resource in the state, with an unimpaired annual run-off of
about 18.9 maf on its four main tributaries. However, the
system is subject to drought. As compared to the Colorado
River, there is very little carry-over storage on the
Sacramento River system. Years with less than 10.2 maf are
termed 31critical" by the State Water Resources Control
Board.
Consecutive critical years were experienced in 1933-34,
1976-77, and 1987-88. The longest drought on record for the
Sacramento River system occurred from 1928 to 1934. It
included four critical years and two "below normal" years,
and is now used as a "critical period" standard for planning
purposes. The period, 1987 to 1990, also has been severely
dry, with three critical years and one below-normal year.
It should be noted that the 1976-77 drought was of
relatively short duration and, thus, more manageable than a
less severe drought of longer duration.
The federal government moved first to develop the Sacramento
River System. It began construction of the Central Valley
Project (CVP) in the 1930's. During a recent four year
period, the CVP delivered an annual average of 6.67 maf for
agricultural, municipal, and industrial uses in the
Sacramento Valley. The Burns-Porter Act of 1960 authorized
construction of the State Water Project (SWP). That
legislation called for about 4.2 maf of the state's water
resources (primarily the Sacramento River and its
tributaries) to be incrementally developed so as to make
water available for use in more arid parts of the state
while maintaining water quality in the Sacramento River
Delta. Operated by the State Department of Water Resources
in coordination with federal operation in the Central Valley
Project, the SWP made its first deliveries to MWD in 1971
via the California Aqueduct.
The State Department of Water Resources is continuing its
efforts to complete the State Water Project as set forth in
the Burns-Porter act of 1960. However, San Francisco Bay
Area communities, environmental groups and the State Water
Quality Control Board (WQCB) have expressed concerns about
maintaining adequate fresh water flows in the San Francisco
Bay for wildlife and protection from sea water intrusion
into the upper delta. In addition, legislative proposals to
amend water laws began to gain momentum in the late 1980's
at the state and federal levels. The intent of many of
these proposals has focused on revising procedures guiding
RES-2-56
PAGE 72 Show Image
the distribution of water allocated to agricultural uses
from state and federal water projects. With 84 percent of
water project resources committed to agricultural interests
across the state (Source: MWD), some legislative proposals
have identified water intensive crops such as rice, cotton,
and alfalfa as not appropriate to receive the inexpensive,
subsidized project water.
The doctrine of tiuse it or loose it! is a concept that has
evolved into water policy over the years to the detriment of
conservation efforts. Presently, farmers can be penalized
for reducing water use through the loss of future allocation
rights. Policy studies have suggested that a more rational
approach is required. One proposal would permit urban users
(water districts) to enter into agreements to purchase and
transfer water lots from agricultural areas in exchange for
updated and more efficient irrigation technologies allowing
farms to continue to operate with less water.
The population growth trends around the San Francisco Bay
area and the Los Angeles metropolitan area have also created
occasional partnerships over water issues in the legislature
between both urban areas. This is a change from past
alliances which have emphasized the northern versus southern
regions of the state.
New water policy concepts have become increasingly relevant
as the cost estimates for constructing new water storage and
transfer facilities have jumped at a time when state and
federal budgets are facing drastic shortfalls. The present
yield of the SWP is estimated to be 2.3 MAF, of which about
one-half is allocable to MWD. The fiscal benefits to urban
water users may be dramatic if the implementation of
agricultural conservation technologies were in broad use.
Presently, planned additions to the SWP are: 1) north Delta
facilities; 2) south Delta facilities; 3) additional units
at the Delta pumping plant; 4) Kern Water (storage) Bank; 5)
Los Banos Grandes Reservoir; and 6) interim CVP supply
purchases. These additions are estimated to increase the
SWP yield to 3.6 maf and MWD's share to 1.8 maf. It should
be noted that additional facilities (e.g., off-stream
storage reservoirs) will still be required in order to
complete the State Water Project.
c. Water Resources Management
1) Water Supply
MWD distributes imported water resources from the State
Water Project and the Colorado River to its member agencies
in Orange County. These local agencies then utilize the
imported resources either to augment their local resource
supplies or to provide for the majority of their water
RES-2-57
PAGE 73 Show Image
resource needs. In general, the southern and northeastern
portions of the county are dependent on imported water
supplies while the central portion of the county is served
primarily by the groundwater basin. Chart 2-9 depicts the
Groundwater Basin and its operational history.
In addition to MWD, key agencies involved in the supply and
distribution of water are the Municipal Water District of
Orange County and Coastal Municipal Water District, which
wholesales imported water to many local retail agencies and
the aforementioned Orange County Water District (OCWD), the
groundwater management agency for the County1s primary
groundwater basin. The Municipal Water District of Orange
County (MWDOC) represents most Orange County water providers
in matters with the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) for
imported water allocations. The MWDOC staff also maintains
watch over issues of water quality, conservation, and
legislation. The OCWD, like most water districts, is a
Special District and functions as an independent agency in
the county. The facilities of the Orange County Flood
Control District and the U.5. Corps of Engineers, although
intended primarily for flood control, also serve to conserve
stormwater run-off for replenishment of the county's
groundwater basin.
In addition to the District's mission to ensure the quantity
of water in the Basin, the OCWD also works to ensure that
the quality of water meets all regulatory and health
standards. For that reason, OCWD operates Water Factory 21
at their facility in Fountain Valley. Water Factory 21 is
an advanced wastewater treatment facility designed to
prevent sea water intrusion into the basin. Highly treated
wastewater is processed through a reverse-osmosis membrane
process and injected along the coast to create a hydraulic
barrier so that saltwater does not enter and contaminate the
Basin.
Seasonal water storage at Prado Dam is a proposed program to
conserve high quality storm flows for recharging the
groundwater basin. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
working with OCWD to implement this program. Assuming a
favorable decision, OCWD can look forward to salvaging an
additional 5,000 AF on an annual average. Even during dry
periods such as the present drought, significant volumes of
storm water can be conserved in the Prado Basin. Spring
run-off from snow melt and late season rains can be captured
without impeding flood control. This program offers the
opportunity for improved water quality, energy savings from
reduced importation of water, and greater insurance against
shortages.
RES-2-58
PAGE 74 Show Image
SOUTHWEST
NORTHWEST
w
0
w
~3OOO~ OF FRESH WATER
Water Utilized In Thousands of Acre-fee
-300
-400
-500 "~~` ____________________________
Basin considered full in 1969
-600
-700
I 1111111111111111
8001956
1966 1966 1971 1976 1981 19861990
Year
U Ground Water Basin and Operation I ~ ;t~R9T I
U History in Orange County al * Source: Orange County Water District I
RES-2-59
PAGE 75 Show Image
Water reclamation has become a principle method of
increasing Orange County's local resources. Reclamation
projects include: 1) the Green Acres Project (GAP)
expansion; 2) Water Factory 21 expansion; and 3) the
Alamitos Barrier Project modification.
Green Acres Project Expansion: Phase II of the Green Acres
Project will be launched during the 1990 fiscal year with a
project report for a 10 Million Gallons per Day (MGD)
treatment plant to serve reclaimed water to Huntington Beach
and Newport Beach. Pipeline construction for this second
phase of the project is planned for 1991-92. In addition,
OCWD and the Irvine Ranch Water District are discussing a
possible intertie of the Green Acres system with IRWD's
wastewater re-use system. This project would strengthen the
delivery capabilities of both OCWD's and IRWD's reclamation
system.
Water Factory 21 Expansion: Water Factory 21 began
operations in the fall of 1976. OCWD existing figures show
that although the plant was designed to reclaim 15 MGD for
sea water intrusion protection, it has not operated
consistently at that level except during a brief start-up
testing phase.
Recently, with California facing another year of drought,
OCWD accelerated plans to modify Water Factory 21 to achieve
higher production levels. Major improvements began in early
1988 to increase the plants performance, reliability, and
economy. New low-pressure membranes were installed in 1989,
the cooling system was rebuilt to permit faster feed times
and'the injection well system was rebuilt to enable the full
flow of the product water to be placed in the coastal
barrier.
Alamitos Barrier Project Modification: OCWD and the Los
Angeles County Flood Control District operate a sea water
intrusion facility (the Alamitos Barrier) using imported
water in quantities of up to 8,000 acre-feet/year. A
feasibility study is presently investigating the
substitution of reclaimed water from the Los Angeles County
Sanitation District's Long Beach plant to this project. An
advanced waste water treatment plant similar to Water
Factory 21, including reverse osmosis technology, would be
necessary to bring the water into compliance with health and
regulatory standards.
2) Water Quality
An important consideration in the management of both the
local and imported water resources described above is water
quality. Water quality is defined in terms of the physical,
chemical, and biological properties of water pertinent to
RES-2-60
PAGE 76 Show Image
the use under consideration. The groundwater quality in the
Orange County Basin has been deteriorating overthe years
due to the infiltration of chemicals and salts from
agricultural operations, saltwater intrusion, land outfalls,
the poor quality water flowing into the county via the Santa
And River, and the poor quality of Colorado River water used
to recharge the groundwater basin. Colorado River water,
with more than 700 parts per million of total dissolved
solids (TDS), is also delivered directly to both urban and
agricultural users, presenting problems to both. This
problem is most prevalent in the South County area which is
very dependent on imported water.
With respect to imported water supplies, an important fact
is that the U.S. Public Health Standard of 500 ppm TDS for
drinking water is exceeded by the imported Colorado River
water. While blending of groundwater and imported water has
helped somewhat, substantial portions of the county
groundwater basin have in excess of 600 ppm TDS. The
importation of SWP water which has 230 ppm TDS for
groundwater recharge and direct delivery has improved the
water quality situation somewhat but increasing demands on
the SWP as well as drought may limit future availability.
To reduce the TDS, a number of de-nitrification plants have
been put into operation, and two groundwater desalters are
in advanced design. In any case, the use of bottled water
and home water filters and softeners continues to expand
throughout the county.
During the 1960s, the State legislature recognized the
interrelatedness of water supply and water quality and
assigned responsibility for both water rights and water
quality control to a single agency, the State Water
Resources Control Board, and its nine regional boards.
Additionally, federal laws relating to water quality and
federal water projects affect Orange County's water
resources.
The water pollution control program in California has been
conducted through regional water quality control boards for
30 years. In 1967, the State Water Rights Board and Water
Pollution Control Board were merged into the State Water
Resources Control Board (SWRCB). Two years later, the
enactment of the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
greatly strengthened the powers of the SWRCB and provided a
strong legal framework for a State program of water
pollution control.
The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, administered
in the county through the Santa Aria and San Diego Regional
Water Quality Control Boards, establishes and enforces
wastewater discharge requirements. The County Health Care
Agency enforces the State health standards for swimming and
RES-2-61
PAGE 77 Show Image
related water contact sports and other water-oriented
activities. The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and the
Municipal Water District of Orange County are both concerned
with the quality of imported water. Water quality
monitoring is performed by several agencies including the
State Water Resources Control Board, the Regional Water
Control Board - Santa Ana Region, the Department of Health
Services, and the Orange County Environmental Management
Agency.
In addition to the above programs, Section 208 of the 1972
Amendments to Federal Water Pollution Control Act required
that an areawide wastewater treatment management process be
implemented to assure adequate control of pollution. Orange
County is within the South Coast Region for 208 planning
purposes. The Southern California Association of
Governments (SCAG) as the Council of Governments for the
region is designated the lead agency for the 208 plans.
The two local water quality programs that involve the County
include the San Diego Creek Sediment Monitoring Program and
the Agricultural Best Management Practices Program (AGBMP).
The objectives of these programs are to reduce sedimentation
of the Upper Newport Bay. As a result of the sediment
monitoring program, in-channel and in-bay basins have been
constructed toward the movement of sediments. The AGBMP
program reduces sedimentation by monitoring the
implementation of erosion controls on the agricultural land
in the San Diego Creek watershed.
As a result of the 1987 Amendments (Water Quality Act) to
the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Environmental Protection
Agency developed a plan to monitor and control non-point
source pollution. This plan, which is administered at the
local level by the Regional Water Quality Control Boards,
requires operators of municipal stormdrain systems to obtain
stormwater and urban runoff permits. The requirements of
the permit include water quality monitoring and the
developmentlimplementation/monitoring of the effectiveness
of Best Management Practices (BMP's) to reduce the
contamination of receiving waters from stormwater runoff.
Orange County and its incorporated cities have been issued
these National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permits by the San Diego and Santa Ana Regional
Water Quality Control Boards. The two water quality
monitoring programs discussed above have been approved and
implemented while future programs may include Drainage
Facility Inspection, Water Pollution Investigationi
Enforcement, BMP's, and Public Education.
As the 208 process and other water quality programs continue
to play an increasing role in the County, it is essential
RES-2-62
PAGE 78 Show Image
that efforts towards coordination among the various state,
regional, and local agencies involved in water quality
management continue. Such activities are included as
implementation programs in Chapter Six: Water Resources
Component.
OCWD, the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA),
Western Municipal Water District (WWWD), and the
Metropolitan Water District have financed construction of
the Arlington Desalter located in Riverside County near
Corona. The desalter lowers the high water table in the
Arlington Sub-basin and also provides demineralized water to
the Santa Ana River for recharging Orange County's
groundwater basin. Additional desalters such as the Irvine
desalter and Chino Basin desalters are expected to reduce
nitrate concentrations and augment present replenishment
supplies.
d. Water Use in Orange County
In order to describe future water consumption, it is important
to determine the current major areas of water usage. As stated
earlier, water demands within the county can be categorized into
two types of uses: municipal and industrial (M&I) and
agriculture. M&I demand includes water for residential,
commercial, industrial, institutional, and park/greenbelt
irrigation purposes and unaccounted for water uses. The
following sections describe the water use characteristics of
each M&I category.
1) Residential Water Demand
Residential demands account for approximately 61 percent of
the water use in Orange County. Within the residential
category, approximately 58 percent is for interior use with
the remaining 42 percent used for landscape irrigation
purposes and other outdoor uses. Chart 2-10 illustrates the
average distribution of indoor residential water use.
2) Water Demands By Residential Land Use Category
Previous estimates of water demand by land use type have
identified the relationship between land use and water
demand throughout the county.
o Low density residential development requires the most
water per dwelling unit, mainly because of the large
amount of water needed for outdoor uses.
o Medium high (townhomes and condominiums) and high
density residential (apartment complexes and mid-rise)
require less indoor use than other densities and very
little outdoor water per dwelling unit.
RES-2-63
PAGE 79 Show Image
Agriculture Kitchen Cooking
10%
Residential Bath Outdoor
½2Ly½i10e/:
m
C,,
1015%
I.
0)
Total County Municipal I Industrial Residential
Water Use In Orange County Source: Orange County 12cZftl%I
PAGE 80 Show Image
o High density development has a greater potential for
conservation than low density development. High
density development generally has a centrally
controlled and separately metered irrigation system and
a single entity controls the application of water for a
large area. Low density development has individual,
small, and usually manual systems with a different
operator at every home and are metered with domestic
uses.
3) Non-Residential Water Demands
The per acre water demands of most of the non-residential
land use categories are relatively equal, but some
interesting differences do appear:
o The majority of industrial and commercial water demand
is for indoor uses. Reclaimed water is increasingly
being utilized for outdoor landscaping uses for new
non-residential developments.
o Irrigated agriculture approximates medium density
residential use demands.
o The water demand of institutional uses (schools,
libraries, etc.) is typically balanced between indoor
and outdoor.
4) Existing and Projected Water Resource Demands
In fiscal year 1988-89, about 609,000 acre-feet of water
were consumed for municipal and industrial purposes
county-wide.
Approximately 30,000 AF were used in agriculture. Because
of this preponderance of municipal and industrial water use
in the county, this element focuses on demand and supply for
those uses. Of the 609,000 AF used for M&I purposes in
1988-89, about 61 percent was used in private homes and
residences, 18 percent was used in commercial areas, 11
percent in industrial areas and activities, and 10 percent
was used to support public and institutional uses including
parks, schools, and roadway landscaping and unaccounted for
water.
OCP-88 projects a 17.5 percent increase in population for
the period 1991-2010 with a concomitant increase in housing
and a relative increase in employment. The focal point of
growth in Orange County's water demand is projected to
continue to shift gradually southward during the next 20
years. This trend is similar to the overall demographic
trends and resultant demands discussed in Section B (County
Growth Trends) of this chapter. Specifically1 significant
RES-2-65
PAGE 81 Show Image
increases in water resource demands are anticipated in South
County as least through the year 2010. For analytical
purposes, South County is generally considered to be the
area south and east of the Costa Mesa Freeway (State
Highway 55 ).
During the 20 year study period about 71 percent of the
county's net population growth is projected to occur in the
southern region. Although the rate of growth in North
County is declining, this area will still contain the
majority of the county's population and water demand
throughout the study period. Not only is the population
base in the North County substantially larger, but as older
communities, fewer plumbing facilities and landscaping
programs utilize new "low flow" and "water wise" concepts.
In 1980, 11 percent of the county's 1,931,570 people lived
in the north. By 2010, it is expected that this figure will
fall to 59 percent. County employment patterns are very
similar to the population trends. Overall, the county's
employment base is projected to grow slightly faster than
population, with a 26.7 percent gain between 1991 and 2005.
This compares to a projected population growth of 14 percent
during the same period. Population and employment trends
will influence the water demand for Orange County. South
County is projected to generate about 42.9 percent of the
water demand between 1991 and 2010. This projected increase
from 177,300 acre feet in 1991 to 310,550 acre feet in 2010
is consistent with the overall growth trends in South
County.
Historically, future water demands were determined as the
product of projected service area population and a projected
value of per capita water use. Such an approach is still
useful but becomes limited when attempting to ascertain the
impacts to water demand other than population. For several
years, MWD has been using a forecasting model, MWDMAIN, that
considers growth trends in population, number and type of
housing units, employment, water and wastewater rates,
conservation activities (e.g., education, retrofit, plumbing
codes, etc.) and other variables such as the number of
persons per household and other specific water use
parameters. Forecasts can be revised and updated as
additional data and trends are identified. The model
provides water demand forecasts by residential, commercial,
industrial, and public/unaccounted for water. MWDMAIN
results from interim report number 3, November 1987, are as
follows:
RES-2-66
PAGE 82 Show Image
YEAR POPULATION AVERAGE DEMAND PER CAPITA
ACRE-FEET GPCD
1989-90 2,314,088 568,939 219
1994-95 2,492,967 617,416 221
1999-00 2,676,085 666,933 222
2004-05 2,841,455 711,523 224
2009-10 2,986,073 750,301 224
(Source: MWDOC)
On the average over the period of projections, residential
water use accounts for 61 percent of the total, with
commercial accounting for 18 percent, industrial uses 11
percent and public/institutional/un accounted for water at
about 10 percent. On a per-capita basis in Orange County,
the overall consumption for all uses (except agriculture) is
expected to increase from about 226 gpcd in 1990 to 243 gpcd
in 2010. The increase in the per-capita consumption results
from the changing employment trends, commercial/industrial
development versus residential development, development of
steeper hillside areas requiring more slope area per usable
developed acre, and development of the inland areas which
are hotter and drier. The increasing need for potable
supplies will be somewhat offset by the development of water
reclamation systems for irrigation of golf courses and
common greenbelt areas.
Per capita water demands may decrease as a result of three
general trends: 1) higher density development, 2) water
availability and price increases, and 3) public awareness.
However, for planning purposes it is conservatively assumed
that per capita water demand for all M&I purposes will
remain close to 1990 levels for the period 1991-2010.
Therefore, it seems likely that the county;5 future demands
will have to be met by either additional water supplies
developed or managed by MWD and local water agencies,
increased efficiency in water use (conservation), or a
combination of both. Chapter Six, Water Resources
Component, outlines several potential programs to support
these efforts.
RES-2-67
PAGE 83 Show Image
4. Air Resources
a. Introduction
The dynamic growth of Southern California has earned it the
status of being the eleventh largest economic center in the
world. If the growth trends of the last ten years continue, the
region will experience almost a 50% increase in population by
the year 2007. This growth has manifested itself in three
regional problems which are closely related: rapid growth,
transportation, and air quality. Population growth means more
traffic and more businesses, and each of these has adverse
effects on air quality.
No single national resource has such a direct bearing on the
public health, safety, and welfare as air. It is one of the
basic ingredients of the environment, essential to all forms of
life. Unlike other resources it has no substitutes, cannot be
imported when local supplies are deteriorated, and allows no
reduced-use conservation measures. However, like other
resources, urbanization has deteriorated its quality.
Orange County lies within one of the most severely air polluted
regions of the country. An adverse combination of heavy
pollutant emissions, meteorology topography, and air chemistry
result in a situation in which state and national standards for
air quality are exceeded regularly.
b. Historical Background
1) Historical Legislation
In 1970, Congress passed the Clean Air Act. It requires the
administrator of the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to establish National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) for six major pollutants: carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur,
particulates, and photochemical oxidants. The Act requires
each state to attain and maintain federal standards through
the development of State Implementation Plans (SIPs). Each
state is to develop a plan and submit it to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. State
Implementation Plans require emission restrictions and
timetables for compliance, inspections, air monitoring
systems, and adequate staff and funding. In cases where a
state does not draft a satisfactory SIP, the EPA is required
to supply one. Because the EPA failed to meet its August
1974 deadline for publication of guidelines for the SIPs,
the EPA Administrator defined individual deadlines for each
state. California's deadline for submission of its first
SIP was July 1, 1979.
RES-2-68
PAGE 84 Show Image
The California Legislature, recognizing that air quality was
a regional problem in Southern California, enacted the Lewis
Air Quality Management Act of 1976. The Act reorganized the
Southern California Air Pollution Control District into the
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) with
authority to regulate stationary sources of air pollutants
in the region. The SCAQMD in conjunction with the Southern
California Association of Governments (SCAG) is charged with
developing a comprehensive plan for attaining and
maintaining state ambient air quality standards. The Air
Quality Management Plan (AQMP) is to be adopted by SCAG and
SCAQMD and submitted to the California Air Resources Board.
The AQMP is then to be included in the SIP for EPA's
approval. The Act further requires continuous
implementation monitoring and updates of the original plan
every two years. For detailed information regarding the Air
Quality Management Plan, refer to Section V, Subsection B
of this chapter.
In 1977, Congress amended the Clean Air Act. The new law
placed additional requirements on SIPs from non-attainment
areas. A non-attainment area was defined as one unable to
demonstrate attainment of the NAAQS for oxidants and carbon
monoxide by December 31, 1982 after implementation of all
reasonably available control measures. The South Coast Air
Basin (SOCAB) is designated as such a non-attainment area.
The 1977 Amendment required non-attainment areas to prepare
a SIP in 1982 outlining additional standards designed to
meet NAAQS by 1987. It also required the adoption and
implementation of a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance
(uM) program as part of the 1979 SIP.
2) Air Quality Management Plan Process
SCAG and SCAQMD, in a joint effort, elected t~ meet state
and federal requirements through the Air Quality Management
Plan. SCAG and SCAQMD were also required by the Lewis Act
to designate subregional planning agencies responsible for
preparing preliminary plans for each of the six subregions
within SCAG's jurisdiction as a Metropolitan Planning
Organization. This was intended to ensure the participation
of local governments in the development of the AQMP. The
County of Orange was designated as the subregional agency
for AQMP planning in Orange County.
SCAG and the SCAQMD forwarded the 1979 AQMP to the
California Air Resources Board (CARB) in January 1979.
After revisions, the CARB approved the AQMP and submitted it
to the EPA. Because the AQMP did not contain a
legislatively adopted inspection and maintenance program,
the EPA placed the Clean Air Act mandated sanctions on
California. These sanctions prohibited construction of new
major development which are considered pollution sources.
RES-2-69
PAGE 85 Show Image
Additional sanctions were placed on California in 1980 in
response to the continuing delay in adopting an IIM program.
The latter sanctions involved the loss of federal funds for
transportation and sewer projects.
The 1982 AQMP revision built upon the process established
earlier. Utilizing a refined emissions inventory and
improved modeling techniques, both the SCAQMD and SCAG
determined that it would be impossible to attain the 1987
ozone and carbon monoxide deadlines even with the strictest
feasible controls on both motor vehicles and industrial
sources. Attainment of the ozone standard would require
major shifts away from petroleum products and was unlikely
to come before the year 2000. The AQMP contained many
control measures which relied on new technologies expected
to become available, as well as a long-range strategy. The
two agencies committed to revise the plan in three to five
years to better define future control efforts.
The 1988 AQMP revision establishes the regional attainment
of federal air quality standards by the year 2007. The 1988
AQMP process is an attempt to promote ways in which growth
can occur, yet provide mitigation for externalities such as
traffic congestion and the resultant impact on air quality.
In order to make significant progress toward the regional
attainment goal, the 1988 AQMP contains a series of control
measures. Each measure proposes a set of actions designed
to cause a reduction in emissions. For a detailed
chronology of air quality legislation and planning, see
Appendix D.
During the 1982 AQMP revision process and throughout the
1988 revision process, various sub-regional processes were
incorporated to solicit local jurisdiction participation and
aid in the AQMP revision process. Among these sub-regional
processes are the Reasonable Further Progress report, the
Reasonable Extra Effort Programs and the Early-Action Plan.
The Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) report is an annual
survey of local governments and other implementing agencies.
The analysis focuses on control measures scheduled for
implementation during the report year and previous years.
Whenever possible, the potential effectiveness of individual
measures in reducing air pollution is discussed.
The Reasonable Extra Effort Program (REEP) is a response by
EPA Region Ix (California) to the problem of non-compliance
to the Clean Air Act by 1987. Under REEP, EPA has
identified existing and new control measures, and has
requested that affected districts (South Coast, Fresno,
Sacramento, and Ventura) develop schedules for adoption.
These schedules are to be submitted as amendments to the
State Implementation Plan. Additionally, these post-1987
RES-2-70
PAGE 86 Show Image
areas are to revise the New Source Review regulations,
develop transportation control measures where feasible, and
participate cooperatively in audits of their enforcement and
permitting programs. As an important component of this
program, the Air Resources Board is also developing
short-range measures to further reduce emissions from motor
vehicles. SCAG and AQMD first actively participated in
EPAtS REEP in 1985.
In late 1986 and early 1987, the AQMD took some significant
actions to directly address the less-than-expected progress
in reducing Reactive Organic Gas (ROG) emissions in the
Basin. An Early-Action Plan (EAP) for Short-Range Control
Measures for the projected 1987 revision to the AQMP was
completed. The EAP commits the AQMD to expedite development
and begin adoption proceedings for 13 control measures, some
of which are new, on an earlier schedule than contained in
the 1982 Plan update. Included in the EAP is a revision of
Regulation XIII and New Source Review with the objective of
significantly reducing emissions from those new sources
which fall below the current thresholds of Regulation XIII
or are exempt from its provisions.
c. Air Ouality Overview
1) Regional Overview
Although overall air quality in the South Coast Air Basin
has shown improvement in recent years, levels of two
pollutants, ozone and nitrogen dioxide, are still the
highest in the United States.
The Basin consists of the non-desert portions of Los
Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties and all of
Orange County. Its area is approximately 6,600 square
miles. The Basin is bounded on the west by the Pacific
Ocean, on the north and east by the San Gabriel, San
Bernardino, and San Jacinto Mountains, and on the south by
the San Diego County line. The 1980 census showed a
population of 10.9 million, with 7.4 million people
concentrated in the Los Angeles County portion.
Meteorological conditions in the Basin are more conducive to
photochemical pollution formation than those in any other
large urban area in the nation. As a result, increasingly
stringent pollution controls have been placed on industrial
sources in Los Angeles County since the late `40s and in the
other three Basin counties since the `SOs. California was
the first state in the country to require controls on motor
vehicles.
Because of these controls, there has been a gradual decline
in atmospheric pollutant concentrations, despite a 125
RES-2-71
PAGE 87 Show Image
percent population increase between 1950 and 1980. By the
`80s, peak ozone levels had dropped more than 30 percent
from the highs recorded in the `SOs, and by 1985, all
stations in the Basin were in compliance with state and
federal standards for lead and sulphur dioxide.
2) Orange County Climate
Climate is probably the most important factor in the growth
of Orange County. Implications for the health and well-
being of County residents as well as the environmental
quality are such that it is essential that we know more
about the weather and climate, and the relationship between
land use, transportation, and air quality. Such
characteristics as temperature1 rainfall, winds, humidity,
and cloud coverage affect our energy needs, recreation
activities, air quality, water resources, fire protection
programs, flood control, airport management, agricultural
crops, native vegetations, and much more.
Weather in the County, and in the South Coast Air Basin as a
whole, is a function of a semi-permanent high-pressure zone
over the eastern Pacific Ocean. The resulting climate is
mild typified by warm temperature and light winds the
dominant wind pattern being a daytime sea breeze (on-shore)
and a nighttime land breeze (offshore). This prevailing
condition of alternate light winds tends to carry pollutants
inland during the day, and drift them back toward their
point of origin during the evening.
The topography of the area creates local distortions in the
prevailing meteorological pattern. Air currents are
directed by advection through mountain passes or deflected
aloft by a "chimney effect'1 produced by the solar heating of
mountain slopes. The most significant effect of this
general topographic distortion in the Orange County area is
a predominant daytime air mass transport across the Long
Beach/San Pedro area, through northern Orange County, and
into the San Bernardino/Riverside vicinity.
The average monthly temperatures range from about 52 degrees
F. in the coastal areas in January to 12 degrees F. in the
inland areas of the coastal plain in August. The difference
in temperatures between the coast and inland areas is
greatest in the summer months. The winter maximums are
about the same while inland minimums are lower throughout
the year because the ameliorating influence of the ocean is
weaker. Temperatures are significant in terms of their
effects on agriculture and outdoor recreation.
The County's rainfall regime is characteristic of
mediterranean climates. A modest average of 14 inches falls
principally during the winter months (December to March).
RES-2-72
PAGE 88 Show Image
The County's rainfall also exhibits characteristically wide
variations annually (from a low of 3.6 inches in 1961 to a
high of 32.1 inches in 1940). It is not unusual for winter
storms moving in from the Pacific to produce 3 to 10 inches
of rainfall within a 24-hour period. The implications for
water supply, irrigation, flood, fire, and erosion control
are considerable.
Fog is a distinctive feature of the County's weather.
During April, May, and June, fog or low clouds form at night
and often persist until noon. Visibility in the fog remains
adequate for travel, however. During the summer, with the
semi-permanent low in the desert areas and a relatively high
pressure area off the coast varying degrees of fog or
cloudiness occur in the coastal area. Many people seeking
relief from heat waves and brilliant sunshine of the
interior coastal plain are surprised by coastal fog and low
temperatures which may also persist until noon. Heavy fog in
December and January is also a predictable occurrence.
Annual average relative humidity is 70~ at the coast and 56~
in the eastern inland areas.
With very light average wind speeds, the South Coast Air
Basin atmosphere has a limited capacity to disperse air
contaminants horizontally. The prevailing northwest winds
of the summer months associated with high pressure off the
coast give way to those generated by the passage of storm
fronts in winter months. Summer wind speeds average
slightly higher than winter wind speeds. The dominant daily
wind pattern (daytime sea breeze and a night-time land
breeze) is broken only by occasional winter storms and
infrequent strong northeasterly Santa Aria flows from the
mountains and deserts north of the Basin. Santa Ana winds,
with velocities of up to 70 miles per hour, send dry air
from the desert to the coastal plain. On the way,
temperatures are increased, often to 100 degrees F. This
combination of high temperatures and velocities, and low
humidity coming at the end of the dry summer months, creates
an exceedingly hazardous potential for wildiand fires. Boat
harbors are also seriously affected. More common are
gentler daily sea breezes and nightly offshore breezes and
moderate coastal temperatures.
On practically all spring and early-summer days, most of the
pollution produced during an individual day is moved out of
the Basin through mountain passes or is lifted by the warm,
vertical currents produced by heating of mountain slopes. In
those seasons, the Basin can be "flushed" of pollutants by a
transport of ocean air of sixty miles or more during the
afternoon. From late summer through the winter months, the
flushing is less pronounced because of lighter wind speeds
and the earlier appearance of off-shore (drainage) winds.
With extremely stagnant wind flows, the drainage winds may
RES-2-73
PAGE 89 Show Image
begin near the mountains by late afternoon. Pollutants
remaining in the Basin are trapped and begin to accumulate
during the night and the following morning. A low average
morning (6:00 a.m. to noon) wind speed in pollution source
areas is an important indicator of air stagnation potential.
Under ideal meteorological conditions and irrespective of
topography, pollutants emitted into the air would be mixed
and dispersed into the upper atmosphere. However, the
Southern California region frequently experiences
temperature inversions in which pollutants are trapped and
accumulate close to the ground. The inversion, a layer of
warm, dry air overlaying cool, moist marine air is a normal
condition in the southland. The cool, damp and hazy sea air
capped by coastal clouds is heavier than the warm, clear air
aloft which acts as a lid through which the marine layer
cannot rise. The heights of the inversion is important in
determining pollutant concentration. When the inversion is
2,500 feet or so above sea level, the sea breezes carry the
pollutants inland to escape over the mountain slopes or
through the passes. At a height of 1,200 feet the terrain
prevents the pollutants from escaping and it backs up along
foothill communities. Below 1,200 feet the inversion puts a
tight lid on pollutants concentrating them in a shallow
layer over the entire coastal basin. Usually, inversions are
lower before sunrise than during the daylight hours. The
mixing height normally increases as the day progresses,
because the sun warms the ground, which in turn warms the
surface air layer. As this heating continues, the
temperature of the surface layer approaches the potential
temperature of the base of the inversion layer. When these
temperatures become equal, the inversion layer begins to
erode at its lower edge. If enough warming takes place, the
inversion layer becomes weaker and weaker and finally
"breaks1'. The surface air layers can then mix upward
without limit. This phenomenon is frequently observed in
the middle to late afternoon on hot summer days when the
smog appears to clear up suddenly. Winter inversions
frequently break by mid-morning, thereby preventing
contaminant build-up. During winter months, the inversion
layer is broken up by passing storms. In the spring, April
through June, the inversion layer is normally high and air
quality is good. The inversion layer descends progressively
during summer with the most adverse air quality conditions
in August and September.
Compounding this problem of pollutant concentration is the
phenomenon of photochemistry in which certain original, or
"primary," pollutants (mainly reactive hydrocarbons and
oxides of nitrogen) react under the influence of the
ultraviolet radiation of sunlight to form "secondary"
pollutants (principally oxidants the most serious problem in
this region). This photochemical process is time-dependent
RES-2-74
PAGE 90 Show Image
which means that secondary pollutants can be formed many
miles downwind from the emission source of their primary
precursors. Photochemical smog levels are much lower during
winter due to the lack of strong inversions during the
daylight hours and the lack of intense sunlight which is
needed for the photochemical reactions. The potential for
high concentrations varies seasonally for many contaminants.
During late spring, summer, and early fall, light winds, low
mixing heights, and brilliant sunshine combine to produce
conditions favorable for the maximum production of
photochemical oxidants, mainly ozone. In the summer, the
longer daylight hours and the brighter sunshine combine to
cause a reaction between hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen
to form more of the typical photochemical smog. Carbon
monoxide is not as great a problem in summer because
inversions are not as low and intense in the surface
boundary layer (within one hundred feet of the ground) as in
winter and because horizontal ventilation is better in
summer.
d. Air quality Analysis
Almost without exception, all human activities create some type
of pollution. When these activities are concentrated in space
and when climate and geographic and atmospheric conditions
restrict air currents, waste products collect in the air. The
result is air pollution. Pollutants can be smoke, dust, fumes,
vapors, pollens, or any toxic substance that interferes with the
use of air by humans and other living things. Many economic as
well as health effects of pollutants have been identified: they
can erode and discolor building materials; break down rubber,
paint, and fabrics; slow the growth of and/or kill plants; and
increase the risk of cancer and respiratory ailments. It is
reasonable to assume that there are other effects that have not
yet been identified.
Air pollutant emissions are generally grouped into three source
categories: natural, stationary and mobile. A major form of
naturally produced air pollution is photochemical smog which is
caused by complex atmospheric reactions involving oxides of
nitrogen and reactive organic gases with ultraviolet energy from
sunlight. "Photochemical Oxidants" can include several
different pollutants but consists primarily of ozone (more than
90 percent) and a group of chemicals called organic
peroxynitrates. Photochemical oxidants are cheated in the
atmosphere rather than emitted directly into the air.
Stationary sources are man-made facilities or structures which
generate emissions. Examples are as follows: fossil-fueled
electric generation plants; domestic and commercial boilers and
furnaces; asphalt batching plants; dry cleaning operations; and
auto painting establishments. The major air pollutants emitted
by stationary sources are carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons
RES-2-75
PAGE 91 Show Image
(Ha), oxides of nitrogen (NOr), oxides of sulfur (SOs), and total
suspended particles (TSP)
Mobile source emissions are divided into on-road and off-road
sub-categories. On-road sources are licensed motor vehicles
operating on the public road system, including motorcycles;
automobiles; and light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks. There
are five major air pollutants emitted by motor vehicles: carbon
monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOr),
oxides of sulfur (SOs) and total suspended particles (TSP).
Emission inventories, both current and projected, are maintained
for each of these pollutants by the South Coast Air Quality
Management District. Gasoline engines account for the majority
of on-road CO, NOR, and HC, while diesel buses and trucks
account for most of the SO~ and TSP.
Mobile sources are presently a major contributor to air
pollutant emissions in urban areas. As a result, projects that
increase vehicle use are acknowledged by the label "indirect
sources". An indirect source is any facility, plant,
installation, or activity that has a significant amount of
mobile source activity associated with its operation or use.
Parking facilities, roadways, and airports are examples of
indirect sources. Included in the parking facility category are
shopping centers, sports complexes, and other large facilities.
Most indirect sources include emissions from stationary sources.
Airports, for example, have stationary source emissions
associated with refueling operations, as well as space heating
and cooling of the terminal. Aircraft operations also
contribute to the total emissions. This is an example of how a
project's contribution to mobile source emissions and stationary
source emissions must be considered.
To assist in the evaluation of the air pollution situation, the
various contaminants and their health effects are discussed
briefly below.
Carbon monoxide (CO), by weight and volume, the most common air
pollutant in the South Coast Air Basin is a product of the
combustion of organic compounds, including wood, coal, and
hydrocarbon-based fuels. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless
gas that is slightly lighter than air. CO acts as a poison by
interfering with the blood's ability to carry oxygen and
transfer it to other tissues. In order to present a clear
threat to human life, CO needs to be highly concentrated under
very stagnant air conditions. In the case of transportation
facilities, such stagnant air is extremely rare.
Oxides of nitrogen emissions result from high-temperature
combustion of fossil fuels. Accordingly, the high-speed internal
combustion engine contributes heavily to NO~ emissions, as do
various industrial facilities (stationary sources). Nitric
RES-2-76
PAGE 92 Show Image
oxide (NO) is the most prevalent form of such emissions, while
other oxides, (N02 and N03) are formed by chemical oxidation of
the lower-order nitric oxide. Like reactive hydrocarbons,
oxides of nitrogen are important ingredients in the formation of
photochemical smog and, hence, are important to air quality
analysis.
Nitrogen dioxide (N02) is the most toxic pollutant in this
group. It has been shown to contribute to respiratory problems
and, in high concentrations, can be fatal as a result of
pulmonary edema (swelling and degeneration of lung tissues).
Sulfur oxides are also a product of combustion. Among on-road
sources, diesel trucks and buses are the main contributors
because of the combustion characteristics and sulfur content of
diesel fuel. The species of concern is sulfur dioxide (S02).
It is a non-flammable, colorless gas that has a pungent odor.
By chemical reaction, sulfur dioxide plays a role in the
formation of various sulfate compounds including, under the
correct atmospheric conditions, a sulfuric acid mist.
Low-sulphur fuels have tended to reduce the impact of motor
vehicles as a source of sulfur oxides pollution.
Photochemical oxidants are created in the atmosphere. Reactive
organic gases, including hydrocarbons, and oxides of nitrogen
are the emitted contaminates which participate in the reaction.
Ozone is a toxic gas which is produced by the photochemical
process. Photochemical oxidant is a characteristic of Southern
California type smog and reaches its highest concentrations
during the summer and early Fall. The common manifestations of
oxidants are damage to vegetation and cracking of untreated
rubber. Photochemical oxidants in high concentrations can also
directly affect the lungs, causing respiratory irritation and
possible changes in lung functions.
Hydrocarbons emissions, in and of themselves, are not generally
regarded as a health hazard. Methane accounts for a significant
portion of total hydrocarbon emissions (THE). Because it is
rather inactive chemically, it is of little importance to air
pollution analysis. The remaining hydrocarbons are chemically
reactive and are important precursors to photochemical smog.
Hydrocarbon emissions result from the incomplete combustion and
evaporation of hydrocarbon-based fuels such as gasoline.
Atmospheric particulates consist of soot, dust, aerosols, fumes,
and mists. Particulate matter consists of particles in the
atmosphere resulting from many kinds of dust and fume-producing
industrial and agricultural operations, from combustion, and
from atmospheric photochemical reactions. In areas close to
major sources, particulate concentrations are generally higher
in the winter, when more fuel is burned, and meteorological
conditions favor the build-up of directly emitted contaminants.
However, in areas remote from major sources and subject to
RES-2-77
PAGE 93 Show Image
photochemical smog, particulate concentrations are higher during
summer months. In the respiratory tract, very small particles
of certain substances may produce injury, or may contain
absorbed gases that are injurious. Suspended in the air,
particulates of aerosol size can both scatter and absorb
sunlight, producing haze and reducing visibility. They can also
cause a wide range of damage to materials.
For modeling purposes, sources are classified according to the
following geometric configurations: point, line, and area.
Examples of point sources are fossil-fuel electric power
generating plants and large municipal incinerators. Roadways
and airport flight patterns are classified and modeled as line
sources. Oil refineries and residential housing tracts are
typical area sources.
COMMON SOURCE TYPES
HC NO~ CO SO~ Part
Point Sources:
Fossil-fueled Electric Power
Generating Plants x 0 X 0 0
Industrial Boilers 0 0 0 0 0
Processing Plants 0 X X X 0
Line Sources:
Highways, Roadways 0 0 0 x x
Aircraft x 0 0 x x
Railroads x 0 0 0 0
Area Sources:
Indirect Sources 0 0 0 X X
Refineries 0 X X 0 X
Residential Tracts x 0 X 0 X
Surface Streets (Aggregated) 0 0 0 X X
0 - Primary phases
x - Secondary Emphasis
As stated earlier, the three most relevant emission species in a
transpbrtation analysis are carbon monoxide, reactive
hydrocarbons (RHC), and oxides of nitrogen. It is important to
examine the behavior of these types of emissions with respect to
the operation of road systems. Carbon monoxide and reactive
hydrocarbon emissions are related to the engine1s air-to-fuel
ratio; that is, they decrease as fuel is burned more efficiently
and, beyond the point of maximum efficiency, continue to
RES-2-78
PAGE 94 Show Image
decrease as engine speed increases. Therefore, as delay is
reduced and operating speeds increase in a given transportation
network, these kinds of emissions are lessened. Oxides of
nitrogen, however, behave somewhat differently. NO~ is formed
during high temperature combustion; as the combustion rate
(i.e., engine speed) increases, the rate of formation of NO~
increases slightly. Therefore, improved transportation network
speeds result in somewhat higher emission levels of NOR.
However, since the marginal decreases in hydrocarbon emission
rates are much greater than the corresponding changes in NO,
emission rates, the general conclusion is that higher
transportation system speeds are beneficial to air quality.
Higher levels of emissions (tons/day) can be anticipated as
vehicle miles traveled (VMT), vehicle hours traveled (VHT), and
delay time increase. The horizon year 2000 represents the
amount of urbanization for that time period. Tables 2-8A and
2-8B illustrate the emissions levels for 1985 and 2010 as
assumed in the 1982 AQMP revision. The emissions reduction
between 1980 and 2000 occurs as older more polluting vehicles
are replaced by newer cleaner vehicles. Thus, the technological
improvements more than offset the growth in VMT.
Emissions from mobile and stationary sources are given in tons
of pollutant emitted per day for each of the five species.
There is no direct conversion between emissions in tons per day
and pollutant concentration in parts per million (ppm).
Therefore, emissions cannot be readily compared to the species
concentrations required by the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS). Nonetheless, the Southern California
Association of Governments (SCAG), charged with assisting The
South Coast Air Quality Management District in preparing the Air
Quality Management Plan (AQMP), was required to estimate levels
that must be obtained to meet the NAAQS. In an attempt to
relate tons of emissions to pollutant concentrations,
computerized air quality models were used. These models
predicted that at the emissions levels projected the South Coast
Air Basin would not meet the NAAQS by 1987.
A comprehensive emergency program has been adopted by the SCAQMD
(Regulations VII and XV). This program sets forth actions to be
taken by industry, business, commerce, government, and the
public to prevent air pollution concentrations from reaching
levels which could endanger or cause significant harm to the
public, and/or to abate such concentrations should they occur.
RES-2-79
PAGE 95 Show Image
TABLE 2-8A
SUMMARY OF EMISSIONS
BY MAJOR SOURCE CATEGORIES: 1985 BASE YEAR
(tons/day)
SOURCE CATEGORY ROG NO~ SO~ CO PM PM10
STATIONARY SOURCES
Fuel Combustion 17 254 18 67 11 10
Waste Burningi 1 1 1 4 1 1
Solvent Use 382 - - - - 1 1
Petroleum Process
Storage & Transfer 81 10 27 3 4 3
Industrial Processes 24 9 8 6 17 12
Miscellaneous Processes 85 11 2 110 1,514* 652
TOTAL STATIONARY SOURCES 590 285 56 190 1,548 679
MOBILE SOURCES
On-Road Vehicles 578 620 35 4,752 84 50
Other Mobile Sources 78 135 30 488 13 12
TOTAL MOBILE SOURCES 656 755 65 5,240 97 62
TOTAL 1,246 1,040 121 5,430 1,645 741
*Includes Paved Road Dust
Source: Path to Clean Air: Policy Proposals for the 1988 Air Quality
Management Plan Revision, June 1988.
South Coast Air Quality Management District and Southern California
Association of Governments.
RES-2-80
PAGE 96 Show Image
TABLE 2-8B
SUMMARY OF EMISSIONS
BY MAJOR SOURCE CATEGORIES: 2010 BASE YEAR
(tons/day)
SOURCE CATEGORY ROG NO~ SOX CO PM PM1O
STATIONARY SOURCES
Fuel Combustion 24 241 31 114 18 15
Waste Burning 1 1 1 5 1 1
Solvent Use 469 - - - 1 1
Petroleum Process
Storage & Transfer 79 7 27 4 5 3
Industrial Processes 29 7 9 3 19 13
Miscellaneous Processes 97 15 3 79 2,254* 973
TOTAL STATIONARY SOURCES 699 271 71 205 2,298 1,006
MOBILE SOURCES
On-Road Vehicles 326 570 30 3,938 111 56
Other Mobile Sources 129 192 38 781 17 15
TOTAL MOBILE SOURCES 455 762 69 4,719 128 71
TOTAL 1,154 1,033 141 4,924 2,426 1,077
*Includes Paved Road Dust
Sources: Path to Clean Air: Policy Proposals for the 1988 Air Quality
Management Plan Revision, June 1988.
South Coast Air Quality Management District and Southern California
Association of Governments.
RES-2-81
PAGE 97 Show Image
In the event of elevated levels of air pollution, the episode
program can require substantial reductions in the amount of
pollution that may be emitted. In addition to the reductions in
emissions, there are also provisions for advising the public to
take precautionary measures. Such an advisory includes
recommendations to the public to curtail unnecessary physical
activities during "episode'1 conditions and to remain indoors as
much as possible.
Episodes occur when the concentration of an air pollutant has
reached a level at which a potential health hazard exists.
Depending upon the episode level (first, second, or third
stage), various segments of the public can be affected. A first
stage episode may affect persons with chronic lung or heart
disease, the elderly, the chronically ill, and the exercising
young. Advanced episodes may cause significant aggravation of
symptoms and decreased exercise tolerance in healthy persons.
e. County and Regional Air Resources Management
The management of air resources is dependent on both local and
regional activities and controls. The resource itself is
clearly regional since air cannot be confined to the boundaries
of any political jurisdiction. For this reason, air quality
surveillance and pollution abatement authority must be vested in
an areawide agency. However, the generation of air pollution is
local in nature and can be substantially affected by local land
use and transportation decisions. Following are descriptions of
the agencies and plans which comprise the air resources
management framework for Orange County and the surrounding
region.
1) Regional Agencies
In its efforts to improve air quality, the South Coast Air
Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has developed the
nation's most comprehensive air pollution control program.
The District covers California's most populous region - Los
Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties, and the non-desert
portion of San Bernardino County - 13,350 square miles where
approximately 12 million people live and work.
The District traditionally has controlled emissions from
stationary sources of air pollution. Senate Bill 151
(Presley) amended the Public Health and Safety Code to
provide the District with authority to adopt transportation
control measures and indirect source controls consistent
with Section 40414 of the Public Health and Safety Code. As
part of a multi-faceted control program, SCAQMD develops and
enforces rules regulating emissions; prepares and regularly
updates the Air Quality Management Plan; maintains a network
of air monitoring stations to track pollutant levels
throughout the region 24 hours a day; coordinates public
RES-2-82
PAGE 98 Show Image
outreach; and notifies the public of potential air pollution
alerts and the associated health hazards by providing
information directly to the public and to the local media on
the quality of the ambient air.
SCAG is the Southern California Association of Governments,
and it has been working to improve the region since 1965 -
planning its growth and development, improving relationships
between levels of government, and providing an open forum
for cities, counties, and the public. As the name implies,
its members are governments: six counties - Los Angeles,
Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura, Riverside, and Imperial -
and 160 cities. SCAG is designated by state and federal
governments as the official planning agency for our area:
its staff writes plans for, among other things,
transportation systems, air and water quality, housing
supply, and growth management.
2) Air Quality Management Plan
The Federal Clean Air Act, as amended in 1977, requires
states to have State Implementation Plans (SIPs) to achieve
established air quality goals - the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS). The Act requires that urban
areas such as the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB) which do not
meet these standards for carbon monoxide (CO) and/or
photochemical oxidants (ozone, 03), implement transportation
plans to achieve the standards for these pollutants.
The California Legislature has designated the SCAQMD and
SCAG as the agencies responsible for development of the Air
Quality Management Plan (AQMP) which would represent the
basin's section of the SIP. A Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) between the District and SCAG, allocates to SCAG the
responsibility for non-technical strategies in' three areas:
transportation, energy conservation, and land use. The
original AQMP was jointly published in January 1979 by the
District and SCAG; the next AQMP revision was prepared by
the same agencies in October 1982.
The AQMP, in accordance with the federal guidelines for
implementing the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977, calls for
a graduated decrease in air pollution emissions to a level
that will permit attainment of the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards. Because it is technically difficult to
forecast ambient air quality, this analysis was performed on
the basis of emission (tons) rather than concentrations
(parts per million).
The 1988 AQMP establishes the regional goal of the
attainment of the federal clean air standards by the year
2007. In order to make significant progress towards this
goal, especially in light of the dramatic growth forecast
RES-2-83
PAGE 99 Show Image
for the region, tough choices must be made. The regional
choices for air quality improvement involve not only the
issues of demand management, but even more fundamentally the
question of how the region will power its growth machine.
The 1988 AQMP process is an attempt to promote ways in which
growth can occur, yet provide mitigation for externalities
such as traffic congestion and the resultant impact on air
quality.
a) Control Measures
In order to make significant progress towards the
regional goal of attainment by the year 2007, tough
control measure choices have been presented. The
trade-of fs between stationary source controls, area
source controls, and mobile source controls can only
occur if a major commitment is made by local, county,
and regional governments. The regional choices for air
quality improvement involve not only the issues of
demand management, but even more fundamentally the
issues of fuel and power.
The measures have been divided into three categories:
Transportation, Land Use, and Energy Conservation.
There are 25 Transportation measures, one major Land
Use Measure, and three Energy Conservation Measures.
Of these measures, Orange County is currently
implementing 15 measures, to some degree, on the County
level.
Each measure proposes a set of actions designed to
cause a reduction in emissions. The measures are as
explicit as possible; although, in many cases, multiple
options exist for implementation.
3) Regulation XV: Trip Reduction/Indirect Sources
Regulation XV was adopted by the Southern California Air
Quality Management District on December 11, 1987. This
regulation sets forth the actions employers which employ 100
or more persons at any worksite must take to promote
employee participation in trip reduction and ridesharing
programs. These programs are intended to reduce emissions
from vehicles used for commuting between home and the
worksite. It is the intent of the District to work with
affected employers and local jurisdictions in improving trip
reduction activities to encourage small employers to join
transportation management organizations and to evaluate the
effectiveness of this regulation two years after it has been
fully implemented to insure that it is as effective as
possible. The implementation of this regulation began July
1, 1988.
RES-2-84
PAGE 100 Show Image
4) Orange County Traffic Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP)
Regulation XV permits exemptions where employers are subject
to a city or county ordinance requiring employer trip
reduction strategies as stringent as those found in
Regulation XV. The County of Orange has pursued exemption
status for local agencies adopting the Traffic Reduction
Incentives Program (TRIP).
The TRIP program was developed to address Orange County
traffic problems by reducing congestion and to improve
regional air quality. The program encourages a partnership
of local governments, landowners, developers, businesses,
and commuters to develop realistic and achievable strategies
for improving traffic congestion and air quality. The TRIP
program is intended to be as flexible as possible by
offering a list of strategies for employers to choose from
to implement the combination best meeting their specific
needs.
The objective of the TRIP program is to provide congestion
relief measures that will result in equivalent emission
reductions as in Regulation XV. The TRIP program would be
applied to all employers and employment complexes with 100
employees or more and would utilize a point system. Various
point values would be given for carpools, vanpools, public
transit, bicycling, walking, alternative work hour programs,
living within 5 miles of work, and non-peak travel. The
employer must achieve an average of 34 points per 100
employees. Employers would be required to submit annual
reports demonstrating reasonable efforts to achieve the trip
reduction objective.
RES-2-85
PAGE 101 Show Image
5. Open Space
a. Introduction
The rich diversity of open space within Orange County is
exemplified by sparkling beaches, picturesque harbors, an urban
national forest, natural areas sheltering unique wildlife
habitats and vegetation, and the aquatic and marine system of
marine life refuges and ecological reserves. The role of open
space within Orange County is generally:
1) To preserve natural resources, i.e., conserve natural areas,
their inhabitants, and their indigenous processes.
2) To productively manage natural resources, e.g., groundwater
replenishment along the Santa Ana River corridor.
3) To protect the public from hazardous areas or conditions,
i.e., floodplains, areas with unstable soil, and high fire
hazard areas.
4) To provide areas for outdoor recreation, e.g., parks,
beaches, trails, and areas with notable aesthetics, historic
or cultural values.
b. Open Space/Conservation Program Implementation to Date
The Open Space/Conservation Program was formally adopted in
1972. Efforts towards the preservation of regional open space
started in 1897 with the donation of Irvine Park. The continued
process of preservation of open space has been enhanced by the
efforts of the federal government, the State, the County and
special interest groups. Concern and support for a formal
program increased as the county experienced rapid urbanization
in the 1950s and 1960s. The establishment of the Open Spacel
Conservation Program identified a systematic analysis of
potentially desirable land to be preserved for its regional open
space/conservation qualities.
The implementation of the Open Space/Conservation Program to
date is depicted by Figure 2. Progress toward the
implementation of the program has been very successful. The
following discussion identifies program accomplishments to date.
The largest single open space feature in the county is the
Cleveland National Forest, established by the federal government
in 1908. The 55,000+ forest acres have benef itted significantly
from the activities of the County and the National Audubon
Society. The Starr Ranch Audubon Sanctuary and (existing and
proposed) regional parks have provided buffer lands for the
forest.
RES-2-86
PAGE 102 Show Image
The combined activity of the State, local agencies, and interest
groups have established two State parks since 1979. Crystal
Cove State Park located along the Irvine Coast is the single
largest permanent open space expanse along the County's coast.
Chino Hills State Park adjoining San Bernardino and Riverside
Counties is an important addition to the County's open space
efforts. It represents a significant large open space area
adjacent to the urbanized portion of the county.
Orange County's regional park system has also contributed
greatly to the preservation and conservation of open space. The
program is countywide in focus serving all of the county's
citizens. The first major regional parks were Irvine and
O'Neill Parks located in the foothills of the Santa Aria
Mountains. During the 1960s and 1970s, implementation focused
upon regional parks in close proximity to the population
centers. Examples of this effort may be witnessed by the
existence of Mile Square, Craig, Laguna Niguel, Mason, Fairview,
and Featherly Regional Parks. These parks have done well to
preserve open space and to provide regional recreation
opportunities.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the open space program
has had increased opportunities in the rural areas. This is a
result of few open space opportunities in the urban area and
because acquisitions associated with the development process
have been concentrated in rural areas. The significant open
space additions include: the Arroyo-Trabuco addition to O'Neill
Regional Park; the 2,000+ acres added to Caspers Wilderness
Park; and Wagon Wheel Regional Park.
The program's future activity will focus primarily in the
foothills where proposed regional parks are identified in
Whiting Ranch, Limestone Canyon, Peter's Canyon, and elsewhere.
Coastal open space implementation is expected for Bolsa Chica
and the Irvine Coast. Inland, the opportunities are fewer;
however, proposed regional parks are identified for Carbon
Canyon, Olinda landfill site, Los Alamitos, and Seal Beach.
A more complete discussion of open space/conservation
implementation is found in Chapter Seven: Open Space Component,
"Open Space High Priority Areas".
c. Summary of Inventory Data
The following is an inventory of open space areas in Orange
County. Data are presented by Regional Statistical Area (RSA)
cross-tabulated by categories such as type of facility or use,
property owner, or jurisdiction. (See Chapter One, Map 1-1.)
The inventory data describe current (as of December 1983) and
proposed open space areas.
RES-2-87
PAGE 103 Show Image
Regional recreation facilities distributed by RSA and
categorized by county, state, and federal lands are shown in
Table 2-9. Predominant gross acres of county facilities are
concentrated in RSA C and primarily attributable to the
existence of Caspers Wilderness Park, O'Neill Regional Park, and
Wagon Wheel Regional Park. Proposed regional open space acreage
found in this RSA is attributable to open space dedications
which resulted from development approvals for Whiting Ranch,
Piano Trabuco, Glenn Ranch, and Robinson Ranch.
Coastal resources (beaches, aquatic parks, harbors) within
County regional nodes are found in RSAs D, F, and I. The total
approximate gross acreage is 783 acres with 544 acres (69%)
located in the South County coastal area. Dana Point Harbor is
the largest South County coastal facility encompassing
approximately 453 acres.
The Cleveland National Forest, a resource within the purview of
the National Forest Service, is the largest open space area in
the county (58,869 acres in RSAs B and C). Similarly, Chino
Hills State Park represents the largest State-owned, inland open
space area. All other State-owned open space areas are along
the coast (RSAs D, F, I) and provide over 5,965 acres of
beaches, parks, and ecological reserves. State-proposed open
space expansion areas include Bolsa Chica and Chino Hills State
Park (2, 680 acres).
Open space provided by County local parks is located within the
suburban and urban setting in contrast to open space provided by
County regional nodes, State lands, and the Cleveland National
Forest. See Table 2-10. Local (non-regional) open space areas
are largely found in South County (RSAs C and D) primarily in
the communities of Mission Viejo, Lake Forest/El Toro, and
Laguna Niguel. Overall, 63% of the total gross local park acres
is actually used for local parks in accordance with the Local
Park Code.
`1Other Open Space" category (Table 2-11) shows the greatest
concentration of existing open space in RSA C (8,238 gross
acres). The majority of the proposed open space is also found
in RSA C, located in the Planned Communities of Coto de Caza,
Robinson Ranch, Glenn Ranch, and Plano-Trabuco. Private
in-holdings within the Cleveland National Forest contribute
substantially to other open space category acreage in RSA B (25%
of the RSA total) as does open space acreage in the Anaheim
Hills area (28%).
The total number of existing and proposed gross open space acres
were determined for each RSA. See Table 2-12. RSAs B and C
have the greatest number of existing gross open space acreage
(weighted by the Cleveland National Forest) followed by the
coastal areas of RSAs D, I and F. RSAs C, D, E and B have the
greatest amount of proposed acreage. Conditions of development
RES-2-88
PAGE 104 Show Image
TABLE 2-9
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE
REGIONAL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES (GROSS ACRES)
REGIONAL NOTESI1 FEDERAL LAND521 STATE LAND531 TOTAL
RSA Existing Proposed Total Existing Proposed Total Existing Proposed Total Existing Proposed
A 208.8 0.0 208.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 208.8 0.0
B 1,106.3 3,532.5 4,638.8 3,585.0 0.0 3,585.0 2,133.0 1,800.0 3,933.0 6,824.3 5,332.5
C 9,696.0 6,791.5 16,487.5 55,284.0 0.0 55,284.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 64,980.0 6,791.5
D 784.9 8,841.0 9,625.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 2,962.9 0.0 2,962.9 3,747.8 8,841.0
E 0.0 6,310.0 6,310.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6,310.0
F 1,057.6 99.0 1,156.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 232.7 0.0 232.7 1,290.3 99.0
G 268.2 921.8 1,190.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 268.2 921.8
m
Co
~ H 3.3 0.0 3.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.3 0.0
Co
(0 I 786.7 767.5 1,554.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 2,770.3 830.0 3,600.3 3,557.0 1,597.5
J 0.0 1,100.0 1,100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1,100.0
Total 13,911.8 28,363.3 42,275.1 58,869.0 0.0 58,869.0 8,098.9 2,680.0 10,728.9 80,879.7 30,993.3
Notes:
1. Regional nodes include regional harbors, beaches and parks, and regionally designated open space areas
within Planned Communities.
2. Federal lands include the Cleveland National. Forest. This category does not include military land.
3. State lands include state beaches, parks, marshlands, and an ecological preserve.
Sources:
Orange County, EMA (1984)
State Department of Fish and Game
University of California (September 1980) October 11, 1988
BKJ:RES . tab2-9
PAGE 105 Show Image
TABLE 2-10
NON-REGIONAL OPEN SPACE
UNINCORPORATED AREA
1983
NON-REGIONAL OPEN SPACE~1
Gross Acres
(Net Acres)
RSA EXISTINGY PROPOSED31 TOTAL
Gross Ac. Net Ac. Gross Ac. Net Ac. Gross Ac. Net Ac.
A 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
B 2.2 2.2 0.0 0.0 2.2 2.2
C 497.5 347.5 81.2 14.8 578.7 362.3
D 208:6 91.3 53.9 5.1 262.5 96.4
E 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
F 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
G 7.6 6.9 4.9 4.9 12.5 11.8
H 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
I 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
J 9.8 9.3 0.0 0.0 9.8 9.3
Total 725.7 457.2 140.0 24.8 865.7 482.0
Notes:
1/ This is local park acreage for the unincorporated County only. Net acreage
denotes useable parkland creditable for Local Park Code compliance.
M Existing local park acres includes parks which are: (a) developed, or (b)
not developed but accepted by the County in response to an irrevocable
offer.
2/ Proposed local park acres includes parks which have been irrevocably
offered but not accepted by the County.
Source:
Orange County, EMA
RES-2-90
PAGE 106 Show Image
TABLE 2-11
OTHER OPEN SPACE
UNINCORPORATED AREA
1983
OTHER OPEN SPACE
Gross Acres
RSA Existing1/ Proposed2/ Total
A 267.3 0.0 267.3
B 3,390.1 0.0 3,390.1
C 8,238.1 3,184.8 11,423.0
D 434.3 79.8 514.1
E 271.5 0.0 271.5
F 843.3 0.0 843.3
G 661.0 4.9 665.9
H 378.9 0.0 378.9
I 646.1 0.0 646.1
J 247.4 0.0 247.4
Total 15,378.0 3,269.5 18,647.6
Notes:
11 11Other" existing open space includes: areas such as greenbelts and open
space median strips owned by the County; creeks, streams, and rivers;
residual areas; areas within the Cleveland National Forest which are
private in-holdings; or areas identified in Planned Community conditions of
approval requiring acreage dedications, or designated on the Planned
Community map or in the Planned Community text.
2/ Other; proposed open space includes: irrevocable offers or areas
identified in Planned Community conditions of approval requiring acreage
dedications or designated on the Planned Community map or in the Planned
Community text.
Sources:
Orange County, EMA
Orange County, GSA
RES-2-91
PAGE 107 Show Image
TABLE 2-12
OTHER OPEN SPACE - ALL SOURCES
OTHER OPEN SPACE
Gross Acres
RSA Existing Proposed Total
A 476.1 0.0 476.1
B 10,216.7 5,332.5- 15,549.1
C 73,715.6 10,057.5 83,773.2
D 4,390.7 8,974.7 13,365.4
E 271.5 6,310.0 6,581.5
F 2,133.6 99.0 2,232.6
G 936.8 931.6 1,868.4
H 382.2 0.0 382.2
I 4,203.1 1,597.5 5,800.6
J 257.2 1.100.0 1.357.2
Total 96,983.4 34,402.8 131,386.3
Note: This table does not include the countywide 250 linear mile riding and
hiking trail network.
Sources: Tables 2-9, 2-10, and 2-11.
RES-2-92
PAGE 108 Show Image
approval for Planned Communities such as Glenn Ranch and Coto de
Caza largely comprise the open space acreage for RSA C. Chino
Hills State Park constitutes the proposed acreage in RSA B. The
Bolsa Chica State Ecological Preserve and related Bolsa Chica
open space uses are the primary contributors of proposed acreage
in RSA I.
d. Conclusion
A consistent open space pattern finds County regional and State
open space areas located along beaches or shoreline (RSAs D, F,
and I); whereas, local parks are located in South County (RSAs C
and D) to serve communities and neighborhoods. Sometimes
regional open space is proposed as part of new development
(e.g., Whiting Ranch). However, regional open space need not be
formally proposed and can be independent of development
proposals (e.g., Weir Canyon, Limestone Canyon, Peters Canyon).
Table 2-12 shows a total of 131,386.3 gross acres of open space
from all sources (i.e., regional, local, State and federal
lands). The tabular data presented does not distinguish between
open space acquired through fee dedication and open space
acquired through easement dedication. (See Chapter Seven: Open
Space Component, Appendix 1, Open Space Dedication Definitions.)
RES-2-93
PAGE 109 Show Image
6. Cultural-Historic Resources
a. Overview
Cultural-historic resources are defined as buildings,
structures, objects, sites, and districts of significance in
history, archaeology, architectural history, and culture. In
Orange County, resources of paleontological significance are
included in the cultural resource management program. The
preservation, management, study, and use of these resources is
important for a number of reasons. We seek to preserve because
these resources are all that physically link us to our past.
They provide a frame of reference, both psychologically and
historically, for a society rapidly moving into a technological
future. Cultural-historic resources are an educational tool for
learning about the events, persons, conditions, and lessons of
the past. Many such resources have high scientific and
aesthetic values, as well as being economic assets to a
community for their potential reuse, stimulating jobs, and
attracting tenants or tourists.
b. Background
Orange County has a history and prehistory that, despite the
rapid change of the recent past, has left us a rich heritage of
valuable cultural resources. The ancient geological formations
have yielded and still contain paleontological resources of
major significance. The Los Coyotes area of North County and
the Pectin Reef area of South County are among the most prolific
and scientifically valuable fossil deposits in the nation.
Evidence of human occupation in Orange County dates from 17,000
B.C. Over 1,000 archaeological sites are registered in Orange
County. They contain artifacts and features of value in
reconstructing cultural patterns of prehistoric life.
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed along the coast of
future Orange County, but apparently contact with native
inhabitants by Europeans was not initiated until over two
centuries later when such prominent figures as Father Serra and
Gaspar de Portola participated in the initial exploration and
settlement. The Mission San Juan Capistrano, established in
1776, is a National Historic Landmark and numerous adobe
buildings from the late 18th and early 19th centuries still
remain. The Rancho Era of this time yielded to the American Era
of the second half of the 19th century as ranching continued,
but the economy and population diversified and towns were
settled. Many of the cultural resources remaining today date
from the first land development boom of the late 1880s when the
architectural fashion was Victorian.
The 20th century has seen further rapid growth with citrus and
other agricultural crops, business, oil, the proliferation of
the automobile, and expanding commerce and light industries.
RES-2-94
PAGE 110 Show Image
Remaining are the scattered rural ranch houses and associated
features, commercial centers, and residential neighborhoods of
varying styles dating usually from periods of prosperity such as
the mid-1920s.
c. Location/Sensitivity
Important physical remnants of our cultural heritage are present
throughout Orange County. Resources significant in history or
architectural history are logically concentrated in the areas
where settlement and growth occurred during the historical era,
roughly from the late 18th century through World War II. With
the exception of San Juan Capistrano and smaller South County
communities such as Laguna Beach and San Clemente, most
pre-World War II development of Orange County occurred in North
County towns and cities.
Sub-surface resources such as archaeological and paleontological
sites are abundant in South County, along the coast and in creek
areas. Several factors contribute to this condition. Certain
geologic formations, due to their nature and age, are
fossil-bearing or nonfossil bearing. Fossil-bearing formations
are prevalent in South County. Prehistoric human occupation was
most prevalent in areas where food, water, and shelter were
available. Perhaps the most important factor in the presence or
absence of cultural resources is the subsequent activity in the
area which may have impacted the resource. Activities such as
floods, erosion, grading, demolitions, etc., if they occurred
since the time when the cultural resource came into existence,
may have destroyed or damaged the site. This is actually a
perpetual sequential process and explains in part why the areas
of pre-World War II development in the county contain a greater
number of significant structures and fewer archaeological sites.
Although identifying large, broad areas of resource trends is
historically interesting and academically valuable, greater
specificity is needed for planning purposes and cultural
resource management. Areas and levels of sensitivity have been
developed for archaeology and paleontology by professionals in
these fields. These resources sensitive areas are depicted in
the County Master Environmental Assessment (MEA) Sensitivity
Maps. This computerized mapping system is a valuable tool in
the planning process, primarily as it relates to environmental
issues and to the cultural resource management programs. For
paleontology, they are based on known outcrops or sites and on
the underlying geological formations, which have a strong
predictive validity. For archaeology, numerous factors are
considered including known sites, topography, proximity to food
and water, etc. MEA maps for archaeology show sensitivity
levels only. No MEA Sensitivity Maps exist for historical
sites. Further survey data are needed.
RES-2-95
PAGE 111 Show Image
For paleontology, registered sites often are simply small
outcroppings visible on the surface or sites encountered during
grading. While the sites are important indicators, it is the
geological formations, of which these sites are a part, that are
most important for large planning purposes since the formations
may contain more fossils. Maps for paleontology show some of
the best known sites as well as sensitivity levels which are
predicated primarily on the underlying geological formations
(See Map 2-13.) Paleontological sites are not considered as
great a planning constraint as archaeology or history and are
also not considered as sensitive to vandalism.
For archaeology, information regarding location of sites is
considered very sensitive. "Pot hunting" and other deliberately
destructive acts are a problem. Over 1,000 archaeologic sites
have been registered in Orange County at this time. The
location of many are commonly known, others are protected on
private property, and still others have been destroyed.
Therefore, specific site locations are not depicted in order to
protect them. (See Map 2-14.)
For history, far less field survey information is available.
Although several Orange County cities have been systematically
surveyed, additional information is needed for unincorporated
areas. In addition, all of the historical registration programs
are passive and hence not at all comprehensive. Map 2-15 shows
some of the most important historic sites but should not be
construed as thorough because a very large portion of Orange
County has not yet been field surveyed.
BJ.hdCHAP1 .WP (12/12/95)
RES-2-96
PAGE 112 Show Image
m
Co
Co
1. Newport Bay District 6. Piano Trabuco - Southern Santa Ana Mountains
2. San Joaquin Hills District . 7. Northern Santa Ana Mountains
3. Laguna Hills - Dana Point 8. Yorba Linda - Eastern Puente Hills
4. San Juan Capistrano - San Clemente District 9. Coyote Hills
5. El Toro District
I 8ource: Orange County MAP
I PaIeontoIogy~GeneraI Areas Of Sensitivity
(Not A Plan) q~ 12-131
PAGE 113 Show Image
WI
(0
1. Lower Santa Ana River Mouth 5. Aliso Creek Area
2. Newport Bay Area 6. Foothill Area
3. Coastal Area 7. Upper Santa Ana River/Weir Canyon Area
4. Trabuco Area 8. Coastal Hills Area
(Not A MAP
I Prehistoric Archaeology--General Areas of Sensitivity I Source::~;:;~~ County I2~141
PAGE 114 Show Image
m
Co
(0
(0
County Owned Historic Sites
Communities which have conducted 21: ~
Historic Preservation Surveys 3. Peralta Adobe
4. Yorba Cemetery
San Juan Capistrano 5. Old County Courtko~se
- Laguna koch (including unincorporated 6. Heritage Hill
between Laguna Beach and Dana Point) National Historic Landinart~s
- Dana Point
Pre-1940 Population Centers - Vorba Linda 7. Blimp hangars
(generalized locations) Brea 8. Mission San Juan Capistrano
- Orange National Register Historic Districts
Note: These areas contain concentrations of pre 1940 buildings and structures even - Santa Ana 9. Crystal Cove
though National Register eligible buildings exist scattered throughout the - Fullertan 10. Orange Plaza (Orange)
County. As of 11,83 there were 53 Orange County properties on the National - Olive (including unincorporated areas north 11. Los Rios (San Juan Capistrano)
Register of Histaric Places. of the 91 Freeway)
12. North Park (Santa Ana)
I Orange County's Historical Areas Gource: Orange county MAP
1(NotA Plan) I2m15~
PAGE 115 Show Image
PAGE 116 Show Image
CHAPTER THREE: CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
A. Overview
This section identifies existing and potential constraints to and
opportunities for satisfying the projected resource demands for Orange
County presented in the previous chapter. While these constraints do not
always represent absolute barriers, they may inhibit the timely
achievement of key resource supply or conservation objectives. These
constraints and opportunities have been categorized below into four
categories: environmental, governmental, economic and market, and legal.
The implementation policies and programs contained in Chapters Four
through Eight (the "Components") are intended to eliminate these
constraints and utilize the identified resource opportunities.
B. Constraints
1. Environmental Constraints
a. Air Ouality: One of the most confining of all constraints to
meeting future resource demands are the statutory requirements
protecting air quality and minimizing the impact of air
pollution on human health. In Southern California, the local
air quality district adds more stringent limitations because of
the regional topography and meteorology which intensify
pollution problems. Air quality standards limit the choice of
energy sources for power plants and other energy production
activities. The use of coal, for example, for power generation
is virtually eliminated by air quality standards.
b. Local Water Availability: Water supply has always been a
critical issue for Southern California, with local sources of
water providing less than half of the area's water needs.
Existing water supply limitations and the anticipated loss of
imported water from other regions (e.g., Colorado River
entitlement) may constrain the production and utilization (e.g.,
petroleum and mineral extraction) of other resources.
c. Water Ouality: In the Orange County region, the protection of
water quality is a major concern. The need to maintain safe
water quality may constrain the development of energy resources
from methane (landfills) and geothermal sources. At a minimum,
water quality concerns will need to be considered during the
process of developing these resources and water intensive
resources such as agriculture.
d. Availability of Local Resources: The limited availability of
local resources is the basis for many resource planning
activities contained in the components. This condition must be
considered as a constraint for the County. Aside from its
diminishing supply of petroleum resources, the County lacks
enough other natural resources such as water to meet its own
needs. The direct implications of this deficiency of resources
Res-3-1
PAGE 117 Show Image
is that the County has become more dependent on imported
resources and, as a consequence, is increasingly vulnerable to
actions and policies which it cannot directly influence (e.g.,
imported oil supply allocations).
2. Governmental Constraints
a. Fiscal Constraints: The loss of revenue resulting from
Proposition 13 and other factors, and rising public service
costs due to growth and inflation, will continue to exist in
Orange County. While the County is in a relatively better
fiscal situation than most other counties in the State, the
projected costs of serving future development are not balanced
with revenues. Certain public services may have to be curtailed
or eliminated in the future because of budget shortfalls.
Fiscal resources for future resource management activities such
as cultural-historic resources programs and resource inventory
and mapping efforts could be significantly impaired. Thus, many
innovative Resources Element implementation programs may be
limited by the County's future fiscal status.
b. ~omDetin~ Objective and Priorities: Competing public needs can
result in conflicting priorities and programs. An issue of
increasing public concern which may constrain resource
conservation programs is the high cost of housing. For example,
since most of the costs associated with alternative energy
systems and other conservation measures are up-front capital and
installation costs, they may increase the costs of construction
and, subsequently, the price of housing. Therefore, the need to
achieve affordable housing objectives could constrain efforts to
reduce future resource demands.
3. Economic and Market Constraints
Resource conservation programs, like most other investments, are
extremely sensitive to interest rate levels. The finance markets,
however, are experiencing difficult times. The availability of a
steady supply of credit at a reasonable interest rate is necessary to
supplement existing utility and government financing programs for
energy, water, and other conservation measures and, consequently,
achieve resource conservation objectives.
4. Legal Constraints
While the County has considerable control of land use in the
unincorporated areas, there are certain limits to stringent
regulatory action by the County with respect to resource
conservation. Many conservation mandates infringe upon the rights of
individuals or firms. Actions requiring mandatory compliance (e.g.,
open space dedication) must be supported by identified public benefit
(e.g., Resources Element) or urgency situation. Although these
actions have usually been upheld as valid exercises of police power,
there are limits to the enforcement of resource conservation
Res-3-2
PAGE 118 Show Image
measures. A case in point is the regulatory limits of a County
action to reduce water demand through mandatory water conservation.
Water conservation would produce significant savings for Orange
County yet the County has little authority over the water districts
which operate in the jurisdiction. Aside from an ordinance
prohibiting the waste of water (e.g., lawn irrigation which spills
into the street) and building and land use regulations which reduce
water consumption, the County cannot regulate water use because the
local districts are established by State legislation.
C. Opportunities
1. Environmental Opportunities
a. Regional and State Resources: In most cases where the County is
deficient in local resource supplies, abundant supplies exist in
the region or elsewhere in the State. A good example of such an
instance is Statewide water supplies. California has a
significant amount of high quality water, primarily in the
northern one-third of the State. The continued and potentially
expanded access to these supplies represents a key opportunity
to meeting Orange County;5 long-term water resource needs.
b. Amount of Undeveloped Land: The amount of undeveloped land in
Orange County, particularly in the unincorporated area, provides
a unique opportunity to consider and address resource concerns
through innovative land use planning. Although significant
portions of the undeveloped area are already planned for urban
land uses, the existing land use plans provide for sound
resource management as these areas develop.
2. Governmental Opportunities
a. Balanced Community Objectives: The planned community concept
embraced by Orange County encourages the development of balanced
land use plans in the unincorporated area. Such balanced land
uses serve to address concerns in the areas of air quality and
energy conservation and promote the efficient use of other
resources (e.g., water).
b. OranQe County Government: Orange County government has
historically encouraged the conservation of resources through
both financial support and regulatory actions. The County,
however, has also promoted and supported the involvement of
private and community organizations in the management of
resources. This is especially true in the area of historic
resources where the efforts of private and non-profit
organizations compliment and enhance County programs. It is
such support of private efforts that fosters meaningful and
efficient resource management which, in most instances, exceeds
the capabilities of local government.
Res-3-3
PAGE 119 Show Image
3. Economic and Market Opportunities
The existence of large-scale landholdings in the southern portion of
the County has facilitated innovative land use planning in Orange
County. Further, the investment potential of the area and the
prudent financial practices of the development industry have allowed
for the provision of amenities in new developments in excess of what
is found in comparable developments in other counties. These
amenities and innovative planning practices have served to conserve
and preserve the natural features and resources of Orange County such
as creek corridors and ridgelines.
4. Legal Opportunities
The County has considerable flexibility to provide incentives for
resource conservation efforts provided that no threat to the public
or safety results from its actions. This flexibility, coupled with
increasing tax incentives for historic reservation and other
conservation activities, can create a positive environment for
resource management efforts, both public and private.
BJ.hdCHAPl .WP (12/13/95)
Res-3-4
PAGE 120 Show Image
CHAPTER FOUR: NATURAL RESOURCES COMPONENT
A. Overview
Orange County has many natural resources, many scenic areas including
ridgelines and hillsides, a pleasant climate, farm lands, native
vegetation and wildlife, and mineral resources. The Natural Resources
Component contains policies and programs which are designed to protect
and conserve these areas not only because they have economic value, but
also because they are necessary to sustain the quality of life in Orange
County.
As used in this component, conservation is the planned management,
preservation, and wise utilization of natural resources. Its objective
is to prevent the wasteful exploration or destruction of natural
resources. For over 100 years, conservation activities have focused on
major rural natural resources, such as redwood forests, and areas of
unique scenic quality. In the past decade, however, conservation has
become a major concern in urban areas, including Orange County.
This component provides a basis for programs which serve to implement
natural resource conservation goals and policies and establish a
framework for additional inventory and resource planning efforts. The
principal natural resource concerns addressed in this component of the
Resources Element are: 1) agricultural resources, 2) mineral resources,
3) wildlife and vegetation, and 4) landforms. Coastal resource (e.g.,
wetlands) policies and plans are contained in the Local Coastal Programs
for each specific coastal area in Orange County.
B. Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Protect wildlife and vegetation resources and promote
development that preserves these resources.
Objective 1: To prevent the elimination of significant wildlife and
vegetation through resource inventory and management strategies.
Goal 2: Promote the wise management of agricultural and mineral
resources in order to protect these resources for existing and future
needs.
Objective 2.1: Reduce dependence on imported resources through sound
management of local mineral lands.
Objective 2.2: Chance the conservation of agricultural resources
through sound management of local agricultural lands.
Goal 3: Manage and utilize wisely the County's landform resources.
Objective 3: Minimize to the extent feasible the disruption of
significant natural landforms in Orange County.
RES-4-l
PAGE 121 Show Image
C. Policies
1. Wildlife and vegetation: To identify and preserve the
significant wildlife and vegetation habitats of the County.
2. Agriculture: To encourage to the extent feasible the
preservation and utilization of agricultural resources as a
natural resource and economic asset.
3. Mineral resources: To ensure the efficient use of all mineral
lands consistent with sound resource management practices.
4. Mineral extraction: To ensure opportunities for the extraction
of minerals in the County and to protect the environment during
and after these minerals are being extracted.
5. Landforms: To protect the unique variety of significant
landforms in Orange County through environmental review
procedures and community and corridor planning activities.
RES-4-2
PAGE 122 Show Image
D. Implementation Programs
The Natural Resources Component is closely related to the Energy
Resources, Water Resources, and Open Space Components contained in
this element. An important relationship exists between the
conservation of energy and water resources and the efforts to reduce
air pollution. The conservation and protection of natural resources
has a direct effect upon the open space pattern in Orange County.
Because of the interrelationships, the implementation programs found
in this component are intended to complement other County resource
management policies and programs relating to unique and vital air and
land resources. Taken as a whole, the implementation programs within
this component and other Resources Element components provide a
comprehensive resource management strategy for Orange County.
1. Master Environmental Assessment (MEA)
a. Action: Maintain and update the inventory of wildlife and
vegetation resources, as well as other significant natural
resources (i.e., mineral, air, agricultural, landforms)
Apply mitigations on projects to reduce or eliminate impacts
through the use of MEA. Evaluate the expansion of MEA
functions through the establishment of support systems
(i.e., Block and Module Grid) to further provide methods to
preserve and protect the County's critical biological
habitats.
b. Discussion: The MEA provides a resource database by which
to evaluate the impact of development proposals on the
natural environment. Through the MEA, the impact of
development trends on significant habitat and resource areas
can be identified and mitigated. In addition, the MEA will
continually reinforce the intent and focus of the Resources
Element' 5 implementation programs.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund
RES-4-3
PAGE 123 Show Image
2. Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) Implementation
a. Action: Implementation of SMARA through policy, regulatory,
and administrative action.
b. Discussion: SMARA, enacted in 1975 by the State of
California, provides for mineral resource management
activities at the local level. The act establishes mining
operation and reclamation requirements and a statewide
resource inventory and classification process which is
described in detail in Chapter Two (characteristics of
existing mineral resources). Implementation of SMARA
promotes both the conservation and sensitive development of
mineral resources particularly sand and gravel resources,
within Orange County.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agencies: 1) Environmental Management Agency
2) State Department of Conservation
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund (including
development fees)
2) State of California
RES-4-4
PAGE 124 Show Image
3. Agricultural Preservation Program
a. Action: Evaluate the establishment of an Agricultural
Preservation Program to mitigate the long-term impact of
agricultural preserve contract cancellations and to provide
economic and technical assistance to County agricultural
activities. Specifically, the program would establish a trust
which could be used for grants, loans, research, and other
appropriate items related to agricultural resources. The trust
would be funded by contributions from agricultural preserve
contract cancellation proponents. Tentatively, the proposed
preservation program would require between $25 to $30 per acre
of agricultural preserve cancelled. This trust would be
augmented by any available Federal and State assistance.
b. Discussion: The proposed Agricultural Preservation Program
provides an excellent mitigation to the adverse impact of
agricultural preserve contract cancellations upon County
agricultural activities. In addition, one of the required
findings for cancellation approval is that the cancellation is
not inconsistent with the purposes of the Williamson Act.
Proponent contributions to an agricultural preservation program
has clearly assisted in supporting this finding on recent
cancellations.
c. New or Existing Program: New
d. Implementation Schedule: Commence with adoption of Resources
Element.
e. Responsible Agencies:
1. Establishing Program: EMA, County Agricultural
Commissioner, State Dept. of Conservation, Federal Soil
Conservation Services Farm Bureau.
2. Program Implementation: EMA; or committee with landowner,
County and farming interest representation.
f. Source of Funds: 1) Landowner Fees
2) State and Federal Funds
RES-4-5
PAGE 125 Show Image
4. Agricultural Preserve Management
a. Action: Continue maintenance of existing agricultural preserve
contracts between landowners and the County of Orange.
b. Discussion: As discussed in Chapter Two (agricultural
resources), a substantial amount of land within Orange County is
in agricultural preserve status. The amount of land under
contract, however, will continue to decrease in the future
because of non-renewal actions by landowners and city
annexations. Unless there is a policy change as a result of the
study of agricultural preserves required by the County Housing
Element or other actions (e.g., to provide surplus land for
housing or other needs), this program focuses on the maintenance
of existing agricultural preserve contracts.
c. New or existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund
RES-4-6
PAGE 126 Show Image
5. Oak Resources Management Program
a. Action: Evaluate a resources management program for the
preservation and maintenance of valuable oak woodland resources
in Orange County.
b. Discussion: Native oaks constitute a significant natural
resource in Orange County. Significant cominitment has been made
towards preserving valuable oak woodland areas through regional
park and open space acquisitions. This program involves the
examination of additional mechanisms to preserve and maintain
oak resources.
c. New or existing program: New. Integrate existing activities.
d. Implementation Schedule: Report to Board of Supervisors,
December 1984.
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) Harbors, Beaches and Parks District
2) County General Fund
BJ.hdCHAP1 .WP (12/13/95)
RES-4-7
PAGE 127 Show Image
PAGE 128 Show Image
CHAPTER FIVE: ENERGY RESOURCES COMPONENT
A. Overview
As indicated in Chapter Two (Energy Resources Section), there is a
projected decrease in supply of and a projected increase in demand for
traditional energy resources for Orange County. The fundamental factors
underlying the projected decrease of traditional energy supply sources
are of national and state-wide scope; however, there are also significant
contributions which can be made by local government. Land use patterns,
air quality programs1 growth trends, transportation, and residential
densities all directly affect local energy consumption. Conservation of
existing energy through County actions and/or County residents and
industry is within the scope of local government. Alternative energy
sources, which can provide for at least part of the County's future
needs, should be investigated and developed. Since unlimited supply and
availability can no longer be assumed, energy considerations now need to
be evaluated along with the other factors that enter into the formulation
of County policies and decisions and the development of resource
conservation implementation programs contained in this element.
Portions of the mineral resource section of the Conservation Element
(1978) are subsumed by the Energy Resources Component, which refines
these sections and addresses the need for local energy planning
activities through a comprehensive assessment of Orange County's energy
situation. The component focuses on existing and projected energy
demands and proposes an energy resource management strategy to address
these demands. In addition, the component provides the framework for
future energy planning activities.
The intent of this component is twofold: first, to set forth a
comprehensive and integrated strategy for future energy planning actions;
and, second, to minimize the constraints and potential deficiencies
identified in previous sections.
B. Goal. Objectives and Policies
This section presents three general goals for Orange County energy
resource planning and management efforts. These goals and their
objectives provide guidance for the specific policies and implementation
programs which are also presented in the Energy Resources Component.
Certain recommended policies and programs are based upon existing
resource management activities (i.e., AQMP) which are referenced when
appropriate.
1. Goals and Obiectives
Goal 1: Maximize the conservation and wise use of energy resources
in all residences, businesses, public institutions, and industries in
Orange County.
Objective 1: Achieve a reduction in projected per capita energy
demand and consumption by the year 2000.
RES-5-1
PAGE 129 Show Image
Goal 2: Encourage the utilization of existing energy resources to
their highest potential and the development of alternative energy
sources consistent with sound energy conservation practices and
techniques to meet the County1s future energy demand.
Objective 2: Encourage the efficient development of local energy
resources to supply a portion of the County's energy demand through
the year 2000 in a manner which protects the environment.
Goal 3: Maximize the conservation of energy resources in all future
land use and transportation planning decisions.
Objective 3.1: To achieve target residential densities along
transportation corridors and in urban activity centers as set forth
in the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP).
Objective 3.2: To reduce transportation demand by establishing
balanced communities which provide housings, employment,
recreational, and cultural opportunities for all segments of the
population.
Objective 3.3: To maintain a community leadership role with respect
to conservation of nonrenewable resources and assist existing utility
conservation programs.
2. Policies
a. Land Use: To plan urban land uses with a balance of residential,
industrial, commercial, and public land uses as set forth in the
Land Use Element.
b. Energy Resource Development: To encourage and actively support
the efficient use and optimum development of energy resources in
the County consistent with sound resource management practices.
c. Energy Conservation: To encourage and actively support the
utilization of energy conservation measures in all new and
existing structures in the County.
d. Transportation: To provide incentives for transportation system
management programs and support regional public transportation
programs that reduce energy consumption.
e. Energy Financing: To examine the benefits of local government
financing programs that promote energy conservation and
development through cooperative public/private efforts.
f. Alternative Energy Systems: To encourage the use of alternative
energy systems and, to the extent feasible, remove the regulatory
barriers to their implementation.
g. Solar Access: To support and encourage voluntary efforts to
provide solar access opportunities in new developments.
RES-5-2
PAGE 130 Show Image
C. Implementation Programs
The following section identifies existing and potential energy resource
programs for Orange County. These programs range from the continuation
or refinement of existing programs to the establishment of new programs.
Since adoption of any of these programs requires that implementation
considerations are addressed and implementation responsibilities are
identified, the remainder of this section focuses on a description of
each program and the delineation of responsible agencies. This provides
a sound basis for the future implementation of energy resource programs.
1. County Facilities Energy Management
a. Action: Continue and expand the existing energy conservation
program for County buildings and facilities.
b. Discussion: The County has derived significant cost savings from
its in-house energy management efforts. This program would
support these existing efforts and support additional activities,
including energy audits and installation of energy saving features
for County buildings.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: General Services Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Utilities
RES-5-3
PAGE 131 Show Image
2. Energy Shortage Contingency Planning
a. Action: Continue efforts to monitor energy supply trends and
develop a plan which promotes an orderly response to energy
shortages.
b. Discussion: This program involves the preparation of a plan to
deal with any sudden or unforeseen disruptions in energy supplies
(e.g., oil embargo).
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: County Administrative Office
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) State Energy Commission
RES-5-4
PAGE 132 Show Image
3. County Ordinance Review and Revision
a. Action: Examine the County's land use and building regulations to
determine whether implicit or explicit barriers exist to energy
conservation or alternative energy technologies.
b. Discussion: The County Advisory Solar Access Guidelines promote
the use of solar energy in residential developments. The County
Zoning Code and other regulations, however, may include
requirements that prohibit or discourage the utilization of energy
conserving features in residences and businesses in the County.
These regulations would be analyzed for the purpose of eliminating
or modifying barriers to energy conservation provided that no
significant threat to the public health, safety, or welfare is
created.
c. New or Existing Program: New
d. Implementation Schedule: Report recommendations to Board of
Supervisors by July, 1985.
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) State Energy Commission
RES-5-5
PAGE 133 Show Image
4. County Energy Management Plan
a. Action: Improve existing County energy resources management
efforts through the development of a comprehensive energy
management plan that provides a long-term strategy for meeting the
County's future energy needs.
b. Discussion: Although existing County energy conservation programs
are effective, they are generally limited or narrow in scope and
do not provide an integrated, consistent energy strategy. In
order to be effective, an energy management plan must be developed
in cooperation with utilities and other interested parties and
would consist of the following components:
(1) Energy Resource Development: A more detailed evaluation of
energy resources and their potential will be undertaken along
with a development program.
(2) Commercial and Industrial Sector Programs: An evaluation of
co-generation and other energy conservation opportunities
will be undertaken for potential application to the
commercial and industrial sections, including County
facilities. This evaluation will be conducted in cooperation
with utilities and local businesses.
(3) Residential Sector Programs: Since the existing State
building energy standards ensure energy savings in new
residences, this component would focus on existing
residential buildings and the opportunities for increased
energy savings within these residences.
(4) Transportation Sector: This program would involve a
cooperative evaluation of transportation system management
opportunities in the County.
(5) Energy Conservation Financing: An evaluation of the various
financing alternatives available for energy conservation and
resource development.
(6) Implementation Plan: A comprehensive implementation plan for
energy management would be developed. This implementation
plan would support and augment existing utility energy
management activities and emphasize voluntary conservation
measures and the development of local energy resource
supplies.
c. New or Existing Program: New. Integrate existing programs.
d. Implementation Schedule: Work program expected Fall, 1984.
RES-5-6
PAGE 134 Show Image
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Community Development Block Grant Fund
3) County Waste Enterprise Fund
4) State Energy Commission
RES-5-7
PAGE 135 Show Image
5. Community Energy Education
a. Action: Support the community energy education efforts of
utilities and other agencies through public information
activities.
b. Discussion: This program is intended to increase the community1s
awareness of the need for energy conservation and provide
educational assistance to residences and businesses.
c. New or Existing Program: New
d. Implementation Schedule: Commence upon adoption of Resources
Element.
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Utilities
3) State Energy Commission
BJ.hdCHAPl .wP (12/14/95)
RES-5-8
PAGE 136 Show Image
CHAPTER SIX: WATER RESOURCES COMPONENT
A. Overview
The use, supply, and conservation of water are critical issues in Orange
County. Since almost every urban activity is dependent on water to some
extent, it is in the best interests of the general public that the
County's water resources are properly planned and managed.
The Water Resources Component updates and refines the water section of
the Conservation Element (1978). The Water Resources Component also
provides a framework for water resource planning in order to ensure that
there will be a supply of adequate quality, that supports existing uses
and future growth.
B. Goal, Objectives and Policies
1. Goal and Objectives
Goal: Ensure an adequate dependable supply of water of acceptable
quality for all reasonable uses.
Objective 1: To maintain the adequacy and dependability of imported
water supplies.
Objective 2: To achieve a reduction in per capita water consumption
by the year 2000.
Objective 3: To reduce dependence on imported water supplies through
both conservation and local water resource development.
2. Policies
a. Water Supply: To ensure the adequacy of water supply necessary to
serve existing and future development as defined by the General
Plan.
b. Conservation: To reduce per capita and total water consumption
through conservation and reclamation programs and the support of
new technologies.
c. Groundwater Resources: To support groundwater management efforts
that are conducted by county water agencies.
d. Shortage Planning: To ensure that Orange County will not be
severely impaired by any potential future water shortages.
e. Water Quality: To protect water quality through management and
enforcement efforts.
f. Intergovernmental Coordination: To encourage and support a
cooperative effort among all agencies towards the resolution of
problems and the utilization of opportunities in the planning and
management of water resources.
RES-6-l
PAGE 137 Show Image
C. Implementation Programs
Because Orange County must rely so heavily on imported water supplies,
the implementation programs within this section are directed toward
ensuring future imported water supplies and eliminating water waste and
conservation of existing supplies. The further development of local
water resources is also included in these implementation programs. In
addition, since the management of water resources is complicated by the
great many agencies involved with different aspects of managements
increased efforts towards intergovernmental coordination and cooperation
are identified as an implementation program.
1. County Water Conservation/Development Program
a. Action: Develop and implement a program for the conservation and
development of the countyvs water resources.
b. Discussion: On June 15, 1983, the Board of Supervisors authorized
development of a work program for a County Water Conservation/
Development Program. This program would focus on:
1) cost-effective water conservation measures (particularly for
adunty facilities), 2) water shortage contingency planning, and
3) local resource development. The program is to be carried out
in cooperation with local water purveying agencies.
c. New or Existing Program: New
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Water Districts
RES-6-2
PAGE 138 Show Image
2. Intergovernmental Coordination
a. Action: Continue and expand existing intergovernmental activities
towards achieving county water resource goals and objectives.
b. Discussion: Increased coordination on the part of the county and
local/regional water agencies serves to ensure effective
communication and cooperation on the water supply and water
quality issues. On July 15, 1983, the Board of Supervisors
authorized EMA to establish regular liaison with the water
agencies of Orange County towards achieving this end.
In addition to the County/water agency liaison program, ongoing
coordination with the federal and state government on water
resource programs is essential. Such activities include
legislative review and development and intergovernmental water
planning and management efforts to increase the adequacy and
dependability of imported water supplies.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund
RES-6-3
PAGE 139 Show Image
3. County Water Plan
a. Action: Continue County Water Plan work effort and related
activities.
b. Discussion: The County Water Plan is a multi-phase study. The
objective is to ensure to the maximum extent possible an adequate,
dependable water supply for all reasonable uses.
The Phase I County Water Plan outlined the county's water supply
future under various supply scenarios. The Phase II report
examined immediate and near-term water supply concerns and
presented measures to address these concerns. The focus of the
third phase is a study of issues of long-term concern regarding
water supply. Phase III will also include the near-term water
supply analysis and additional updates necessary to keep Phases I
and II current and to advise the Board of Supervisors of matters
of immediate concern.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agencies: 1) Environmental Management Agency
2) County Administrative Office
3) Water Agencies
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Water Agencies
RES-6-4
PAGE 140 Show Image
4. Water quality Management
a. Action: Continue existing water quality monitoring and management
efforts.
b. Discussion: Water quality is as significant a resource management
issue as water quantity, particularly in Orange County where the
opportunity for developing additional local supplies is limited.
This program focuses on the maintenance and enhancement of the
water quality of both imported and local resources. Current
activities include the implementation of the Regional Water
Quality Control Plans (208 Plans) and enforcement of the County
Industrial Waste Ordinance.
c. New or Existing: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agencies: 1) Environmental Management Agency
2) Health Cafe Agency
3) Water Agencies
4) State Agencies
5) Federal Agencies
f. Source of Funds: Numerous Funding Sources
RES-6-5
PAGE 141 Show Image
5. Public Education/Information
a. Action: Support the water conservation efforts of county water
districts and other agencies through public information and
education activities.
b. Discussion: This program is intended to increase the community's
awareness of the need for water conservation and provide
educational assistance to residences and businesses.
c. New or Existing Program: New
d. Implementation Schedule: Commence upon adoption of Resources
Element.
e. Responsible Agencies: 1) Water Agencies
2) Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Water Agencies
3) California Department of Water Resources
BJ.hdCHAPl .WP (12/15/95)
RES-6-6
PAGE 142 Show Image
CHAPTER SEVEN: AIR RESOURCES COMPONENT
A. Overview
Air quality is a regional problem in Southern California. As Orange County
and the surrounding regions continue to develop1 additional pressure will
be placed upon air resources. A region-wide effort by the public and
private sectors is needed to improve the air quality of the South Coast Air
Basin and to attempt compliance with the mandates of the 1977 Clean Air
Act.
The Air Resources Component establishes a framework for evaluating policy
options and develops programs designed to implement policies and monitor
results. The Component identifies control measures identified in the Draft
1988 AQMP as well as additional County efforts to address air resources.
For detailed information regarding historical air quality background,
regional overview, regional air quality analysis, and County and Regional
Air resources management, refer to the Air Resources discussion in Chapter
Two, Section 4 of this document.
B. Goals and Obiectives
Goal 1: Promote optimum sustainable environmental quality standards for
air resources.
Objective 1: To the extent feasible, attainment of federal and state air
quality standards by the year 2007.
C. Policies
1. To develop and support programs which improve air quality or reduce
air pollutant emissions.
D. Implementation Programs
Pursuant to Section 172 (a) (1) of the Clean Air Act, as amended, the
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and the South Coast
Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) have prepared an Air Quality
Management Plan (AQMP) for the South Coast Air Basin with the assistance of
the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino; the
State of California Department of Transportation (CalTrans); and the State
of California Air Resources Board (ARB).
The following section identifies existing air resources programs for Orange
County. These programs involve the continuation or refinement of existing
County programs. Since adoption of these programs would also constitute,
to a certain extent, compliance with the Draft 1988 AQMP, this section
includes descriptions of the proposed 1988 control measures and the
delineation of responsible agencies. This provides a sound framework for
the future implementation of air resource programs. Numbers in parentheses
following the program title refer to the corresponding control measures
found in the Draft 1988 AQMP.
RES-7-l
PAGE 143 Show Image
1. Alternative Work Schedules (1.1)
a. Action: Encourage employers to implement modified work
schedules; encourage public and private education efforts.
b. Discussion: In 1987, 6,500 of the County of Orangews 13,700
employees were working alternate work schedules. This is an
increase from 200 employees working such schedules in 1980. In
1988, the Director of EMA approved a policy promoting flextime
and approximately 50~ of EMA now works such schedules.
Some Orange County cities are already implementing alternative
work schedules, with more to follow, through adoption of OCTC's
TRIP Program. Additional cities and businesses are expected to
do so, if SCAQMD accepts the TRIP Program as a substitute for
Regulation XV. The County is also involved in the TRIP pilot
program for the unincorporated area.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: SCAQMD, Commuter Computer, OCTD Commuter
Network, OCTC, County of Orange (various
agencies)
f. Source of Funds: Various funding sources.
RES-7-2
PAGE 144 Show Image
2. Employer Ride Share and Transit Incentives (2.1)
a. Action: Continue to encourage increased ridesharing and transit
use
b. Discussion: To fully comply with this measure, a firm commitment
from the County is required. This commitment would include
direct policy statements; financial incentives/disincentives;
development of Transportation Management Associations and/or
Organizations (TMAs/TMOs); additional non-motorized
transportation access; and development of trip reduction plans to
be implemented on a Countywide basis.
The implementation of this measure would constitute an extension
of the Regulation xv requirements, affecting employers of 25+
employees rather than 100+ employees. As a substitute to
Regulation XV, the County's proposed TRIP program could satisfy
the requirements of this measure.
The County has made Commuter Computers and OCTD1s carpool
matching services available to its employees and encouraged
carpooling through its County newsletter. The County also
provides preferential parking for carpoolers.
Some Orange County cities are developing rideshare and transit
incentives through OCTC's TRIP Program. More are expected to do
so if SCAQMD accepts the TRIP Program as a substitute for
Regulation XV. The County's unincorporated area is also involved
in the TRIP pilot program.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agencies: EMA, SCAQMD, OCTC, OCTD.
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund and various other funding
sources.
RES-7-3
PAGE 145 Show Image
3. Parking Management (2.2)
a. Action: Continue to seek additional measures which reduce trips
by using various parking control strategies.
b. Discussion: There has been some cursory work done in the area of
parking management. As with the Ridesharing measure, a total
commitment by the County would be required for complete
implementation. In areas where parking spaces are already at a
premium, additional caps on parking and elimination of on-street
parking may pose problems for employers (i.e., the immediate area
surrounding the Santa Aria/Orange Civic Center Area).
Orange County provides parking space in its garage facilities for
carpools of three or more people, managers, supervisors, and long
term employees. Other employees are not provided free parking
and must walk three blocks from the nearest available free
parking facilities.
A comprehensive study would need to be conducted in order to
ensure that an adequate, available parking supply or other
measures are in place at the time of full implementation of this
measure. Also, viable transit commuter alternatives should be in
place to keep full effectiveness of this measure.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: GSA, SCAQMD.
f. Source of funds: County General Fund and various other funding
sources.
RES-7-4
PAGE 146 Show Image
4. Merchant Rideshare and Transit Incentives (2.4)
a. Action: Continue to implement non-work trip reduction measures.
b. Discussion: This measure seeks to reduce non-work single
occupant auto trips by offering facilities for bicyclists and
pedestrians and incentives for transit use, carpooling,
bicycling, and walking. While not directly involved in merchant
rideshare and transit incentive programs, the County has been
involved in ensuring that bicycle and pedestrian facilities exist
for public use.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: EMA, SCAQMD, OCTD.
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund and various other funding
sources.
RES-7-5
PAGE 147 Show Image
5. Auto-Use Restrictions (2.5)
a. Action: Continue to implement measures which decrease trips by
requiring special event centers or other areas of heavy
pedestrian activity to provide park-and-ride facilities.
b. Discussion: As part of its environmental document review
process, the County reviews projects for consistency with the
Master Plan of Countywide Bikeways and encourages project
proponents to provide local bikeway facilities as a mitigation
measure. To encourage public awareness of bicycling
opportunities, the County also publishes a map of existing
bikeways, which is sold at County offices and bicycle shops. The
County also provides bike racks around its offices at the Civic
Center and shower facilities at the Courthouse. Additionally,
the County has a Bike Trail Program which is used to construct
bikeways in the unincorporated area of the County to encourage
the use of the bicycle as an alternative mode of transportation.
This measure is also implemented at the John Wayne Airport
facility where off-site parking with free shuttle to the main
terminal area is provided.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: EMA, SCAQMD, OCTD.
f. Source of funds: County General fund and various other funding
sources.
RES-7-6
PAGE 148 Show Image
6. HOV Lanes (2.6) and Freeway Capacity Enhancements (11)
a. Action: Continue to support CalTrans in the implementation of
HOV lanes on county freeways and transportation corridors.
b. Discussion: This measure seeks to increase vehicle occupancy by
providing HOV lanes. HOV lanes offer a time savings over mixed
use lanes and thus provide an incentive towards carpooling. HQV
lanes are being constructed for County freeways, such as 1-5,
1-405 and SR-55. They are also being considered for the San
Joaquin Hills, the Foothill and Eastern Transportation Corridors
in the county.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: CalTrans, Transportation Corridqr Agencies.
f. Source of Funds: Federal and State funding, developer fees,
tolls.
RES-7-7
PAGE 149 Show Image
7. Growth Management (3)
a. Action: Continue to implement growth monitoring and encourage
balanced development.
b. Discussion: The County has been involved in monitoring growth
and encouraging balanced development. Actions taken include the
following:
o the County monitors growth through its Annual Monitoring
Report/Development Monitoring Program (AMR/DMP) process.
o The General Plan was amended to establish urban activity
centers along major routes. Zoning to implement this concept
was completed by 1985.
o County land use policies support balanced land uses containing
a mix of residential, commercial, and public land uses,
planned development in accord with the adequacy of the
transportation system, and mitigation measures to accommodate
added transportation system demand.
o In 1988, the Board of Supervisors approved a growth management
plan which will apply to all new projects.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: SCAG and/or SCAQMD and/or EMA
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund and various other funding
sources.
RES-7-8
PAGE 150 Show Image
8. Traffic Flow Improvements (5)
a. Action: Encourage the implementation of measures which seek to
reduce emissions by improving transportation system efficiency.
b. Discussion: CalTrans operates the traffic signals in the
vicinity of freeway interchanges while local jurisdictions
coordinate their own. CalTrans signals are not compatible with
local agencies; signals and cannot be synchronized with them, a
situation that often causes problems on the local arterials.
Coordination between the two systems should be pursued to relieve
arterial congestion in the vicinity of freeways.
CalTrans is planning to install ramp metering on all freeways in
Orange County. CalTrans is working with the cities on signal
coordination through the Signal Round Table Committee. An OCTC
Study on signal coordination for 20 arterials is nearly
completed.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: CalTrans, OCTC.
f. Source of Funds: Various State and local funding sources.
RES-7-9
PAGE 151 Show Image
9. Non-recurrent Congestion Relief (~)
a. Action: Encourage the implementation of measures which seek to
reduce congestion caused by non-recurrent sources.
b. Discussion: At the request of OCTC, CalTrans has committed to
monitor the freeway system more closely in order to remove
incidents more rapidly. Additionally, the newly created
OC Freeway Callbox system should aid in reporting freeway
accidents/hazards, leading to improved incident response time.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: CalTrans, CHP, OCTC.
f. Source of Funds: Various State and local funding sources.
RES-7-1O
PAGE 152 Show Image
10. Indirect Source: Aircraft and Ground Service Vehicles (7)
a. Action: Continue to encourage reduction of airport related
emissions through more emission efficient operations and adoption
of improved technology.
b. Discussion: John Wayne Airport has been making significant
progress in implementing clean air measures in the past few
years. Actions taken include:
o As part of the Master Plan, two high speed runways have been
added as well as two additional taxiways which are not high
speed.
o The number of aircraft engines in use during taxi and idle is
being reduced. In order to conserve fuel, most airline
companies that operate two or more engine planes routinely
shut down one or more of their engines when taxiing or idling.
o The airport controls departure times by setting limits on the
number of departures and arrivals during any given time
period.
o The terminal facilities have been redesigned. The new
terminal is closer to the end of the primary runway, reducing
the length of taxi time for departing aircraft. Combined with
new high speed taxiway1 this should reduce taxi time for all
aircraft.
o The new terminal has centralized electric power outlets, as
well as hydrant fueling which supersedes fueling by fuel
truck.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: SCAQMD and airport operators.
f. Source of Funds: Various funding sources.
RES-7-ll
PAGE 153 Show Image
ii. Indirect Source: Airport Ground Access (9)
a. Action: Continue to encourage implementation of measures which
seek to reduce congestion around airports.
b. Discussion: ~his measure seeks to reduce congestion around
airports by encouraging travelers to rideshare or use transit,
and by improving airport physical features to accommodate this,
and by increasing the number of airports available to Orange
County residents.1 In the John Wayne Airport Expansion, trip
reduction methods were examined, with the result that they
committed to increasing passenger load factors.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: SCAQMD, OCTD, airport operators.
f. Source of Funds: Various funding sources.
1 Language inserted per the Measure A Initiative, "Amend the Orange County
General Plan to Designate Marine Corps Air Station El Toro for Civil
Aviation and Related Uses," approved by voters on November 8, 1994.
RES-7-12
PAGE 154 Show Image
12. Unpaved Roads and Parking Lots (10.3)
a. Action: Continue to implement measures which reduce fugitive
dust emissions.
b. Discussion: This measure seeks to reduce fugitive dust emissions
due to vehicle use of unpaved roads and parking facilities. The
County's Zoning Code requires that "...All parking spaces,
driveways and maneuvering areas shall be paved and permanently
maintained with asphaltic concrete, cement concrete or other
all-weather surfacing."
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: EMA.
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund.
RES-7-13
PAGE 155 Show Image
13. Replacement of High Emitting Aircraft (13)
a. Action: Encourage the replacement of high emitting aircraft at
local airports.
b. Discussion: This measure seeks to replace older aircraft with
more modern emission efficient ones. Compliance with noise
regulations also insures a cleaner aircraft fleet mix, as the
classification of planes complying with noise regulations is also
less polluting.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: Airport operators, airlines, FAA.
f. Source of Funds: Various funding sources.
RES-7-14
PAGE 156 Show Image
14. Energy Conservation (18)
a. Action: Continue to implement energy conservation measures.
b. Discussion: The County of Orange has had an active Board
mandated energy conservation program since 1974.
The proposed AQMP calls for a l5~ energy reduction by the year
2000 and a 30~ reduction by 2010. This plan would penalize all
agencies that have developed good energy conservation programs in
the past. The County of Orange has reduced its energy usage by
52~ compared to pre-conservation years.
A more equitable approach to energy conservation would be to
establish a BTU (British Thermal Unit) per square foot ratio for
various types of buildings. For example, Orange County buildings
have a 115,000 BTU per square foot ratio at the present time.
Prior to energy conservation, it was 239,000 BTU per square foot.
The County's energy conservation program is still ongoing. All
major new buildings and new facility additions are carefully
analyzed for energy efficiency. In addition, energy projects are
still being implemented in existing facilities. The bottom line
is that a 30~ energy reduction would be very difficult for the
County to achieve based on the reductions which have already been
realized.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: EMA and Special districts.
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund.
RES-7-15
PAGE 157 Show Image
15. Waste Recycling (18.2)
a. Action: Continue to implement waste recycling measures.
b. Discussion: This measure seeks to reduce energy use and thus
emissions by requiring local government to recycle glass and
paper products. Orange County currently collects white paper and
computer paper for recycling. Local government could mandate
glass recycling.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing.
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing.
e. Responsible Agency: SCAQMD, GSA.
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund and various funding
sources.
BJ.hdCHAPl .WP (12/15/95)
RES-7-16
PAGE 158 Show Image
CHAPTER EIGHT: OPEN SPACE COMPONENT
A. Introduction
The Open Space Component is the open space plan for the unincorporated
areas of Orange County. This component is the successor to the Open Space
Element originally adopted by the Board of Supervisors on June 27, 1973.
The preparation of this component is in compliance with State Government
Code Sections 65560-65568, which require each city and county to prepare
and adopt an open space plan for the comprehensive and long-range
preservation of open space land within its jurisdiction.
Purpose of Component
The Open Space Component contains the necessary goals, objectives,
policies, and programs to promote the preservation and protection of
resource areas and the protection of the public from potential hazards.
The component also functions in a manner to shape the overall urban form
of Orange County. To that end, open space facilities such as greenbelts
that buffer conflicting land uses or link recreation facilities along
regional trails and water courses are desired, as well as areas set aside
to preserve cultural-historic resources, significant wildlife habitats,
and biotic resources such as oak groves, sycamore/riparian woodlands, and
marshlands.
In general, open space areas are offered by landowners for dedication to
the County or the Countyws designee as part of the overall development
process. These areas are then turned over to the Harbors, Beaches and
Parks District or to a County Service Area for operation and maintenance.
The Environmental Management Agency evaluates public and private
development proposals to insure that the goals, objectives, and policies
of the Open Space Component are satisfied. In addition, a legitimate role
exists for private conservation organizations and other non-profit
corporate bodies to own and operate open space areas.
An integral part of the Open Space Component is the Open Space!
Conservation Program Map which depicts an open space framework of
Countywide significance. This framework includes areas of resource
concentration such as existing and proposed regional recreation facilities
and a system of linkages such as trails and major open space corridors.
The implementation programs provide the mechanism by which an integrated
open space network can be realized.
Definition of Open Space
Open space is a valuable resource in any community or county experiencing
urbanization. The value of open space to Orange County includes shaping
the overall urban form, providing outdoor recreation opportunities,
enhancing and protecting scenic vistas, ensuring public health and safety,
preserving valuable natural resources, and providing areas for the managed
production of resources.
RES-8-1
PAGE 159 Show Image
The State Government Code also contains an open space definition that
further clarifies the role of open space. Open space is:
"Any parcel or area of land or water which is essentially unimproved
and devoted to an open space use as defined (below).
"1. The Preservation of Natural Resources, including but not limited
to- -
a. areas required for the preservation of plant and animal life,
including habitat for fish and wildlife species;
b. areas required for ecologic and other scientific study
purposes;
c. rivers, streams, bays and estuaries; and
d. coastal beaches, lakeshores, banks of rivers and streams, and
watershed lands.
"2. The Managed Production of Resources, including but not limited
t6--
a. forest lands, rangeland, agricultural lands, and areas of
economic importance for the production of food or fiber;
b. areas required for recharge of ground water basins;
c. bays, estuaries, marshes, rivers, and streams which are
important for the management of commercial fisheries; and
d. areas containing major mineral deposits, including those in
short supply.
"3. Outdoor Recreation, including but not limited to--
a. areas of outstanding scenic, aesthetic, historic, and cultural
values;
b. areas particularly suited for park and recreation purposes,
including access to lakeshores, beaches, rivers, and streams;
and
c. areas which serve as links between major recreation and open
space reservations, including utility easements, banks of
rivers and streams, trails and scenic highway corridors.
"4. Public Health and Safety, including but not limited to--
a. areas which require special management or regulations because
of hazardous or special conditions such as earthquake fault
zones, unstable soil areas, floodplains, watersheds, and areas
presenting high fire risks;
RES-8-2
PAGE 160 Show Image
b. areas required for the protection of water quality and
reservoirs; and
a. areas required for the protection and enhancement of air
quality.
Not all undeveloped land is to be considered for open space protection.
In accordance with the State Government Code definition of open space, it
is obvious that the objective is for local agencies to take the necessary
measures that preserve and protect resource areas from incompatible
development or use and to protect the public from potential development or
use hazards.
Characteristics of Open Space
Open space areas within Orange County may be large expanses, long
corridors, or small parcels. (Chapter Two inventories existing and
proposed open space.) The regional distribution and shape of open space
is influenced greatly by the open space criteria discussed in the
preceding section, Definition of Open Space. Large open space areas
preserve needed wildlife and vegetation habitat, conserve natural
resources and acreage necessary for natural processes such as ground water
recharge, and also provide recreation opportunities. Open space corridors
generally follow natural features such as stream courses or ridgelines.
These linear features are valuable because they emphasize natural resource
conservation, natural habitat preservation, scenic vista enhancement, and
outdoor recreation opportunities. Often, open space corridors link the
larger open space areas into an integrated open space network. This
network supports the migration of wildlife between habitat areas,
preserves significant watershed areas, shapes the urban form, and benefits
the citizens of the County through recreation opportunities, scenic vista
enhancement, and cultural-historic resources preservation.
Likewise, open space may be held in small parcels. These parcels are
primarily held by individuals or homeowners' associations. These
acreages, valuable in the aggregate for their scenic and recreation
attributes, generally do not meet the other open space size criteria with
which the County's open space program is concerned. It should be noted
that the Open Space/Conservation Program Map does not map these parcels.
Open space areas designated on the program map, whether a large area or a
corridor, can be publicly or privately owned and maintained. The County
owns and maintains large open space areas like O'Neill Regional Park and
Caspers Wilderness Park as well as open space corridors such as along
Aliso Creek and portions of other stream courses.
The State and Federal governments are also holders of large open space
areas within the County. The largest open space area in the County, the
Cleveland National Forest, is maintained by the Federal government. The
State has jurisdiction over open space areas in the Chino Hills abutting
Riverside and San Bernardino Counties and several large State beach parks.
The State has plans for further expansion of its holdings within the
County (e.g., Chino Hills).
RES-8-3
PAGE 161 Show Image
Significant open space areas are also owned and maintained by private
organizations. The Audubon Society owns the Starr Ranch Audubon
Sanctuary, a large open space area adjacent to Caspers Wilderness Park and
the Cleveland National Forest. The private community of Coto de Caza owns
a major permanent open space area adjacent to the Starr Ranch Audubon
Sanctuary and Caspers Wilderness Park.
B. Goals. Objectives and Policies
Goals, objectives and policies are those parts of the plan that set in
motion private and governmental actions. The goals are broad statements
of purpose. The objectives are more measurable targets against which
actions may be evaluated. The policies are specific statements that guide
the action and provide clear commitment.
GOAL 1: Retain the character and natural beauty of the environment
through the preservation, conservation, and maintenance of open
space.
Objective 1: To designate open space areas that preserve, conserve,
maintain, and enhance the significant natural resources
and physical features of unincorporated Orange County.
Policy 1.1: To guide and regulate development of the unincorporated
areas of the County to ensure that the character and
natural beauty of Orange County is retained.
Policy 1.2: To implement the Open Space Component through a program
organization capable of conducting multiple projects at
priority locations throughout the County and with
sufficient resources, authority, and responsibility to
effectively manage the program.
Policy 1.3: To seek out, evaluate, and take advantage of special
opportunities to obtain open space as these
opportunities become available and when the available
open space meets or helps to meet established open
space goals and objectives.
Policy 1.4: To assume a leadership role in establishing and
supporting an open space program for Orange County.
GOAL 2: Promote the health and safety of Orange County residents and
visitors through the regulation and maintenance of open space
lands.
Objective 2: To protect life and property by regulating land use in
areas subject to flooding, landslides, noise, high fire
hazard, and high earthquake potential; and to set aside
land for human refuge in times of natural disaster.
Policy 2.1: To ensure the health and safety of County residents by
identifying, planning, and managing open space areas
RES-8-4
PAGE 162 Show Image
subject to flooding, landslides, noise, high fire
hazards, and earthquake potential.
GOAL 3: Conserve open space lands needed for the preservation of natural
processes and the managed production of resources.
Objective 3: To preserve open space lands that prevent erosion,
siltation, flood, and drought, and to promote the
production of food and fiber products.
Policy 3.1: To encourage the conservation of open space lands which
prevent erosion, siltation, flood, and drought, and to
discourage the early conversion of open space to some
other land use.
Policy 3.2: To ensure the wise use of County resources by
identifying, planning, or assisting in the planning for
and assuming management responsibility when appropriate
for open space areas used for the managed production of
resources including, but not limited to, forest lands,
rangeland, agricultural lands, and areas of economic
importance for the production of food or fiber; areas
required for recharge of groundwater basins; tidelands,
beaches, bays, estuaries, marshes, rivers, and streams
which are important for the management of commercial
fisheries and for beach sand replenishment; and areas
containing mineral deposits.
GOAL 4: Conserve open space lands needed for recreation, education, and
scientific activities, as well as cultural-historic
preservation.
Objective 4: To encourage the conservation of open space lands which
provide recreational scenic, scientific, and
educational opportunities.
Policy 4: To plan for the acquisition, development, maintenance,
operation, and financing of open space lands which
provide recreational, scenic, aesthetic, scientific,
and educational opportunities.
C. Open Space/Conservation Program Map
The Open Space/Conservation Program Map does not designate land use;
rather, it identifies broad open space areas and corridors with physical,
cultural, or economic attributes which require consideration at subsequent
levels of planning. These open space areas and corridors are regional in
nature and are intended to benefit and be enjoyed by the entire population
of Orange County. They also enhance or augment regional recreation
facilities.
The program map does not identify non-regional open space areas and
corridors. The scope of non-regional open space is intended primarily for
the enjoyment, use, and benefit of the neighboring community.
RES-8-5
PAGE 163 Show Image
Non-regional open space, often referred to as local open space, may link
local or community recreation facilities. These areas enhance or augment
local recreation facilities. These areas are identified in the Community
Profiles, Specific Plans, or other development plans.
The Open Space/Conservation Program Map is consistent with other elements
of the General Plan. The map supports the Recreation Element, the
Transportation Element (the Master Plan of Scenic Highways and Master Plan
of Countywide Bikeways), and the Natural Resources and Cultural-Historic
Resources Components of this element. The map depicts open space areas
for regional recreation, greenbelts, wildlife and vegetation habitats,
major water courses, agriculture, mineral resources, major watershed and
water recharge areas, tidelands, beaches, shoreline areas in need of sand
replenishment, stream valleys, scenic and conservation corridors, and
areas of cultural-historic importance. With the exception of existing
regional park facilities, open space areas illustrated on the Open
Space/Conservation Program Map (Figure 1) are schematically mapped.
Definition of Open Space/Conservation Categories
This section describes the open space categories depicted on the Open
Space/Conservation Program Map. The descriptions provide insight into the
physical, recreational, cultural, and economic attributes of regional open
space areas within the County.
Open Space. Conservation and Scenic Corridors - Linear open space
features satisfying multiple open space objectives such as shaping
urban form, preserving cultural-historic resources, providing recrea-
tion linkage between open space nodes, preserving natural processes
primarily those relating to the shoreline, watershed areas,
establishing a visual sense of community identity, and conserving
natural resources and habitat areas. Open space corridors may also
act as buffers between incompatible land uses or as separation from
noise of visual intrusion.
Open space corridors may involve a chain of regional recreation
facilities such as along Aliso Creek and the Santa Ana River, a stream
valley, a series of ridgelines, a linear expanse of agricultural land,
a scenic highway corridor or series of riding and hiking trails or
off-road bikeways (Class I). These corridors provide valuable conser-
vation and protection for wildlife and vegetation habitats,
agriculture, groundwater recharge, and promote recreation. Also, open
space corridors may include private recreation facilities such as golf
corridors or recreational lakes.
Open Space and Conservation Nodes - Large tracts of land serving as
open space cores, often linked by open space corridors. These core
areas contain resource concentrations, existing and proposed regional
parks (e.g., O'Neill Regional Park and Limestone Canyon Regional
Park), State and Federal open space areas (e.g., Crystal Cove State
Park and the Cleveland National Forest), and other undeveloped areas
with significant scenic, recreation, or ecologic values. These nodes
are often a focus for riding and hiking trails, bikeways, and critical
wildlife and vegetation habitat. These areas provide a focus for
RES-8-6
PAGE 164 Show Image
natural resource preservation, conservation, and protection functions,
recreation opportunities, and promote community identity through the
shaping of the urban form.
As stated, open space nodes include regional parks thus tying the Open
Space Component to the Recreation Element. A regional park is an area
of land which offers recreation or scenic attraction of Countywide
significance, generally not available in local parks. They are of
sufficient size to offer recreation facilities and opportunities that
are enjoyed by and benefit the citizens of Orange County.
Existing regional parks are regional open space areas which are owned
and maintained by the County of Orange for the purpose of meeting the
County's open space as well as recreation objectives.
A proposed regional park is an open space node or area that meets the
County's open space and recreation objectives, but has not been
obtained by the County. As acquisition opportunities present
themselves, these important nodes are integrated into the regional
recreation network.
High-Priority Open Space Areas - Key open space areas that are subject
to multiple public works programs (e.g., parks, trails, scenic
highways), are subject to multi-agency implementation efforts, and/or
buffer open space areas of national significance. They are important
and valuable because of a high concentration of open space and
conservation features such as the presence of a regional recreation
facility, critical wildlife or vegetation habitat, major shoreline or
watershed area, or other important natural resources or processes.
These areas are a priority because of the urbanization process that
focuses attention upon their open space and conservation
characteristics.
Open Space High-Priority Areas
A list of open space high-priority areas follows. In general, all
existing and proposed open space areas depicted on the Open
Space/Conservation Program Map possess important open space value to
Orange County because they preserve important natural features, provide
significant outdoor recreation opportunities, conserve valuable resources
(i.e., agricultural, mineral, watershed, wildlife and vegetation habitats,
tidelands, beaches and cultural-historic features), shape and guide urban
development and form, and protect public health and safety.
Among these there exist several equally important, open space areas that
merit high-priority attention and implementation efforts as may be
necessary due to one or more special conditions. These special conditions
are:
1. The open space area is subject to or is affected by other public works
programs such as existing and proposed regional riding and hiking
trails, off-road bikeways, scenic highways, County, State and/or
Federal open space/recreation facilities; or the presence of unique or
RES-8-7
PAGE 165 Show Image
special physical features such as salt marshes, tidelands, perennial
streams, and freshwater bodies.
2. The open space area has broad based support from diverse organizations
such as citizen advocacy groups, corporate non-profit conservation
bodies, municipal, County, State and/or Federal agencies, and/or
private landowners.
3. The open space area enhances or buffers an existing open space
resource of national significance, i.e., the Cleveland National Forest
and coastal zone resources.
These high-priority areas identified through the aforementioned criteria
are grouped below on the basis of the level of implementation to date.
0 Largely implemented. with some remaining oDportunities for further
refinement and expansion:
CHINO HILLS - A special open space area providing abundant outdoor
recreation opportunities as well as preserving important wildlife
and vegetation habitat. The sole opportunity to implement a
permanent large open space area in the North County, Chino Hills
merits high priority status through the combined efforts of the
City of Brea (Brea Wilderness), City of Yorba Linda (Lomas de
Yorba Sur open space), County of Orange and U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Carbon Canyon Regional Park), State of California
(Chino Hills State Park) and Hills for Everyone, Inc., to create
and operate a major recreation/open space area for the benefit of
County residents. Reinforcing this high-priority status is the
presence of a scenic highway, arterial bikeways, a State park, and
a County regional park.
SANTA ANA RIVER Greenbelt Corridor - Oldest of the County's
greenbelt efforts, the Santa Ana River corridor has largely been
implemented through the joint efforts of cities along the river,
the County of Orange Flood Control District, the Harbors, Beaches
and Parks District, various water districts, and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers.
To date, open space and recreation facilities have been
implemented along the Santa Aria River including various city
parks, Orange County Flood Control District facilities and
rights-of-way, four County regional parks, a public beach,
regional bicycle and riding and hiking trails proposed for linkage
to Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and various water
district facilities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
proposing to undertake a major flood control improvement project
along the river in which various recreation amenities are
envisioned. Opportunities for additional open space acquisitions
may arise with this project in connection with future private
project approvals along the river. The Santa Aria River merits
high-priority open space implementation efforts due to the success
of the multi-agency efforts in creating the existing and proposed
public facilities described above.
RES-8-8
PAGE 166 Show Image
o Implementation underway with significant opportunities for further
refinement and expansion:
ALISO CREEK CORRIDOR - A nineteen-mile greenbelt linking the
Cleveland National Forest to the Pacific Ocean. This area is the
subject of the Aliso Creek Corridor Specific Plan (Concept)
Aliso Creek Corridor merits high-priority status due to the
presence of scenic highways1 arterial bikeways, regional riding
and hiking trails, various local and community parks, and three
existing and proposed County regional parks (Whiting Ranch,
Aliso/Wood Canyon, and Aliso Beach Park). Portions of trails and
parks within the corridor have been funded with grants from a
variety of State and Federal sources. The corridor links the
Laguna Greenbelt with the Cleveland National Forest, thus
connecting the County's largest coastal and inland open space
areas
Areas approaching and surrounding CASPERS WILDERNESS PARK
including San Juan Creek Corridor - Caspers Wilderness Park and
environs provides outdoor recreation opportunities in a
"wilderness" setting. The park and the adjacent Audubon property
constitute the most substantial opportunity to buffer the
Cleveland National Forest in the Southeast County. San Juan Creek
open space corridor straddling Ortega Highway constitutes one of
the major national forest gateways, and opportunities exist to
expand Caspers Wilderness Park downstream to enhance and preserve
the overall gateway effect to Caspers Wilderness Park and the
Cleveland National Forest. This area is valuable because of its
scenic qualities, recreation opportunities, and for the
preservation of important ecological habitats. The Caspers
Wilderness Park area merits high-priority status through the
combined efforts of County of Orange (Caspers Wilderness Park),
U.S. Department of Agriculture (Cleveland National Forest), the
National Audubon Society (Starr Ranch Audubon Sanctuary), and
adjacent private landowners to create and operate a major
conservation and recreation open space area for the benefit of
County residents. Reinforcing this high-priority status is the
presence of existing and proposed regional riding and hiking
trails, off-road bikeways, a scenic highway, perennial streams, a
private ecological preserve, a County wilderness park, and a
Federal open space area.
LAGUNA GREENBELT - Proposed as the County's largest coastal open
space/recreation area, Laguna Greenbelt is the subject of the
Irvine Coast Local Coastal Program (LCP), the Aliso Remainder LCP,
the Laguna Beach LCP, the South Laguna LCP, the Aliso Creek
Corridor Specific Plan (Concept), the Laguna Greenbelt Final
Report, the Aliso Greenbelt Management Plan, the Aliso Greenbelt
Development and Operations Plan, the Aliso Beach Park General
Development Plan, and the Crystal Cove State Park General
Development Plan.
Laguna Greenbelt is recognized statewide for its outstanding
scenic and conservation aspects and its valuable wildlife and
RES-8-9
PAGE 167 Show Image
vegetation habitats. One of the few opportunities to implement a
permanent large open space and recreation area along the South
Orange County coast1 Laguna Greeribelt merits high-priority status
through the combined efforts of the cities of Laguna Beach,
Newport Beach, and Irvine; the South Laguna Civic Association; the
County of Orange (Aliso/Wood Canyons Regional Park, Laguna Niguel
Regional Park, Aliso Beach Park, the Irvine coast open space, and
the proposed Laguna/Laurel Canyons Regional Park); the State
Coastal Conservancy; the State Coastal Commission; the State
Department of Parks and Recreation (Crystal Cove State Park)
Laguna Greeribelt, Inc.; Friends of the Irvine Coast, Inc.; and in
excess of fifteen private landowners, particularly the Mission
Viejo and Irvine Companies. Reinforcing this high-priority status
is the presence of three scenic highways, various arterial
bikeways and regional riding and hiking trails, five existing and
proposed County regional parks and open spaces, and a State park.
Open space buffer lands adjacent to the ORANGE COUNTY SHORELINE -
The Orange County coast is recognized world-wide for its broad
sandy beaches in the North County; its rocky cliffs and
promontories punctuated with spectacular, isolated pocket coves in
the South County; its delicate tidelands, marine life refuges, and
various wetlands, bays, viewpoints, and harbors along the coast.
Preservation of bluffs and views accessible from public
rights-of-way; maintenance and refurbishment of piers and
boardwalks; maintenance dredging of harbors and bays; restoration
of degraded wetlands; replenishment of beach sands; provision of
vistapoints, beach parks, and parking facilities; and provision of
adequate pedestrian rights-of-way and accessways to all public
tidelands present opportunities for additional open space buffers
to enhance and protect this resource of national significance.
The County shoreline open space buffer merits high-priority status
due to its national significance and because of the combined
efforts of numerous Federal, State, regional, and local agencies
and various citizens groups to manage and preserve this major
conservation and recreation resource for the benefit of the
nation's residents. Reinforcing this high-priority status is the
presence of existing and proposed arterial bikeways; scenic
highways; and many municipal, County, State, and Federal parks,
harbors, accessways, viewpoints, preserves, wildlife refuges,
wetlands, and/or other beach related public facilities wildlife
and the County's Local Coastal Program planning efforts.
o Early stages of implementation with greatest opportunities for
success.
BOLSA CHICA - One of the few opportunities to preserve a permanent
large open space area along the North Orange Coast, Bolsa Chica
merits high-priority status due to the combined efforts of the
City of Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach Central Park), the
County of Orange (Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park), the State of
California (Bolsa Chica State Beach and Bolsa Chica Ecological
Reserve), land owners, and Amigos de Bolsa Chica, Inc. to create a
RES-8-lO
PAGE 168 Show Image
major permanent water-oriented open space area for the benefit of
County residents. Reinforcing this high-priority status is the
presence of a scenic highway, arterial bikeways, a State
ecological reserve, a landowner commitment to increase the size of
the wetland system in return for development approvals, and the
presence of Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park.
Open space buffer lands adjacent to the CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST-
Most of America's national forests are located in rural areas, and
very few urban counties in the United States possess an urban
national forest. The presence of the Cleveland National Forest in
Orange County is a unique legacy which merits special efforts to
buffer this nationally significant open space resource from
potential land use conflicts that can arise from urbanizing right
to the forest boundary. A substantial open space buffer is needed
along the forest boundary to minimize inherent conflicts between
urbanization and forest wildlife resources and to reduce the
potential impacts on urbanization that can arise from wildf ires,
flooding, landslide, erosion, and siltation. In addition, the
mountainous terrain within the Cleveland National Forest is very
steep, and few opportunities exist to develop access points or
staging areas inside the forest. The foothills abutting the
forest boundary possess outstanding scenic qualities and
significant watershed and wildlife habitat for mountain lion,
deer, hawks, and eagles. Moreover, they contain more gentle
terrain that present opportunities to provide adequate access
points and staging areas for forest-related recreation.
The Cleveland National Forest buffer area merits high-priority
status due to the combined efforts of the County of Orange
(Caspers Wilderness Park, Robinson Ranch Open Space, O'Neill
Regional Park, and the proposed Limestone and Whiting Ranch
Regional Parks), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Cleveland
National Forest), and the National Audubon Society (Audubon
Sanctuary at Starr Ranch) to create and operate a major conserva-
tion and recreation open space area for the benefit of the
nation's residents. Reinforcing this high-priority status is the
presence of existing and proposed regional riding and hiking
trails, arterial bikeways, scenic highways, the Starr Ranch
Audubon Sanctuary, and existing and proposed County regional parks
in close proximity.
UPPER NEWPORT BAY - A significant resource area that is valuable
as a wildlife refuge, a recreation area, and for its archaeo-
logical and paleontological resources. One of the few
opportunities to implement a permanent large open space area along
the Central Orange coast, Upper Newport Bay merits high-priority
status through the combined efforts of the City of Newport Beach
and County of Orange (various jointly-owned parksites), County of
Orange (Dunes Aquatic Park), State of California (Upper Newport
Bay Ecological Reserve), and the Friends of Upper Newport Bay,
Inc., to create a major permanent water-oriented open space area
for the benefit of County residents. Reinforcing this
high-priority status is the presence of a scenic highway, arterial
RES-8-11
PAGE 169 Show Image
bikeways, existing and proposed regional riding and hiking trails,
a State ecological preserve, a large body of water with
marshlands, and the proposed Upper Newport Bay Regional Park.
UPPER SANTIAGO CANYON and environs - The Upper Santiago Canyon
area is proposed as the County's largest inland open
space/recreation corridor, linking the proposed Limestone
Canyon/Whiting Ranch Regional Park complex with the Irvine
Park/proposed Villa Park Basin, Peters Canyon, and Weir Canyon
Regional Park complex. Upper Santiago Canyon open space corridor
affords buffering and gateway opportunities at points along the
Cleveland National Forest boundary in the Central County and is
easily accessible to residents of the County's largest cities.
The area includes Orange County's largest lake, Santiago
Reservoir. When combined with the proposed Limestone Canyon
Regional Park, Santiago Reservoir presents a centrally located
opportunity to establish the County's largest active urban
recreation area, modeled after Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
Upper Santiago Canyon and environs merit high-priority status due
to the presence of a scenic highway, arterial bikeways, existing
and proposed regional riding and hiking trails, and six existing
and proposed County regional parks.
o Other open space opportunities through specialized treatments and
cooperative efforts.
URBANIZED AREAS - High-priority open space opportunities within
the County's urbanized areas are very limited. Most remaining
large open space parcels are already planned for urban
development. This situation is most evident in the urbanized
Northwest County, where the West Orange County Regional Parks
Study of 1978 concluded that due to dwindling vacant land at
prohibitively high cost, no unidentified opportunities for new
regional parks exist. Still, there are existing regional parks
(Los Coyotes, Mile Square, Craig, etc.) and trails within
Northwest County. More importantly, there are also proposed
regional parks (Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center, Olinda
landfill site, etc.) and trail opportunities located there.
Due to the limited availability of large open space parcels as
urban infilling proceeds in the County's urbanized areas, many
design opportunities exist to create small-scale internal and
perimeter open spaces in future development projects. Generous
landscaping of these areas can enhance local ventilation,
ameliorate local microclimates, reduce erosion, improve local
wildlife habitat, and visually buffer high density land uses by
instilling a sense of human privacy and garden ambiance. So too
can small open spaces be optically magnified by deployment of
reflective building exteriors. The use of mirrors or dark glass on
buildings for example, can optically magnify the space between
buildings, reflect the sky and surrounding terrain, and optically
multiply the number of adjacent trees. These effects can produce
pleasing aesthetic and psychological benefits for man.
RES-8-12
PAGE 170 Show Image
Owing to the lack of open space opportunities in urbanized areas,
the County's open space program places high-priority on
encouraging urban design that generates internal and peripheral
open spaces; generous landscaping; variable building heights,
angles, and setbacks; and the deployment of natural materials
and/or reflective surfaces on building exteriors. These benefits
shall be sought through a combination of consultation and
coordination with incorporated cities, pursuing EIR mitigations,
and requiring such enhancements in the site plan review process.
Though the opportunities for open space preservation are limited,
the urbanized areas do deserve high-priority status because
implementation efforts will require the cooperative efforts and
interaction of many organizations, citizen groups, City and County
governments, State and/or Federal agencies, and/or private
landowners
RES-8-13
PAGE 171 Show Image
D. Implementation Programs
1. Acquisition Program
a. Description:
The Acquisition Program implements the Open Space/Conservation
Program Map, supports the other four components of this element,
and assists in the implementation of the goals, objectives, and
policies of the Recreation Element. Implementation of this
program occurs either through the negotiation of fee or easement
dedication of open space followed by the expeditious handling/
processing of open space dedications, through the purchase of open
space lands, or through donation of open space lands.
b. Action:
1) Negotiate the location, shape, size, configuration, treatment,
improvements, buffering, and quality of title for open space
dedications.
2) Direct the offer and acceptance of open space dedication as
follows:
a) Historic easements, resource/preservation easements, and
scenic easements without County maintenance
responsibilities are to be dedicated and accepted when
required by the County but no later than final subdivision
maps for residential projects or building permits for
nonresidential projects.
b) When regional parks or regional open spaces are proposed to
mitigate project impacts, the offer of dedication shall be
made concurrent with the approval of the project or at such
later time as approved by the Planning Commission or Board
of Supervisors when the project is approved by that body.
The boundaries of such offers may be refined through the
tentative tract map process.
c) All other offers of dedication shall be made no later than
recordation of a final map or application for building
permits when no subdivision is required. A separate
recorded instrument will be required to offer the
dedication if no final map is required.
d) Fee dedication, recreation easements, and landscape
maintenance easements requiring County maintenance are to
be accepted based upon financial capability of the grantee
(County or its designee).
e) Offers of dedication are placed in a land bank inventory
maintained by the EMA and reviewed annually by the Board of
Supervisors for selection of offers of dedication to be
RES-8-14
PAGE 172 Show Image
accepted based on the financial capability of the grantee
to assume ongoing operation and maintenance costs.
f) All offers of dedication shall be irrevocable.
3) Open space purchase opportunities are accomplished as follows:
a) Purchase opportunities are identified in the Board approved
5 Year Capital Projects Program.
b) EMA requests GSA to undertake the necessary steps to
acquire the open space.
c) GSA and EMA report to the Board of Supervisors requesting
action.
d) The Board of Supervisors takes an action.
4) Open space donation opportunities are accomplished as follows:
a) Donor offers to dedicate fee on easement lands not
associated with any development entitlements.
b) EMA requests GSA to undertake the necessary steps to
acquire the open space.
c) GSA and EMA report to the Board of Supervisors requesting
action.
d) The Board of Supervisors takes an action.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agencies: 1) General Services Agency
2) Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) Harbors, Beaches & Parks District
2) County General Fund
3) County Service Area Funds
4) Developer Endowments
5) Gifts
RES-8-15
PAGE 173 Show Image
PAGE 174 Show Image
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing. Annually update the 5 Year
Capital Projects Program and the EMA-
Open Space/Recreation/Special Districts
Program Office Program Report.
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: See Program No. 4, Financing Program.
RES-8-17
PAGE 175 Show Image
3. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Program
a. Description:
Consistent with the Development Program, which calls for very
limited design and construction of facilities on open space lands,
the O&M Program recognizes that many open space parcels are
endowed with natural biotic and topographic resources that are
largely self-maintaining. Since these natural resources possess
significant aesthetic appeal and constitute the principal open
space attractions in and of themselves, the O&M Program emphasizes
a large degree of passive maintenance allowing these resources to
experience natural processes and to evolve through time with
minimum interference, domestication, and construction of man-made
attractions. This helps to minimize perpetual O&M costs per acre
allowing actual expenditures to be focused largely on maintenance
of trails and related facilities.
The Board of Supervisors has mandated that acceptance of fee and
easement open space dedications be closely geared to the County's
ability to finance perpetual O&M costs. For this reason, revenue
protections are completed with each annual update of the Board
approved 5 Year Capital Projects Program, Operation and
Maintenance Financing Plan, and the County Service Area budgets.
These projections indicate the availability of future O&M funding
for existing and new facilities. Revenues above and beyond
current O&M needs indicate when new open space lands can be
accepted and maintained in perpetuity.
Since the emphasis of the O&M Program is on minimal disturbance
and maintenance of open space, per acre costs are minimized. This
can permit acceptance of new dedications when possible during the
annual review of the open space land bank referenced in the
Acquisition Program.
b. Action:
1) Operate and maintain open space facilities with minimal
disturbance of natural resources and at minimum per acre cost.
2) Annually update 5 Year Operation and Maintenance Financing Plan
and revenue projections. Excess revenues above current O&M
needs and O&M gifts will indicate ability of County to accept
new open space dedications at time of annual land bank review.
3) Assume new O&M responsibilities, when possible, based on excess
revenues, if any, detected in item 2 above.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing. Annually update of the Board
approved 5 Year Capital Projects Program
and the Operation and Maintenance
Financing Plan.
RES-8-18
PAGE 176 Show Image
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) Harbors, Beaches & Parks District
Operating Fund
2) County Service Area Funds
3) Special Districts Augmentation Fund
4) Gifts
RES-8-19
PAGE 177 Show Image
4. Financing Program
a. Description:
The Financing Program provides the financial planning basis for
the acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of
regional open space lands, including regional open space
corridors, parks, harbors, beaches, riding and hiking trails, and
Class I off-road bikeways. This program includes a 5 Year Capital
Projects Program and an Operation and Maintenance Financing Plan
both updated annually by the Harbors, Beaches and Parks District
(HBPD). This plan identifies the fiscal capacity of the HBPD to
acquire, develop, operate, and maintain new regional open space
lands and facilities.
b. Action:
1) Annually update the Board approved 5 Year Capital Projects
Program and the Operation and Maintenance Financing Plan.
2) Annually update the EMA-Director approved EMA-Open
Space/Recreation/Special Districts Program Office Program
Report.
3) Coordinate with EMA-Regulation, Public Works and Planning for
the acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of
open space and/or open space improvements.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) Harbors, Beaches & Parks District
2) Dana Point Harbor Tidelands Fund
3) Newport Bay Tidelands Fund
4) Sunset Beach Tidelands Fund
5) Off-Road Vehicle Fund
6) Federal Revenue Sharing Fund
7) Fish and Game Propagation Fund
8) Santa Ana River Environmental
Enhancement Fund
9) Special District Augmentation Funds
10) User Fees
11) Concession Income
12) Grant Revenues
13) County General Fund
14) County Services Area Funds
15) Developer Endowments
16) Gifts
RES-8-20
PAGE 178 Show Image
APPENDIX 1
OPEN SPACE DEDICATION DEFINITIONS
A. Overview
There are two types of open space dedications commonly utilized for the
acquisition of open space: fee dedication and easement dedication.
Dedications may be irrevocably offered for dedication and accepted at a
later date or accepted at the outset. Following are definitions of the
types of dedications used by the County. Fee dedication transfers owner-
ship to the grantee while easement dedication does not transfer ownership.
B. Definitions
a. Fee Dedication:
Under fee dedication, the County or its designee receives clear title
to the designated open space in perpetuity. Generally, the property
owner dedicates to the grantee or its designee fee title free of
liens, encumbrances, assessments, fees, easements, leases (recorded or
unrecorded), and taxes in a form suitable for recordation.
b. Easement Dedication:
1) Resource Preservation Easement
The resource preservation easement (formerly either the open space
or conservation easement) serves to protect natural resources
(e.g., native and exotic vegetation, major ridgelines, bluffs, in
their natural state) provides an open space transition area at the
private/public property interface and limits uses to those areas
which are recreational in nature and improvements intended to
retain open space character. Development of any form is
prohibited within resource preservation easements.
2) Scenic Easement
The scenic easement serves to restrict alterations by the
underlying fee owner of the natural scenic and/or manufactured
landform through grading operations; structural development;
storage and/or placement of fill material, equipment, and/or
building materials; and removal of or damage to vegetation (native
and/or exotic), rock outcroppings, etc. Development within said
easement areas shall be restricted to 15 percent of said easement
area encumbering any individual lot and may include open fencing
which does not constitute a visual barrier or wall impeding
wildlife circulation, necessary flood control works and regional
riding and hiking trails. Residential development of any form is
prohibited within scenic easements.
RES-8-21
PAGE 179 Show Image
3) Recreation Easement
A recreation easement is intended to provide a perpetual easement
over an area designated for public use including regional and/or
local riding and hiking trails and staging areas on
privately-owned land.
4) Historical Preservation Easement
An historic preservation easement serves to protect historically
and architecturally significant buildings and their settings. It
operates like a resource preservation easement by protecting open
space, biological resources, historic and scenic views, and the
surroundings of culturally significant buildings and/or structures
through restricted development rights. This easement also
incorporates provisions of the exterior architectural facade
easement by protecting the outside appearance of historically and
architecturally significant buildings or structures.
5) Landscape Maintenance Easement
A landscape maintenance easement allows the County or its
designated maintenance agency (County Service Area) to enter a
property held in fee title by a landowner or his assigns and
successors for the purpose of maintenance, repair, refurbishment,
and general care and upkeep of landscaping and irrigation systems.
RES-8-22
PAGE 180 Show Image
APPENDIX 2
DESCRIPTION OF FINANCING PROGRAM FUNDS
Overview
The primary funding source for the acquisition, development, operation, and
maintenance of regional open space areas comes from the Harbors, Beaches and
Parks District funds. These funds are derived from property tax revenue under
a formula share allocation of the property tax base as adopted by State
legislation. The following describes other funding sources that support the
acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of regional and
non-regional open space areas.
a. Dana Point Harbor Tidelands Fund:
This funding source is derived from revenues generated through fees and
concessionaire rents at Dana Point Harbor. Most of the harbbr is on State
tidelands held in trust by the County; therefore, most rent and concession
revenue is credited to the tidelands fund with remainder revenues credited
to the Harbor, Beaches and Parks District.
b. Newport Bay Tidelands Fund:
This funding is derived from revenues generated by rent, concessions,
off-shore moorings, and guest slips.
c. Sunset Beach Tidelands Fund:
This funding is derived from oil lease revenues.
d. Off-Road Vehicle Fund:
The State of California levies a license fee for all off-road recreation
vehicles a portion of which is received by the County and deposited in
this fund.
e. Federal Revenue Sharing Fund:
Federal funds received by the County and earmarked for specific regional
recreation projects.
f. Fish and Game Propagation Fund:
This fund is created by obtaining one-half of fines and forfeiture
collected by the State for Fish & Game Code violations.
g. Santa Ana River Environmental Enhancement Fund:
Fund established by agreement between the Board of Supervisors (Flood
Control District) and the Orange County Water District.
RES-8-23
PAGE 181 Show Image
h. Special District Augmentation Funds:
This fund was established by State legislation (AB 8) to ease the
financial burden on special districts created by limitations on property
tax revenues resulting from Proposition 13.
1. User Fees:
These fees are established to offset the cost of operating and maintaining
regional recreation facilities. Examples of such fees are day use parking
fee, overnight camping fees, and fees collected from coastal recreational
facilities.
~. Concession Income:
Concessionaire leases may be offered on open space lands to provide basic
public recreation services such as a golf course. Leases may also be
offered for agricultural/horticultural purposes.
In addition, concessionaire leases which supplement the recreation intent
of a particular regional recreational facility may be offered. Examples
include concession stands at regional parks and stores and restaurants at
the County harbors.
k. Grant Revenues:
State and Federal assistance programs provide grant funds to local
governments for recreational projects meeting specific criteria.
BJ:hdCHAP8 .WP (12-20-95)
RES-8-24
PAGE 182 Show Image
CHAPTER NINE: CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES COMPONENT
A. Overview
1. Background
Cultural and historic resources are buildings, structures, objects,
sites, and districts of cultural, historic, archaeological, historic
architectural, historic preservation, and/or paleontological
significance. For the purposes of this document, paleontological
sites fall under cultural resources.
National:
Early efforts to preserve cultural and historic resources at the
national level are exemplified by the action of the Mount Vernon
Ladies1 Association in the mid 1850's when they succeeded in
preserving a nationally significant building threatened pith
demolition for a new resort hotel complex. The threatened building
was George Washington's Mount Vernon.
Systematic federal involvement began with the passage of the
Antiquities Act of 1906, designed to protect Indian ruins and relics
in the Southwest. In 1935, the Historic Sites Act was passed by
Congress to further federal preservation efforts, to consolidate them
in the National Park Service of the Interior Department, to create
some related jobs, and to establish the National Historic Landmarks
program. Several projects were undertaken in Orange County.
In 1966, the keystone of contemporary federal preservation efforts
became law, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This act
established the current programs and funding. It delineated
procedures and methods for both the environmental planning approach
and the economic incentives approach to preservation. Both approaches
are used in Orange County. For example, road, block grant, and
redevelopment projects are reviewed via the environmental planning
approach during project review. Similarly, many historic buildings
are rehabilitated with the assistance of economic incentives; that is
special tax credits, low interest loans, and grants.
Numerous other laws have been passed (e.g., National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA)) and agencies have developed staff and procedures to
deal with environmental regulations, primarily regarding archaeology.
The biggest federal boost to historic preservation came with the
Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 which established a 25 percent
investment tax credit for rehabilitating a historic building.
State:
As with federal preservation efforts, State level preservation in
California is focused in the parks department. State historic parks,
such as the gold rush town of Columbia in the foothills of the
Sierras, were first established in the late 1920s. In California, the
RES-9-l
PAGE 183 Show Image
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), which administers both
federal and State preservation programs in California, is
organizationally within the State Department of Parks and Recreation.
Planning-related preservation activities are performed by a variety of
State agencies, with principal local liaison from SHPO, and
coordination with the State Office of Planning and Research and
Department of Transportation. Since the mid-1960s, most financial
incentives for preservation have been granted by the federal
government through the SHPO to local governments and private entities
in the form of grants or tax credits.
In Orange County, State involvement in cultural resources has several
forms. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) adopted in
1970 provides a mechanism for the consideration of cultural-historic
resources as a part of the local environmental review process. Grants
through the State Department of Parks and Recreation and SHPO have
been received for historic surveys and acquisition and development
projects. SHPO reviews private historic rehabilitation projects and,
with other state agencies, participates in the environmental review
process on projects such as roads.
Ouasi-public:
The principal quasi-public preservation entity is the National Trust
for Historic Preservation, established by Congress in 1949. In recent
years, numerous "preservation" projects have been undertaken by
private entities and local jurisdictions through a combination of
federal funding sources (e.g., Housing and Urban Development, Revenue
Sharing, NHPA, or federal tax credits) and local or private sources.
The number of local preservation organizations in the U.S. has
expanded tenfold in the last fifteen years. Many are partially grant
funded. Numerous local governments have established cultural resource
preservation commissions during this time to deal with increased
public interest, environmental regulations, funding opportunities, and
projects such as house museums, historic surveys, and preservation
ordinances. In Orange County, there are over sixty organizations
which promote the preservation and study of cultural and scientific
resources in the County.
Local:
Orange County has a rich storehouse of cultural and scientific
resources, beginning with prehistoric fossils and artifacts and
carrying on through the historically and architecturally significant
sites and buildings of the past two-hundred years. These resources
are important for academic research and publications, for the
education of school children and the general public, and for their
cultural, social, and economic values.
Efforts to preserve these resources in Orange County started in 1897
when the first preservation organization in California, the Landmark's
Club of Southern California, selected as its first project the Mission
RES-9-2
PAGE 184 Show Image
San Juan Capistrano. The twentieth century has seen museum
development (such as the Bowers), the flourishing of numerous
historical societies, the adoption of cultural environmental policies
by the Board of Supervisors, the emergence of advocacy and
fund-raising groups, and the undertaking of private historic
rehabilitation projects as well as academic/research excavations.
Preservation of Orange County's significant archaeological,
paleontological and historical resources in a manner that both
preserves the site and is compatible with development is desirable.
The County encourages early identification of significant resources in
order that cultural resources can be given major consideration in land
use planning. The initial identification and evaluation of
significant resources is enhanced through the use of the County's
computerized environmental mapping system: the Master Environmental
Assessment (MEA). The MEA assists in the planning process by
identifying areas that may or may not be sensitive to
cultural-historic resources (or other important environmental
concerns). The Board of Supervisors has taken a number of actions in
the past ten years in this regard establishing goals and policies,
many of which are the bases for this component. The principal actions
are: Resolution 77-866 (Archaeo/Paleo Preservation Plan); Resolution
80-27 (Historical Commission); Resolution 82-583 (Historic Resources
Management Plan); and Resolution 83-607 (Archives).
Conclusion:
Although both funding and policy direction emanate from the federal
and state levels, most preservation activity has occurred at the local
level. First, preservation activity focused on grants, then on
compliance with environmental regulations. While these activities are
still important parts of a cultural/historic resources program, the
emphasis now is on financial incentives. While most of this work has
been quasi-public/private, the focus in the past two years has shifted
away from federal and state environmental regulation compliance and
toward private sector utilization of the tax credits in rehabilitating
historic buildings and private organization fund-raising.
2. Purpose
The primary purpose of the Cultural and Historic Resources Component
is to present the substantive content of pertinent Board resolutions
and other laws and policies which address archaeological,
paleontological, and historic resources. This presentation assumes a
goals - objectives - policies structure and is followed by a
description of each implementation program. The Cultural and Historic
Resources Component presents goals, objectives, policies, and
corresponding implementation programs. It clarifies existing Board
direction, priorities, and resource management steps regarding the
identification, evaluation, preservation, and development of cultural
resources.
RES-9-3
PAGE 185 Show Image
B. Goals. Objectives and Policies
1. Goal:
To raise the awareness and appreciation of Orange County's cultural
and historic heritage.
Objectives:
a. Facilitate and participate in activities that inform people about
the social, cultural, economic, and scientific values of Orange
County' 5 heritage.
b. Work through the Orange County Historical Commission in the areas
of history, paleontology, archaeology, and historical
preservation.
Policies:
a. To stimulate and encourage financial support for projects in the
public and private sector.
b. To coordinate countywide programs and be the liaison for local
organizations.
c. To advise and aid the public and private sectors in meeting museum
needs and finding funding sources for same.
d. To stimulate and encourage research, writing, and publication of
articles on Orange County subjects.
e. To develop and maintain a County archive for historically valuable
records.
f. To encourage and facilitate cooperation among local historical
societies.
2. Goal:
To encourage through a resource management effort the preservation of
the county's cultural and historic heritage.
Objectives:
a. Promote the preservation and use of buildings, sites, structures,
objects, and districts of importance in Orange County through the
administration of planning, environmental, and resource management
programs.
b. Take all reasonable and proper steps to achieve the preservation
of archaeological and paleontological remains, or their recovery
and analysis to preserve cultural, scientific, and educational
values.
RES-9-4
PAGE 186 Show Image
a. Take all reasonable and proper steps to achieve the preservation
and use of significant historic resources including properties of
historic, historic architectural, historic archaeological, and/or
historic preservation value.
d. Provide assistance to County agencies in evaluating the cultural
environmental impact of proposed projects and reviewing EIRs.
e. Provide incentives to encourage greater private sector
participation in historic preservation.
Policies:
The following policies addressing archaeological, paleontological, and
historical resources shall be implemented at appropriate stage(s) of
planning, coordinated with the processing of a project application, as
follows:
a. Identification of resources shall be completed at the earliest
stage of project planning and review such as general plan
amendment or zone change.
b. Evaluation of resources shall be completed at intermediate stages
of project planning and review such as site plan review,
subdivision map approval, or at an earlier stage of project
review.
c. Final preservation actions shall be completed at final stages of
project planning and review such as grading, demolition, or at an
earlier stage of project review.
I. Archaeological Resources
(1) To identify archaeological resources through literature
and records research and surface surveys.
(2) To evaluate archaeological resources through subsurface
testing to determine significance and extent.
(3) To observe and collect archaeological resources during
the grading of a project.
(4) To preserve archaeological resources by:
(a) Maintaining them in an undisturbed condition, or
(b) Excavating and salvaging materials and information in
a scientific manner.
II. Paleontological Resources
(1) To identify paleontological resources through literature
and records research and surface surveys.
RES-9-5
PAGE 187 Show Image
(2) To monitor and salvage paleontological resources during
the grading of a project.
(3) To preserve paleontological resources by maintaining them
in an undisturbed condition.
III. Historic Resources
(1) To identify historic resources through literature and
records research and/or on-site surveys.
(2) To evaluate historic resources through comparative
analysis or through subsurface or materials testing.
(3) To preserve significant historic resources by one or a
combination of the following alternatives, as agreed upon
by EMA and the project sponsor:
(a) Adaptive reuse of historic resource.
(b) Maintaining the historic resource in an undisturbed
condition.
(c) Moving the historic resource and arranging for its
treatment.
(d) Salvage and conservation of significant elements of
the historic resources.
(e) Documentation (i.e., research narrative, graphics,
photography) of the historic resource prior to
destruction.
Goal:
To preserve and enhance buildings structures, objects, sites, and
districts of cultural and historic significance.
Cb~ ectives:
a. Undertake actions to identify, preserve, and develop unique and
significant cultural and historic resources.
b. Develop and maintain a County archive for historically valuable
records, thereby promoting knowledge and understanding of the
origins, programs, and goals of the County of Orange.
Policies:
a. To pursue grants and innovative funding strategies for acquisition
or development of significant properties.
RES-9-6
PAGE 188 Show Image
b. To develop, utilize, and promote effective technical conservation
and restoration strategies.
c. To appraise, collect, organize, describe, preserve, and make
available County of Orange records of permanent, historical value.
d. To serve as a research center for the study of County history.
RES-9-7
PAGE 189 Show Image
C. Implementation programs*
1. Advisory Bodies Program
a. Description: Provide for and assist cultural resource advisory
bodies.
b. Action:
i. Provide policy direction and staff support for Orange County
Historical Commission and Historical Records Commission.
ii. Provide policy direction and staff support for advisory bodies
of a temporary nature such as task forces or ad hoc
committees.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Grants
3) Harbors, Beaches and Parks District
4) Private Donations
*Listed in alphabetical order.
R S- -8
PAGE 190 Show Image
2. Archaeo/Paleo Certification Program
a. Description: Administer program for certification of
professionals in fields of archaeology and paleontology.
b. Action:
i. Coordinate and perform review of resumes submitted by
applicants.
ii. Present to Planning Commission for action.
iii. Maintain, update, and distribute list and resume file for
client use.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing -
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agencies: 1) Environmental Management Agency
2) Planning Commission
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund
RES-9-9
PAGE 191 Show Image
3. Archive Program
a. Description: Develop and operate a County archive to preserve for
research use those historically valuable materials which document
the origins, activities, and achievements of the County.
b. Action:
i. Provide facility for the storage and preservation of County
records of historic significance.
ii. Develop and conduct inter-agency program to train records
coordinators.
iii. Provide access to records for researchers and interested
public.
c. New or Existing Program: New
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agencies: 1) General Services Agency-Records
Retention Center
2) Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) Grants
2) County General Fund
RES-9-lO
PAGE 192 Show Image
4. County Historical Parks and Facilities Program
a. Description: Provide for and administer a parks program which
includes the preservation, restoration, and use of cultural and
historical properties; and promote the development and operation
of County interpretive sites of cultural-historic significance.
b. Action:
i. Coordinate efforts among County agencies to identify and
acquire, as County parks significant cultural resources.
ii. Plan, develop, and operate County parks to enhance and
preserve cultural resources.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) Harbors, Beaches and Parks District
2) Grants
3) Leases
RES-9-1l
PAGE 193 Show Image
5. Countywide Historic Survey Program
a. Description: Administer program for identification of
historically significant properties. Promote and facilitate use
of the survey material in related planning programs.
b. Action:
i. Provide information and encouragement to local groups to
expand the existing historic survey program.
ii. Provide contract administration, technical expertise, and data
storage and retrieval for survey materials.
iii. Provide information to local planning departments to encourage
surveying by cities.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) Housing and Community Development Block
Grants
2) Other Grants
3) Private Donations
4) Private Development Fees
5) Specific Public Projects
RES-9-12
PAGE 194 Show Image
6. Cultural/Scientific and Historic Resource Management Program
a. Description: Review public and private development proposals for
their consideration of cultural resources and recommend measures
to mitigate adverse effects, in accordance with California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Master Environmental Assessment,
and Board policy.
b. Action:
i. Review/coordinate review of EIRs to address cultural resources
and provide comments and recommendations to the lead
agency/responsible office.
ii. Monitor the development process to ensure protection of
cultural resources.
iii. Research and prepare cultural resource reports for County
projects.
iv. Respond to inquiries from the public.
v. Maintain historic, archaeological, and paleontological files
and maps.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Private Donations
3) Specific Public Projects (roads, parks)
4) Project Developer Fees.
RES-9-13
PAGE 195 Show Image
7. Information Clearinghouse Program
a. Description: Provide information clearinghouse and technical
advisory services regarding registration, design, finance,
construction, management, and use of cultural resources. These
services are provided to a wide-spectrum clientele including
County offices, private developers, planning and engineering
firms, investment counselors, archaeologists, paleontologists,
historians, and local jurisdictions (planning departments,
redevelopment agencies).
b. Action:
i. Gather information from a wide variety of cultural heritage
resource persons/organizations and maintain files for their
use.
ii. Respond to requests for information, distribute information,
and refer public inquiries to other sources and organizations.
iii. Provide speakers for avariety of conferences, seminars,
workshops, and presentations.
iv. Maintain and distribute lists of consultants, professionals,
and information sources to cultural heritage resource persons
and others.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Private Donations
3) Project Developer Fees
RES-9-14
PAGE 196 Show Image
N
8. Local Historical Organizations Liaison Program
a. Description: Provide a communication network through the Orange
County Federation of Historical Organizations, periodic
newsletters, and meetings.
b. Action:
i. Facilitate communication between County historical groups by
gathering and disseminating information.
ii. Maintain detailed listing of all County historical
organizations. Update and distribute listing regularly.
iii. Produce and distribute a quarterly newsletter.
iv. Organize and conduct semi-annual workshops/meetings on topics
of historical interest.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Private Donations
3) Grants
RES-9-15
PAGE 197 Show Image
9. Museum Function Assistance Program
a. Description: Work with organizations and businesses on historical
interpretive projects and fund-raising.
b. Action:
i. Provide direction and encouragement to organizations in the
area of natural history and history museum planning and
fund-raising.
ii. Provide liaison with the Natural History Foundation, Old
Courthouse Museum Society, and other organizations in their
efforts to raise funds and public support for natural history
and history museum facilities.
iii. Assist in coordination of storage space for the warehousing of
archaeological and paleontological items.
iv. Apply for grants to provide funding for site specific
interpretive centers in regional parks.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Grants
3) Private Donations
RES-9-16
PAGE 198 Show Image
10. Plaque Program
a. Description: Acknowledge significant historical places through
their evaluation and designation and through the placement of
plaques and markers.
b. Action:
i. Receive and review requests for placement of plaques.
ii. Research County history to determine sites eligible for
plaques and significance of proposed plaques.
iii. Coordinate with local historical groups and special interest
groups (e.g., to conduct research, order plaques, and plan
dedication ceremonies).
iv. Maintain files on local historic sites and make information
available to the public.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Private Donations
RES-9-17
PAGE 199 Show Image
11. Preservation Incentives Program
a. Description: Encourage greater private sector participation in
historic preservation through the development and operation of
preservation incentives.
b. Action:
Work with County offices and others to investigate the feasibility
and implementation of contemporary preservation incentives such
as:
i. Utilization of the State Historic Building Code.
ii. Development of innovative financial incentives.
iii. Provision of zoning and density incentives.
iv. Establishment of facade easement mechanism.
c. New.or Existing Program: New
d. Implementation Schedule: As feasible
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) Development Fees
2) County General Fund
3) Private Donations
4) Grants
ES-9-l
PAGE 200 Show Image
12. Publications Program
a. Description: Encourage, assemble, and disseminate information in
the form of articles, brochures, and publications.
b. Action:
i. Coordinate, research, publish, and update a guide to local
cultural heritage resources.
ii. Research, publish, and distribute informational brochures on
specific County-owned sites (e.g., parks).
iii. Provide information to newspapers, radio, and television for
their use in promoting the County's cultural heritage.
iv. Solicit and accept material for cultural resources research
and maintain it for public use in a variety of publications.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implemented Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) Harbors, Beaches and Parks District
2) County General Fund
3) Grants
4) Private Donations
RES-9-19
PAGE 201 Show Image
13. Public Participation Program
a. Description: Coordinate with and encourage participation of
special interest groups and organizations in the resource
management effort
b. Action:
i. Provide information to special interest groups and other
clients regarding cultural resource programs at city, county,
state, and federal levels.
ii. Encourage public participation in these programs through
presentations, slide shows, and publications.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) County General Fund
2) Specific Public and Private Project Fees
RES-9-20
PAGE 202 Show Image
14. SDecial Activities Program
a. Description: Coordinate countywide cultural activities of a
unique or one-time only nature.
b. Action:
i. Seek out and review proposals for special activities such as
conferences, seminars, fairs, and celebrations.
ii. Initiate and coordinate the presentation of such activities
with local interest groups and County agencies.
c. ~ew or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: 1) Private Donations
2) Harbors, Beaches and Parks District
3) Grants
BJ:hdCHAP9 .WP (12-21-95)
RES-9-21
PAGE 203 Show Image
PAGE 204 Show Image
APPENDIX A
PAGE 205 Show Image
PAGE 206 Show Image
APPENDIX A
RESOURCES ELEMENT
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS
1. General Plan Consistency Program
a. Action: Continue review of public and private projects for
consistency with the Orange County General Plan as required by State
law (Government Code Section 65400 et seq.). The existing consistency
review process will be updated in the Advance Planning Program Manual
to reflect the Resources Element. EMA policy and procedures and
memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between functions will also be
revised and maintained.
b. Discussion: This program satisfies the State law requirement that
private and public projects must be consistent with the local
government's General Plan in order to be approved. All public works
projects, development projects, discretionary permits, capital
improvement plans, and other private and public agency proposals are
reviewed for consistency. The consistency review process will be
conducted in accordance with the Advance Planning Program Manual
prepared by EMA.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund
RES-A-l
PAGE 207 Show Image
2. Intergovernmental Coordination and Public Participation
a. Action: Intergovernmental coordination and public participation are
existing components of the Advance Planning Program.
Intergovernmental and intragovemmental coordination will be improved
through increased cooperation and contact with federal, State,
regional, countywide, and Orange County agencies which impact or
influence Resources Element implementation. For a list of related
planning agencies see Appendix B.
b. Discussion: This program facilitates both intra- and
intergovernmental coordination and citizen participation in order to
promote a greater understanding of the County General Plan.
Appropriate governmental agencies, organizations and citizens are
provided an opportunity to review documents and provide input during
the General Plan revision and amendment process. Appropriate agencies
are also consulted regarding and involved in many of the
implementation programs defined in this document.
c. New or Existing Program: Existing
d. Implementation Schedule: Ongoing
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund
RES-A-2
PAGE 208 Show Image
3. Annual Report on County Resources
a. Action: Prepare an annual report on the status of the County1s
resource management program as defined by the Resources Element
implementation programs. This report would provide updated
information on the county's resources and report on the status of
implementation programs.
b. Discussion: An annual report on the County's resource management
program would provide an ongoing process to assess and monitor the
effectiveness of the implementation programs contained in the
Resources Element. The report would focus on natural resources,
energy resources, and water resources since other annual reports are
prepared for open space and cultural-historic resource management
efforts in the EMA/Open Space/Recreation/Special Districts Program
Office Program Report. In order to provide coordination with other
County planning activities, the report will be submitted within a
similar time frame as the Development Monitoring Report, generally the
beginning of each year.
c. New or Existing Program: New
d. Implementation Schedule: Upon adoption of element.
e. Responsible Agency: Environmental Management Agency
f. Source of Funds: County General Fund
BJ:hdRESA.WP (12-21-95)
RES-A-3
PAGE 209 Show Image
PAGE 210 Show Image
APPENDIX B
PAGE 211 Show Image
PAGE 212 Show Image
APPENDIX B
RELATED PLANNING AGENCIES
A. Overview
Intergovernmental coordination facilitates cooperative planning with
federal, state, regional, private, and Orange County agencies involved in
Resources Element implementation or which influence the implementation of
this element by their actions. This appendix identifies federal, state,
regional, private, and countywide agencies involved in General Plan
implementation and their respective responsibilities.
B. Inter-Agency Coordination
1. Federal Agencies
a. Interior Department (National Park Service):
(1) Cooperative resource management
(2) Recreation planning
(3) National Historic Landmarks Program
(4) National Historic Preservation Act (funding source)
b. Department of the Army (Corps of Engineers):
(1) Flood control facilities
(2) Major public works projects
c. Department of Agriculture:
(1) Cooperative resource management (Forest Service, Soil
Conservation Service)
(2) Recreation planning
d. Fish and Wildlife Service:
(1) Biological resource management
e. Department of Housing and Urban Development:
(1) Development and infrastructure financing
(2) Coordination of socioeconomic data related to urban
development
(3) Revenue sharing
(4) Block grants for Countywide Historic Survey Program
RES-B-l
PAGE 213 Show Image
f. Department of Defense (Tustin and El Toro Marine Corps Air
Stations)
(1) Airport/land use compatibility
(2) Interface with County noise control and abatement programs
g. Environmental Protection Agency:
(1) Environmental review process
(2) Air quality, hazardous waste, and water quality programs
h. Internal Revenue Service (Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981):
(1) Economic incentives (federal tax credits) for undertaking
historical preservation activities
2. State Agencies
a. State Office of Planning and Research:
(1) State clearinghouse for environmental impact reports (EIRs)
(2) Prepares guidelines for the preparation of mandatory elements
of the General Plan (except the Housing Element)
(3) Coordinates and provides State assistance for land use
planning
b. State Resources Agency: Umbrella agency for State's major
environmental agencies, including:
(1) California Coastal Commission:
(a) Coordinates implementation and administration of the
Coastal Act in Orange County
(2) Department of Conservation:
(a) Mineral and geologic resource planning
(b) Administration of Williamson Act and open space
programs
(c) Coordinates State agricultural land us and soil
conservation programs
(3) Department of Fish and Game:
(a) Cooperative fish and wildlife management
(b) Protection of special wildlife and ecological preserves
RES-B-2
PAGE 214 Show Image
(c) Informs the public on the prudent use of wildlife
species and their habitats
(4) Department of Water Resources:
(a) Develop, protect, conserve, and manage California's
water resources
(5) Department of Parks and Recreation:
(a) Administers state park system
(b) Cooperative recreation planning
(c) State Historic Preservation Office
(6) California Coastal Conservancy:
(a) Land acquisition and management in conformity with the
Coastal Act or a local coastal program (LCP)
(7) California Air Resources Board:
(a) State air pollution control agency responsible for
implementation of federal air pollution acts
c. State Lands Commission:
(1) Manages and regulates all state-owned lands
d. California Energy Commission:
(1) Responsible for development and conservation of California's
energy resources
e. State Water Resources Control Board:
(1) Responsible for water rights and water pollution control
(2) Enforces water quality standards and administers federal
clean water laws
f. California Waste Management Board:
(1) Waste management regulation and funding programs
g. Public Utilities Commission:
(1) Regulates private utilities including energy utilities in the
state
(2) Lead agency on major energy facility (power plant) siting
RES-B-3
PAGE 215 Show Image
3. Regional Agencies
a. Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG):
(1) Coordination of regional water quality (208) and energy
planning efforts
(2) Clearinghouse for federally-funded projects
(3) Regional Air Quality, Transportation, and Housing Plans
(4) Transportation Improvement Plans
(5) Regional Growth Policy
b. South Coast Air Quality Management District:
(1) Air quality management activities
c. Water Districts:
(1') Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
(2) Orange County Water District
(3) Coastal Municipal Water District
(4) California Water Quality Control Board:
(a) Designates regional boards which are responsible for
the maintenance of water quality
4. Private OrQanizations
a. Community/Homeowners I Associations
b. Public-interest organizations (e.g., League of Women Voters,
Orange County Historical Society)
BJ:h~ESB.WP (12-22-95)
RES-B-4
PAGE 216 Show Image
APPENDIX C
PAGE 217 Show Image
PAGE 218 Show Image
APPENDIX C
MINERAL RESOURCES
BACKGROUND MATERIAL
SMARA AND RELATED PROGRAMS
1. Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975
2. Classification and Designation Guidelines for Mineral Resources
3. Special Report 143 Including Classification of Orange County Region
4. SMARA Maps
RES-C-1
PAGE 219 Show Image
1. SURFACE ~ZNING AND RECLAMATION ACT OF 1975
RES-C-2
PAGE 220 Show Image
CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF CDMG
MINES AND GEOLOGY NOTE 50
SURFACE MINING AND RECLAMATION ACT OF 1975
(~ rn-dad by 5-ale 1. 1300. N*j*iy - 1980 S9otiiles)
ArtIcI* 1. Geuwal Pmvisions (a) On the pojice po!~ Ceany city county Or on the power
Ce my city coonty to decl, -libit, and abate nuisinc~,
2710. mis ChapI~ ~mfl be known and my be died - the ~) On the ~ Ce the Attorney Gen=ml, at the roquni Ce
Surf~aoe ~ and Ac' Ce 1975. the b~id* or iap~ his own 0101100, to b~ an action in the
2711. (a) The I~tuiit I- finds and d~Iam that the name Ce the p- Ce the State Ce California to enjoin my
Ce minumis is mtiai to the cwitinwd pdiution or miIrnflcL
wdi~ Ce the slate and to the noodi Ce the ao~eIy, and that (c) OR the poi~ Ce my 5iate agmcy in the enforcuient or
the Ce mined hads is ~ to pi~~t or-i- administiation Ce my provision Ce law which it is -fically
~ antherizod or to enforce or administer.
health and -. (d) OR the rig~it Ce my ~ to maintain at any time my
~) The i~ture f~er finds that the iccirnation Ce appropriate action for rdid a-si any private nuisance as ~
nened lands as provided in this chapter will -it the~~tin~ed fined in ~ 3 (comm~~ with Section 3479) of Division 4
~CeminUlils and ~`ill provide for the protection and ~ Ce the ciYii Code~or for any other ~vaate itilef~
quit bemesital we Ce the mined and r~airnod Im~ (e) On the power Ceany lead agency to adopt policies, stand-
(c) The ~tuirt f~irtIier finds that. surface mining takes ards, or regialations imp- additional requir~~ts on any
~ in divene aaeas where the ge-ic. topo~ dimatic, pc~ ifthe Iu-D~ti do not prevent the person from corn-
b-cal, and uocial conditions are scantly different and plying with the provi~~ Ce this chaptu.
that rcdarntion o-irn and the s~fications thudor my (f) On the power Ceany - or county to -ate the use Ce
vary accordingly. buiki-, structures, and land as between industry, busin~s,
27I~ It is the intent Cethe ~atiiit to create and maintain residents, op~ spice (including -ilture, recreation, the en-
an effective and ve ~ mining and i~imtion joyment Ceac=iic beauty, and the use Ce natural resources), and
- with rcgislation Ce ~ mining O~ODS :0~ to other purposes.
-suit that: 2716. Any person my commence an action on his ownbehalf
(a) Adverse environmental etticts are pi~ented or mini- a-t the board or the Slate G~t for a writ Ce mandate
mized and that mined lands are reclaimed to a usable ooodition pursuant to c-er 2 (commencing with Section 1084) of Title C,)
which is readily -able for alternative land uses. I Ce Part 3 Ce the Code Ce civil Procedure to compel the board ~
~) The production and conservation of ` are en- or the State Geologist to caaay out any duty imposed upon them
couraged, while giving consideration to values relating to recrea- pursuant to the provisions Ce this chapter.
tion, watershed, wildlife, range and forage, and aesthetic 2717. The board shall submit to the ~tune on December
enjoyment. 1st of each year a report on the actions taken pursuant to this
(c) Residual hazards to the public health and safety are dimi- C-er during the prece~ fiscal year. Such report shall in-
nated. chide a statement of the actions, including legislative recommen-
2713. It is not the intent Ce the I~ture by the enactment dations, which are neceasry to carry out more completely the
Ce this chapter to take private property for public use without purposes and requirements Ce this chapter.
payment of just compensation in violation of the California and 2718. If any provision of this chapter or the application
United States Constitution thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such inva-
2714. The provisions Ce this chapier shall not apply to any of lidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the
the following activities: chapter which cm be given effect without the invalid provision
(a) Ezcavations or grading conducted for f~iming or onsite or ~tion, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are
constructIon or for the purpe Ce restoring land following a
flood or natural disaster.
~) Pros-ing for, or the cztraction Ce, minerals for com- Artic~ ~ Definitions
mercial purposes and the reilnoval Ce overburden in total
amounts Celess than 1,000 cbbic yards in anyone location Ceone 2725. UDIm the context otherwise ~ the definitions set
acreori~ forth in this article shall govern the constrooion Cethis chapter.
*(c) Sur~ce mining 0-IOnS that are required by federal law 2726. "Area Cer-oflal -ificance" mmns an area designat-
in order to prolect a mining claim, if such 0-10115 are con- ed by the bosod pursuant to Section 2790 which is known to
ducted moicly for that purpose. contain a -it Ce minerals, the citi~ion of which is judged
(d) Such other surface mining 0-ions which the board to be Ce prime importance in meeting flit~t needs for minerals
determines to be Cean infrequent nature and which involve only ins particular region Ce the state within which the minerals are
minor surface distuirbrnnccL located and which, if prematurely devdoped for alternate incom-
2715. No provision Cethis ~r orany ruling, rcqwr~ent, patible land uses, could reselt in the permanent loss of minerals
or ~ Ce the board isa limitation on any Ce the following: that are Ce mort than local -ificance.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA THE RESOURCES AGENCY DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
For a list of geologic maps and r~rt: available from the California DIvision of Mines and Geology. write to the California Division of Mines arid Geology.
P.O. Box . Sacramerito. CA p12. or visit our District offices in SACRAMENTO. 2815 ~ Street. (916) 44~718: SAN FRANCISCO. Room 2022. Ferry
Building. (415) 557~533: LOS ANGELES. Room 10115. 107 South Bro*dw~y. (213) ~
PAGE 221 Show Image
2727. "AIm of sia~cwide -jicauce" rnmm rn-rn ~ chiv~iu~~i, ~ bet not limited to, dimate, topogra-
by the board p-mat to-' 2790 which is kaoa to phy. I's, type of ov~biiiden, and principal uiiK~ corn
c(mtain a -ii of rnin~ the of which is~ moditi~ Mm~~ of the shall be selected and ~
to be of~ impwtne ID fl-g f~ medi ~ mauds ~ qmhficati and train
IDtheS'U~andwhich,ifpI-a-y~ydo-forahung~ iag ID maaa~ cmu~atim, i's. and
i~bic land mes, ` iwul' ID the p=~ km of uiiiimtion, laud me ~g, minuil eoc~ or the ala-
minuak that are of - than local or ~al ~ umlim of miand hnd~
2728. "1~d ~, means the city or , which hn the 2741. The m~b~ ofthe co-iiitt~shall receive no compen-
pr-mi r~t~lity for ~pmv~ a mrfhceml- opuation milo.' for their ~ but shall be entitled to their acual and
pui-nt to this~ or -jic racy a-- iwpmibliiiy ~sary ~paim in~ ID the ~ of their duties
for ap;u~g a mrhce ml- opuwim poimani to Section
2771.
2729. ju*i~j lands" iaci~ the ~ s~urh~ and Article ~ State Poicy
growid water ofan Mm ID which ~rhce -- opuatons will for tha Reclamation of Minad Lands
be, are ~ or have been id, including -yate ways
and Toads appwtmmt to any inch area, land eccavatwm~ yofk- 2755. The board shall a- -Ealations which ~tabliih slate
-? ml- wasI~~ and arm ID which atmciw~ ~ciiitim, -icyfbrthe r~mrntionofmiandlandsIDac~~wi the
eq--it, machina, tools, or oIh~ matrix or ;~~ty ~iUaI provisions set forth ID Article 1 (~: with Sec-
which IUuIt from, or are med in, s"dh~ ml- op~aons are tion 2710) of this ChapIer and pu~ to Q~ 4.5 (corn-
iocat~L m=lc~ with Section 11371)ofPart lofDivision3ofi~tle2
2730. "Mi- waste" indules the tendual of soil, rock, mm- of the Gov~nmmt Code.
i". li-i. vegel-lon, cqu-t, machi tools, or oth~ 2756. Slate -icy shall apply to the conduct of surface mining
ma~ or property directly ruing from, or ~ by, opaitus and shall includ~~ bet shall no' be limited to, nim~
sIirt~ce mining operation. . to be em~ by lead ~ ID specif~~ing grading,
2731. `i(-or" means my p~~on who ism~ ID surf~ct ~ iuO~ r~~~iatio'i, soil COIlI-jOn. and oilier
~ reclamation r~rn~is, and for soil erosion control, water
duct operations on his bchaif; except a pumon who is mg~ ID -ity and watershed comtrol, wastedis-, and flood control.
surface mining operations as an em~yee with wages as his aole 2757. The state -icy ado- by the board shall be based
common.
`ipon a study of the factors thai -ificantly affect the present
2732. "Ove~n" means soil, rock, or oilier mataes that and f~ite condition of mined lands, and shall be med as siand-
lie above a natural mineral -it or in between mineral ti~poi ards by lead ~ ID prep~ specific and general plans,
its, before or after their removal by surface mining OperItions. including the conservation and land use elements of the general
2732.5. "Permit" means any authorization from, or approval plan, and zoning ordinances. The state policy shall not include
by, a lead icy, the absence of which would preclude sudce of -ating sUIrf~ce mining operations which are solely
mining operations. of local concern. and no' of statewide or regional concern, as
2733. "Reclamation" means the combined process of land determined by the board, such as, but not limited to, hours of
treatment that minimizes water degradation, air -Ition, dam- operation, noise, dust, fencing, and purdy aesthetic ccnsidera-
age to aquatic or wildlife habitat, flooding, erosion, and oilier tions.
adverse effects from surface ml- opuitions, including ad- 2758. Such policy shall include objectives and criteria for all
verse surface effects incidental to u-round mines, so that of the following:
mined lands are reclaimed to a usable condition which is readily (a) Determining the lead agency pursuant to the provisions
-able for alternate land uses and create no danger to public of Section 2771.
health or safety. The process may extend to affected lands sur- ~) The orderly evaluation of reclamation plans.
rounding mined lands, and may Tequire backfiiiing, gilding, (c) Determining the circumstances, if any, under which the
resoiling, r~cge'ation, soil compaction, stabilization, or other approval of a proposed surface mining operation by a lend
meaeures. agency need not be conditioned on a guarantee assuring reclama-
2734. e.state policy" means the -ations ado- by the tion of the mined lands.
board pursuant to Section 2755. 2759. The state -icy shall be coutinuossly reviewed and may
2735. surface mining operitions" means all, or any Irart of; be revised. During the formulation or i~IsIon of such -icy' the
the prooss involved in the mining of mineals on mined lands board shall coosult with, and cu~fiilly evaluate the recommen-
by removing overburden and mining directly from the mineral dations of; the State Geologist, any district technical advisory
-its, open-pit mining of minerals naturally cx-, mining committees. concerned f~eral, slate, and local agencies, educa-
by the auger method, dI-Kig and quiar-g, or aurf~ce work tional institutions, civic and public interest organizations, and
incident to an fl-mu'nd niin~ Surface ml- operations
ahall include, but are not limited to: private orginizations and individuals.
2760. The board shall not adopt or revse the state policy
(a) lnplace distillation or retorting or leaching. unless a public hearing is first held r~pacting their adoption or
~) The production and disposal of mining waste. revision. At least 30 days prior to such hearing, the board shall
(c) Prw~ and -ofatory activities. give notice of the hearing by publication pursuant to Section
6061 of the Go~cmment Q~.
Article ~ District Committaas 2761. (a) On or before January 1, 1977, and, as a minimum,
after the complelion of each deo=inia~ census, the Office of
2740. In cmying ont the prpmyiSi0D5 ofthis ~, the board Planning and Research shall identif~r urban and urbanizing por-
may establish districts and appoint one ormore district technical tions of the following aaeas within the state which are uibanized
advisory committees to adviae the boards In establishing districts or are ~ to urban ex-Sion or other irreversible land uees
for these committees, the board shall take into account ph-al which would rude mineral extmctiou.
RES-C-4
PAGE 222 Show Image
2773. The - shall be a-able to a s-fic (c) On and after November 1,1981, in any jurisdiction in
Or pmpe~ or prn~n, and shall be besed the which the lead ~cy does no' have a certified ordinance, no
dimc~ Orthe surrom- area and such characi~isiic: Orthe pu~ shall ~ a uirf~ce mining apention Wilma reclama-
pr~ - type Or ~ i~i siabili, topa~y, ~o1- tion pain has been ui~mitted to, and approved by, the board.
ogy, chmt~, stream dimcicristi~, and ~ HiID~mi com- Any redmation PIan, approved by a lead agency under the
modiIi~ provisions Ora lead agency's ordinance which was not in accord-
2774. (a) Every lead agency shall a- ~nanes in accord- ance with state -icy at the time Or approval, shall be s-ct
ance with state -icy which establish prnc~om Iby the review to amaidinent by the board or under the provisions Or an ordi-
and appmYal Orreciarnation -S and the imi-ce Ora puu~t mace certified by the board as being in accordance with state
to comluct mining opuations. excepi that any lead -icy.
agency witbtht an active wrf~~Di- o-'o~ in itijurid- (d) ~iarnation plans approved bythe board pursuant to this
tion may dc(er adoado-ig an im~~ting ordinance until the section shall not be sub- to modification by the lead agency
tiling Ora ~i ~tion. Such reclamation and permit~~aii- at a fliture date but may be ameaded by the board. Nothing in
nances shall establish pmceduiu r~qiii- at iernil One public this section shall be constn5ed as authorIzing the board to issue
hearing and periodic ins-ions of ~ce Di- atom, a permit for the conduct of U- op~~ons
and may include PrOylSIODS for liens, surety bonds, or other 2775. (a) An applicant whose request for a permit to conduct
iecurity to gualintee reclamation in ~ with the recla- surface mining orrrations in an area Or statewi& or regional
niation -. Such ordinances shall be perloically reviewed by -ificance has been denied by a lead agency, or any Person who
the lead ag~ and revised, as necemry, in order to ensure that is a-ed by the granting of a permit to conduct surface
the ordinances continue to be in accordance with slate -icy. mining operations in an area Or statewide or -onal signifi-
~) IAad agencies shall notif~~ the State Ge-st Orthe filing cance, may, within 15 days Or exhausting his rights to appeal in
of an application for a -nit to conduct surface mining opera- accordance with the Pro-ures Or the lead agency, appeal to the
tions. board.
(c) On request Or a lead ~, the State Geol~ shall (1,)The board may, by -ation, establish procedures for
fiirmsh technical assistance to assist in the review Orreclamation declining to hear appeals that it determines raise no substantial
-. issues.
2774.3 (a) The board shall, in accordce with a time sched- (c) Appeals that the board does not decline to hear shall be
ule, review lead agency ordinances which establish peenit and scheduled and heard at a public hearing held within thejurisdic-
reclamation procedures to determine whether each such ordi- tion Or the lead agency which processed the original application
nance is in accordance with state policy, and shall certify the within 30 days Or the filing Or the ~ or such longer period
ordinance as being in accordance with state policy if it ~ as may be mutually agr- upon by the board and the person
ly meets, or imposes requirements more stringent than, the Call- filing the appeal. In any such action, the board shall not exercise
foinia surface mining and reclamation policies and procedures its independent judgment on the evidence but shall only deter-
established by the board pumuant to this chapter. The board mine whether the decision Or the lead agency is supported by
shall complete on or before January 1, 1982, a review of all such substantial evidence in the light of the whole record. If the board
ordinances adopted prior to November 1,1981. detines the decision Orthe lead agency is not supported by
(b) T~d agencies shall submit ordinances adopted on or after substantial evidence in the light Or the whole record it shall
November 1, 1981, which establish permit and reclamation remand the appeal to the lead agency and the lead agency shall
procedures to the board for such detination and certification, schedule a public hearing to reconsider its action.
and no such ordinance shall take effect until the board has 2776. No person who has obtained a vested right to conduct
certified that the ordiaance is in accordance with state policy. surface mining operations prior to January 1, 1976, shall be
Such review for certification shall be completed by the board required to secure a permit pursuant to the provisions of this
within 60 days Or the date Or submittal to the board. chapter as long as such vested right continues; provided, howev-
2774.5 (a) If, upon review of an ordinance, the board finds er, that no substantial changes may be made in any such opera-
that it is not in accordance with state policy, the board shall tion except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. A
communicate the ordinance's deficiencies in writing to the lead person shall be deemed to have such vested rights if, prior to
agency. Upon receipt Orsuch a written communication, the lead January 1, 1976, he has, in good faith and in reliance upon a
agency Shall have 90 days to submit a revised ordinance to the permit or other authorization, if such permit or other authoriza-
board for certification as being in accordance with state policy. tion was required, diligently commenced surface mining opera-
The board shall review the lead agency's revised ordinance for tions and incurred substantial liabilities for work and materials
certification within 60 days Orits receipt. If the lead agency does necessary therefor. ~penses incurred in obtaining the enact-
no' submit a revised ordinance within 90 days, the board shall ment of an ordnance in relation to a particular opermion or the
assume f~lli authority for reviewing and approving reclamation issuance of a permit shall not be deemed liabilities for work or
plans submitted to the lead agency until such time as the lead materials.
agency's ordinances are revised in accordance with state policy. A person who has obtained a vested right to conduct surface
(b) If; upon review Or a lead agency's revised ordinance, the mining operations prior to January 1,1976, shall submit to the
boardfindstheordinanceisstillnotinaccordancewith state lead agency and receive, within a raisonable period of time,
policy, the board shall again communicate the ordinance's defi- approval of a reclamation plan for operations to be conducted
ciencies in writing to the lead agency. The lead agency shall have after January 1,1976, unless a reclamation plan was approved
a aecond 9(kiay peood in which to reve the ordinance and by the lead agency prior to January 1, 1976 and the person
submit it to the board for review. If the board again finds that submitting the plan has acc'.pted responsibility for reclaiming
the revised ordinary is not in accordance with state policy or the mined lands in accordarce with the reclamation plan.
if no revision is submitted, the board shall assume f~ authority Nothing in this chapter stall be construed as requiring the
for reviewing and approving reclamation plans submitted to the filing Or a reclamation -1 for, or the reclamation of, mined
lead agency until such time asthe lead agency's ordinances are lands on which surface mining operations were conducted prior
revised in accordance with state -icy. to January 1, 1976.
RES--C--5
PAGE 223 Show Image
(1) Standard mciIupdiim ~-~` armmdmcho£h~ ~771.Whm~v~a pio~ 5111~Cc~O-ofl is within
areas far which info is I- UYaiI~k ~
(2) Oih~ arm as my be rcq*uiod by the hmrd. within the and is not acted by a natural or man-
(6) ID accordance with a tim uchech, and based ~ mdc burl ~ with the bomiary of the ~ the
-khfl~ ado- by the bead, the Slate 0-.' ~dl ~ evaimti~ ofthe proposed O-ofl `hall be made by the lead
sift, on the basis soldy of~ hcioi~~ and wnh~i' ~ *gmcy in with the prncodates ado- by the lead
to ezisIi~g land use and land own~, the arm id~tzed by ~ncy t to Socliwi 2774. IR the c~~t that a di.-
the Office of P~ and Reaearch, my area far which cia~fi~ as to which is the lead agency, my public ~gmcy which
cation has been rc~ed by a pctition which has been acoc- isa party to the-te my ~t the matter to the boud; and
by the board, army aIh~ arm asmy be~ed by thee the board shall ~e the pubic agency which shall aerve as
as me of the fbliowing: the lead i, giving due coOoeooton to the -iii~ty of
(1) Areas oont~ little ar no mineral ~ such ~gmcy to rely the icquirrnrnts of this cha;~er
(2) Areas containing scant mineral dc-IL andtoanciamImtimofwhiofthepubiica~~hasprincj
(3) Aseas containing mineral dqwt the si-moe of - permit reapomaibility.
which ~ f~h~ evaluation. 2771 The ` - UhIn be filed with the lead agency
(c) As it is corn-led by county, the Slate 0-si dial' ma form provided by the lead agency, by my persm who owns,
transmit such information tothebmrdfarincorporntion into the Imp, ar ollicise controls ar opua~ on all, or my portion
state -ICY and far transmittal to lead agencies. of my, mined lands, and who ~ to conduct surfice mining
2762. (a) Within 12 months of receiving the mineral informa- 0-ions thereon.
tion d~cn~bed in Section 2761, and also within 12 months Orthe The iccirnation -1 shall include the foaiowi~g informati
ci-tion ofan area of statetude ar rcgio- si-icance with- and documents:
in its jurisdiction, every lead ag~i~ shall, in accordance with (a) The name and address ofthe operator and the names and
state policy, est~ mineral ~urce management policies to addr~m of my persons (-ted by him as his agents far the
be incorporated in its goal - which will: -. of proceaL
(1) Recognize mineral information classified by the State ~) The anticipated quantity and type of minerals for which
Geologisi and transmitted bythe board. the sairfice mining 0-lOR is to be aonduct~L
(2) Arnist in the management of land use which affect (c) The proposed dates far the InItiation and termination of
arm of statewide and r-ai -icance. such ~
(3) EHiphasize the conseroation and developwmt ofidesi- (d) The maaimum anti-cd de- of the surface mining
tified mineal depsits: -
(6)Every lead agaicy shall submit proposed mineral rcsource (e) The line and - d~ of the lands that will be
manag=nent policies to the board far revew and cotment -or affected by such 0-oil. a map that includes the boeedaries
to adoption. and topographic details of such lands, a descd-tion of the gen-
(c) Any subsequent ame~t of the mineral ~urce mm- eral geology of the area, a detailed d~cription of the geology of
agement policy previously reviewed by the board shall also £~ the area in which surface mining is to be conducted, the location
quire review and ~ineent by the boar of all streams, roads, railroads, and utility f~cillties within, or
(d) Prior to permitting a use which would threaten the polen- adjacent to, such lands, the loction ofall proposed access roads
tial to extract minerals inan area classified by the State Geologist to be constructed in conducting such ~ and the names
as an area described in paragraph (3) of subdivision ~ Of and a"dreses of the owners of all surface and mineral interests
Section 2761, the lead agency my cause to be prcparcd an of such landL
evaluation of the area in order to ascertain the significance of the (f) A desicr-n of and plan far the tppe of surface mining
mineral depsit located ther~~ The results of such evaluaton to be employed and a time schedule that will provide for the
shall be transmitted to the State G-si and the boards complex of surface mining on each Segment of the mined
2763. (a) I£ad agency land use decisions involving arm lands so that reclamation can be initiated at the earliest possible
designated as being of regional sipificance shall be in accord- time on those portions ofthe mined lands that will not be subject
ancewith the lead agency's mineral rcsoccce management poli- to filithcr disturbance by the surface mining 0-ion.
cies and shall also, in balmcing mineral values a-I ~) A description ofthe proposed use or ~tiai uses of the
alternative land uses, consider the importance of these mins land after reclamaton and evidence that all owners ofa ~SSeSs(~
to their market region as a whole and not - their impotance ry interest in the land have been notified of the proposed use or
to the lead agency's area of jurisdiction. potential WCL
(6)IAad agency land use decisions invdving arm designated (h) A description of the manner in which reclamation, ade-
as being of statewide si-icance shall be in accordance with the quiate far the proposed use or potential uses will be accom-
lead agency's mineral rcsource management policies and `hall -lied, including:
also, in balancing mineral values against alternative land uses, (1) a description of the manner in which oontaminants
consider the imporlance ofthe minral ruo~ to the state and will be controlled, and mining waste will be dispo~; and
nation as a whole
(2) a deacription ofthe manner in which idiabilitation of
affected streambed channels and streambanks to a condi-
Artid* L Reclamation Plan. and tion minimizing eroson and s~Iimentation will oocur.
the Conduct of Surface Mining Operation. (i) An messsent of the etfect of impimentation ofthe recla-
mation - on flitre mining in the a'
2770. Except as a-fled in Section 2774.5 and 2776, no ner- (`)A t that the pe~ submitting the - acoccts
awi shall conduct surf~ mining 0-ions unim a -t is iuponsibihty far reclaining the mined lands in accordance with
obtained froaL, and a *` - has been submitted to, the rodamilon -.
and approved by, the lead agwcy ~ such 0-ion purmant ~) Any other information which the lead agency may -Ft
tothisarticle. by ordinance.
RES~C-6
PAGE 224 Show Image
2777. Am~mmIs to - ~ ` - ~ be ~ Ndih~ the i..~ ofm aiu of -ma' or ~
~ ~ ~d chau~ frm the -alp'-. ~ of-i ` for such an
flu.' dev~ti~ frm the-al -a be ~- mu ahaB ID my way limit or rnodii~ the rig~t£ of my Immi
to ` my d~Yc-mI that has been auhori puusmt
t~ mill ad' a~d~t hm b~ tiled with. mid ~ ~ (crnrnmcingwISec~ 11~~) ofDivirn~4ofthe
by,the lead a~cy.
Z77& r~ - ~, apphcat~s, and ~ D~rnrnandP~rnimiCod~puiuanttotheSubdivisimMap
docm~is ~Iiucd pm~ to the ~ ale ~IiC Ac' (1)ivm~~ 2 [cmrn~ing with S~ti(rn 664l0J of ritle 7 of
m~, mi-i' m be dmmiraied to the ~ ofthe theGovunu~t Code), orby abuIidiugper~ oroIh~authori-
lead ~ thai the ~aae ofad' IEft~im, or part ~ ~ toc-IDenoe `~t, upo.' which such per3~ rdi~
wonid i~mI pmd~tirn, ~ or rate of ~irni entiIi~ mid has dl- his ~ti~i to his ~stmti ~rine~t, and,
to --. as ~-iary infoimati~~ The lead agency shall which ~ or azith~izati~i was iaseed - to the
iimtif~ ad' ~ inft~mtim as a 1 part of the ti~ of soch area purlmnt to S~il~ 2790. ifa developer has by
-atIWL P~ inf~mati~ tall be made available his actiww takm in reliance upon ~ -atious oblained
- to the State G~ and to pu-s auIII~ in wr~ vied or oIh~ - rig~its that in law would have pi~vented a
by the odor and by the ~ local -Ic a~cy fr~ char slid' r~ions in a way
A copy of all i~amti~i -5. r~s, -catiolis. and ady~ to his inter nothing in this ChapIer authori my
o~ documents subitted pursuant to this ~ shall be ~w~nmental agengy to a~ thwe right
f~irni~hcd to the State 0-st by lead a~cm. On ft~ 2793. The board my, by ~tion adopted after a -IC
2779. Whenever one op~3tor --ji to the int~I of an hearing, terminate, putially or wholly, the -Dation of my
adler ID my incomI)IeI~ sure mInIng 0-jation by sale, as- area of statewide or ft-mi ~cance on a finding that the
upni~t, transfer, conveyance, eichmg~, Or other means, the di~ invoiv~it of the board is Do IOII~ reqiiirc~
su~uor shall be bound by the;~o~isiwis of the approved i~
matlon -a and the proYlmons of this c-er.
Avtici~ ~ Arms of Stat.wide Artici~ 1. ~ Pfovisions
or Regional significance
2795. (a) Notwithstanding my other provision of law, the
2790. After r- of mineral IDf~ti from the State first one million one hundred thousand dollars ($1,100,000) of
0-st pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 2761, the board moneys from mining activities on federal `aDds disbursed by the
my by ~tion ado- after a ~Iic bearing date ~ United States each fiscal year to this slate pursuant to Section
cific geo~ araas of the state as aaeas of statewide or i~ 35 of the Mineral IAnds ~ming Act, as amended (30 U.S£.
-ml ~cance and specif~~ the boundaries thereof Such Sec. j91),sballbedepo~itedintheSurfaceMIningmdReclama-
~tion shall be included as a part of the state policy and tion Account in the General Fund, which account is hereby
shall indicate the reason for which the particular area designated created, and my be expended, upon appropriation by the i~~
is of -ificanoe to the state or region, the adverse effects that lature, for the purposes of this chapter.
inight result from pmmature development of incompatible land (b) Prepsed expenditures from the account shall be included
~ the advantages that K-it be achieved from etttraction of ID a separate item ID the Budget Bill for each fiscal year for
the minerals of the area, and the -iC goals and policies to consideration by the IA-lure. Each appropriation from the
protect -ist the pr~iature incompatible develop~t of the account shall be subject to all of the limitations contained in the
Budggt Act and to all other tiscal procedures prescribed by law
2791. The board shall seck the i~commendations of concerned with respect to the expenditure of state funds. On June 30 of each
fcd~ state, and local agencies, educational institutions, civic year my portion of the one million one hundred thousand dcl-
and public interest organiZations, and private orga-tions and lars ($1,100,000) specified in subdivisi~~on (a) for that fiscal year
individuals in the identification ofaraasofstatewide and ft-m which is not appropriated by the IA-ture shall be transferred
-iifiCaIICC to~propriated surplus of the General Fund.
State Statutes
Ch 9. Div 2. P.R.C.
Rev i2/8OJTA
RES-C~7
PAGE 225 Show Image
2. CLASSIFICATION AND DESIGNATION GUIDELINES
FOR )(INERAL RESOURCES
RES-C-8
PAGE 226 Show Image
l97~ SURFACE MINING AND iL~LAMAI~UN ~uLIcw~
PART II
GUIDELINES
FOR
CLASSIFICATION AND DESIGNATION
OF MINERAL LANDS
PREFACE
The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975, enacted as Chapter 9, Division 2 of the Public
Resources Code, requires the State Mining and Geology Board to adopt state policies relative to mineral
resource production and conservation.
Pursuant to this requirement the Board adopted the Guidelines for Classification and Designation of
Mineral LAnds following a June 30, 1978 public hearing held in Sacramento, California.
RES-C-9
PAGE 227 Show Image
1979 SURFACE MINING AND RECLAMAIlON POUCIES 23
CHAPTER 8. MINING AND GEOLOGY
SUBCHAPTER 1. State Mining and Geology Board
Article II. GUIDELINES FOR CLASSIFICATION
AND DESIGNATION OF MINERAL LANDS
INTRODUCTfO~The purpose of these guidelines is to nition by the Board, after consultation with lead agencies and
implement the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 by other interested parties, of areas containing mineral deposits of
providing direction to the State Geologist in carrying out mm- regional or statewide significance that should be protected from
eral resource classification of lands in califoriiia that are threat- land uses incompatible with mineral extraction. The objective of
ened by uses which would be incompatible with or would the classification and designation processes is to insure, through
preclude mining. In addition, these guidelines establish proce- appropriate lead agency policies and procedures, that mineral
dures by which the State Mining and Geology Board may desig- deposits of statewide or of regional significance are available
nate mineral-bearing areas of statewide or of regional when needed.
significance.
Classificadon is the process of identification of lands contain- It is the Board's intention to review the guidelines from time
mg significant mineral deposits. Design adon is the formal recog- to time and to revise them as necessry.
SECTION I. GUIDELINES FOR CLASSIFICATION
OF MINERAL LANDS
1. Classification Criteria
(a) In accordance with these guidelines and a schedule commodities. Unique or rare occurrences of rocks, minerals
adopted by the Board, the State Geologist shall classify areas or fossils that are of outstanding scientific significance are
of the State threatened by land uses incompatible with, or that not required to meet marketability criteria.
would preclude, mining. Such areas will be classified into
Mineral Resource Zones (MRZ) and Scientific Resource (i) Non-strategic mineral commodities are those which
Zones (SZ), as defined in this section, and shall be based on are available domestically and of which the United States
geologic and economic factors without regard to existing land imports less than 65 percent of its needs as reported
use and land ownership. The areas to be studied and their annually by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. posits of mm-
order of study shall be specified by the Board in consultation eral commodities in this category must be minable, proc-
with the State Geologist. essable, and marketable under the technologic and
economic conditions that exist at present or which can be
(b) To be considered significant for the purpose of the clas- estimated to exist in the foreseeable future. The amount
sification of mineral lands, a mineral deposit, or a group of of mineral resources needed for periods of the foreseeable
deposits that can be mined as a unit must meet the following future (50 years) shall be projected using past consump
criteria of marketability and threshold value. In these guide- tion figures, with appropriate adjustments based upon
lines the term mineral deposits denotes natural occurrences of anticipated changes in market conditions and mining
rock or mineral materials in or on the earth's cnlst that are technology.
known to be economically minable and such rock or mineral
materials that are not minable at present but which may come (ii) Strategic mineral commodities are those that are in
into such demand as to become economically minable in the short domestic supply and important for national defense
foreseeable future. The term mineral i~ources is used herein or the well-being of the domestic economy. For the pur-
as a collective term for all mineral deposits of a particular poses of these guidelines they are those mineral corn-
kind, or for mineral deposits in general. The size of mineral modities of which the United States imports more than
deposits for the purpose of evaluating marketability and 65 percent of its needs, as reported annually by the U.S.
threshold value shall include the amounts of naturally occur- Bureau of Mines, that arejudged to be minable, processa-
ring rock or mineral material, of known or potentinl economic ble, and marketable in the foreseeable future if non-dr
interest, that can be measured, indicated, or inferred by using mestic sources of supply are cut off.
available geologic and geophysical evidence in commonly ac-
cepted fashion. The terms measured, indicated, and inferred (lii) Fo,~~nbie future, as used in this paragraph and
are to be used as defined by the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the elsewhere in the guidelines is a time span of appro imate-
U.S. Geological Survey in U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin ly 50 years. Because some of the conditions affecting
l45~A. extraction and marketability cannot be accurately pr~
jected 50 years into the future, conservative estimates
(1) M*i*etab~it~In determining marketability, mineral shall be made in assessing whether a particular mineral
deposits shall be divided into two categories, those contain- resource can be mined, processed and marketed within
ing non-strategic and those containing strategic mineral the next 50 years.
RES-C-1O
PAGE 228 Show Image
24 CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOWOY SP-51
(2) mreshold value is the projected value (groasseiling Niobium, tantallium
price) of the first marketable product from an individual Optical grade calcite
mineral deposit or from a group of deposits that can be
operated as a unit, upon completion of extraction and any (jili) Non-fluid mifleral flids (minimum value $1,000,-
required mineral separation and processing. For those Ooo)----Non-hydrothermal mineral fuels occurring in
deposits which meet the marketability criteria, only those sedimentary rocks. Examples include:
estimated to exceed the following threshold values in 1978 Coal
equivalent dollars shall be considered significant These Lignite
threshold values are intended to indicate in a general way Peat
the approximate minimum size of a mineral deposit that Organic shale
will be considered significant for classification and designa- Tar sand
tion. They are not intended, nor in practice could they be, Uranium and thorium (syngenetic deposits in shale)
for use as precise cut off values. For some deposits in some
areas larger or smaller value than those specified would be (mu ) Unique or izz~ occ~nces of rocks, ann emis, or
required for a marketable deposit. If for technological or fossils that are of outstanding scientific significance (no
other reasons one or more parts of a mineral -it cannot threshold value).
meet the marketability criteria, those parts shall not be
considered in estimating whether the deposit seeds the 2. Mineral Resource Zones (MRZ) and
threshold value. Scientific Resource Zones (SZ)
(I) Construction materials (minimum value $5,- The following MRZ and SZ categories shall be used by the
000,000)-Mineral materials capable of being used in State Geologist in classifying the State's lands. The geologic and
construction, such as sand and gravel or crushed rock, economic data and the arguments upon which each unit MRZ
which normally receive minima' processing, comonly or SZ assignment is based shall be presented in the land classifi-
washing and grading, and for which the ratio oftranspor- cation information transmitted by the State Geologist to the
tation costs to value of the processcd material at the mine Boards
is high.
(a) MRZ-1 Areas where adequate information indicates that
(ii) Industzi*I and chemi~~I minemi materirnk (mini- no significant mineral deposits are present, or where it is
mum value $l,000,000)-Non-metallic mineral materi- judged that there is little likelihood exists fbr their present
als that normally receive extensive processing, such as This zone shall be applied where well developed lines of rea-
heat or chemical treatment or fine sizing, and for which soning, based upon economic geologic principles and adequate
the ratio of transportation costs to value of the material data, demonstrate that the likelihood for occurrence ofsignifi-
at the mine is moderate or low. Examples of this category cant mineral deposits is nil or slight.
include:
Limestone, dolomite, and marble except where used as (b) MRZ-2 Areas where adequate information indicates that
construction aggregate significant mineral deposits are present or where it is judged
Specialty sands that there is a high likelihood for their presence exists~ This
Clays zone shall be applied to known mineral deposits or where well
Diatomite developed lines of reasoning, based upon economic geologic
Phosphate principles and adequate data, demonstrate that the likelihood
Coal, Lignite, or peat mined primarily as a raw materi- for occurrence of significant mineral deposits is high.
al for chemicals such as montan wax
Salines and evaporate such as borates and gypsum (c) MRZ-3 Areas containing mineral deposits the signifi-
Feldspar cance of which cannot be evaluated from available da~
Talc
Building and dimension stone (d) MRZ4 Areas where available information is iaadequate
Asbestos for assignment to any other MRZ zone.
Rock varieties producible into granules, rock flour
mineral wool, expanded shale, pouolass and other' (e) SzAreas containing unique or rare occurrences of rocks,
similar commodities minerals or fossils that are of outstanding scientific signifi-
cance shall be classified in this zone.
(iii) Metallic and iir~ minerals (minimum value $500
000)-Metallic elements and mineras, gemstones, an'd 3. Documentation and Ti~nsmittal of Mineral
minerals that possess special properties valuable to Lands Classification Data
science or industry. The ratio of transportation costs to
the value of the material at the mine for this category is (a) Areas assigned by the State Geologist to mineral r
low. Examples include ores, deposits or crystals of: source zones shall be delineated on suitable maps of a scale
Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum) adequate for use on lead agency general plan ma~ These
Iron and other ferro alloy metals (iron, tungsten, chro- maps shall also show the boundaries of each permitting au-
mium, manganese) thority in the report ar~
Base metals (copper, lead, zinc)
Mercury (b) A map at a convenience scale and a summary report
Uranium and thorium except syngenetic deposits in showing the mineral lands classification for an entire county
shale or, at the direction of the Board, major subdivisions of a
Rare earths county, or a major mineral district that includes portions of
Minor metals including rubidium and cesium two or more counties, shall be prep'- after classification is
Gemstones and semi-precious materials complete. Each map and report shall be submitted to the
RES-C-1 I
PAGE 229 Show Image
1979 SURFACE MINING AND RECLAMATION POLICIES 25
Board which, after review and approval, shall transmit it to (3) A description of the significant mineral deposits
the appropriate lead agencies and make it available to other claimed to occur within the area described9 including suffi-
interested parties. cient geologic and economic data to support the claim that
the mineral deposits are significant as defined in these
(c) Mineral land classification reports of regions containing gnidelines.
Construction Materials classified MRZ-2 shall include the
following additional information for each such mineral com- (4) The imminency of the threatened change, if any, in the
modity: use of land containing the claimed significant mineral
(1) The location and an estimate of the total quantity of depsits to a use which would prevent their mining. The
each such construction material that is geologically avail- petitioner should be prepared to supply full documentation
able for mining in the report region. The limits of the region if requested.
shall be considered to be the consumption areas for each
potentially producible construction mineral commodity un- (5) The name and mailing address of each recorded land
der consideration. owner and each recorded lessee in and adjoining the area
described.
(2) An estimate of the total quantity of each such con-
struction material that will be needed to supply the require- (b) The State Geologist shall make an evaluation of the data
ments of both the county and the marketing region in which submitted in the petition as to its accuracy and sufficiency and
it occurs for the next 50 years. The marketing region is determine if the area can be classified on the basis of both
defined as the area within which such material is usually submitted and other readily available information. A recom-
mined and marketed. The amount of each construction mendation shall be then submitted to the Board concerning:
material mineral resource needed for the next 50 years shall
be projected using past consumption rates adjusted for an- (I) The urgency of the requested classification.
ticipated changes in market conditions and mining technol-
ogy. These estimates shall be periodically reviewed as (2) The sufficiency of the submitted and other readily
provided in Section 1, Subsection 7. available data as a basis for classification, and the scope of
any additional investigation required.
4. Classification PrioritYes (3) An estimation of the time required to classify the area.
Potential mineral lands that are most likely to be converted to (c) Following the State Geologist's report, the Board shall
uses that are incompatible with mining or which would preclude determine the prioroity for classification of the land described
mining shall be classified first. Where the risk of conversion to in the petition in relation to other areas in the State's mineral
incompatible land uses is equal, those areas with mineral depos- lands classification program. Classification of the area will
its of greatest statewide or regional significance shall be classified
first. The potential for loss may be through the process ofurbani- then proceed according to its assigned priority.
zation or through other irreversible uses of the mineral lands or
of adjoining lands, with which mineral extraction would be in- 6. Lead Agency Responsibilities
compatible.
(a) Within 12 months of receiving the mineral lands classifi-
5. Petitions for Mineral Lands Classification cation map and report, every lead agency shall, in accordance
with state policy, develop and adopt mineral resource man-
(a) Petitions may be brought before the Board by any indi- agement policies to be incorporated in its general plan which
vidual or organization to classify mineral lands that are will:
claimed to contain significant mineral deposits and which are
claimed to be threatened by land uses incompatible with (1) Recognize the mineral classification information, in-
mining. Classification is a prerequisite to designation of re- cluding the classification maps, transmitted to it by the
gional or statewide significance. Once an area is classified as Board and include the classification maps in its general
MRZ-2, or SZ, a petition may be submitted for designation plan.
consideration under Section II, Subsection 4. If a petitioner
can supply sufficiemt geologic and economic data to support (2) Emphasize the conservation and development of iden-
an MRZ-2 or SZ classification by the State Geologist, he may tified significant mineral deposits.
also petition the Board to consider designation. It is expected
that such a joint petition will include detailed information, (b) Every lead agency shall submit its proposed mineral re-
and supportive data on the amounts and value of mineral soucce management policies to the Board for review and com-
deposits claimed to be MRZ-2 or SZ and other information ment prior to adoption.
required under Section II, Subsection 4, Petitions for Desig-
nation. The threat to a mineral deposit may be due to incom- (c) Any subsequent amendment of the mineral resource
patible uses of adjoining lands that would preclude mining, management policies previously reviewed by the Board shall
as well as to mineral lands themselves. Petitions submitted to also require review and comment by the Board.
the Board shall include the following information.
(d) Prior to permitting a use which would threaten the poten-
(1) The petitioner's name, mailing address, and interest tial to extract minerals classified by the State Geologist as
(beneficial, jurisdictional, or other) in the area to be consid- MRZ-3, the lend agency may cause to be prepared an evalua-
ered for classification. tion of the area in order to ascertain the statewide or regional
significance of the mineral deposits known or inferred to be
(2) A map (USGS 7'A' quadrangle or other appropriate located therein. The results of such an evuation shall be trans-
map) showing the boundaries of the area the petitioner mitted to the State Geologist and to the Board for review and
wishes to be classified. comment.
RES-C- 12
PAGE 230 Show Image
26 CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY SP-51
7. Periodic Review of Classified Lands should be revised. The State Geologist shall report their
suits of such reviews to the Board together with his recom-
mendations.
(a) After a period not to exceed lOyears following trausnut-
tal of mineral land classification information to lead agencies, (b) The Board may direct the State Geologist to reexamine
the State Geologist shall review the information to determine mineral lands already classified on the basis of his recommen-
whether: dation, or for other reasons. Any resulting reclassification
shall be treated in the same manner as the original classifica-
(1) A reclassification of the area is necessary. tion, and employ the same marketability and threshold ccri~
riL The approximate span of time indicated above as being
(2) The projected requirements for Construction Materials "the foreseeable future" for purposes of estimating markets-
(Subsection 3c of Section I of these guidelines) for 50 years bility shall begin anew at time of reclassification.
SECTION II. PROCEDURES FOR DESIGNATION OF LANDS CONTAINING
SIGNIFICANT MINERAL DEPOSITS
1. Designation Criteria statewide or of regional significance. Such review and com-
ment should address:
Areas to be considered for designation by the Board will con-
tam one or more mineral deposits of statewide or regional signifi- (I) The adequacy of the mineral land classification data
cance. Ordinarily, classification of an area as MRZ-2 by the State transmitted by the State Geologist and of any additional
Geologist will constitute adequate evidence that an area contains data transmitted by the Board, which together will coosti
significant mineral deposits, but other data shall be considered tute the principal basis for designation.
by the Board in determining the significance of specific mineral (2) Additional data~hearing on the presence and markets-
deposits and the desirability of designation. bility of mineral deposits proposed to be of statewide or of
2. Designation Procedures regional significance in the area under consideration.
(3) The need, amount and location of mineral deposits of
(a) Upon receipt from the State Geologist of a mineral lands regional significance, namely Constniction Materials as de-
classification map and report delineating one or more areas fined in Section 1, Subsection lb of these gnidelines, that
classified as MRZ-2 or SZ, the Board shall: should be designated to provide for the needs of the region
(I) Review the map and report to determine the suffi- for 50 years.
ciency of the submitted data as a basis for designation, and (4) The need for the proposed designation of each mineral
request such additional information as may be required for deposit of statewide significance, namely, Ind£wtiial and
the State Geologist or other sources. Chemical Mineral Materials, Metaflic and Ra,~ M~neri1s,
Non-fluid Mineral Fuels, and Rocks, Minerals and Fo~,is
(2) Determine the need for, and the priority of, designating ofOutstanding Scientific Significance, as defined in Section
the MRZ-2 and SZ areas, taking into consideration the 1, Subsection lb of these guidelines. Ordinarily, such depos-
importance of the mineral deposits to the State or region its are uncommon or rare, and economically significant
thereof and the imminency of any threatened land use occurrences warrant designation. However1 some types,
changes that would be incompatible with mineral extrac- such as low grade limestone, low grade clays and other rock
tion. varieties that may be processed into valuable mineral
products are often present in such large quantities that
(3) Notify the appropriate lead agencies of the decision to designation would be warranted only where special circum-
consider designation of one or more mineral resource areas stanoes exist. Such circumstances might include proximity
within their jurisdiction. of a mineral deposit to markets, transportation, energy
sources, or to other raw materials with which they could be
(4) Set a date and place for a public hearing to consider the combined to produce more valuable products.
areas which the Board proposes to designate as containing
mineral deposits of statewide or regional significance. If (5) The existing uses of the areas proposed for designation
practicable, the public hearing shall be held in or near the and the future uses of these areas adopted by local agencies.
county in which the area proposed for designation occurs.
(6) Values relating to recreation, watershed, wildlife,
(5) Notify all affected agencies and parties having an inter- range and forage, and aesthetic enjoyment.
est in the lands considered for designation.
(c) Following the public hearing, the Board may designate to
(b) At the public hearing to consider proposed designations, be of statewide or regional significance, and include in state
the Board shall seek the recommendations of concerned fed- policy, all or part of the areas classified as MRZ-2 or SZ. The
eral, state and local agencies, educational institutions, civic designation shall specify the following:
and public interest orguii~tions, and private organizations
and individuals in the identification of mineral deposits of (1) The boundaries of the designated area.
RES-C-13
PAGE 231 Show Image
1979 SURFACE MINING AND RECLAMA11ON~POLICIES 27
(2) The mineral deposits of statewide or of regional signifi- ~) Petitions for a designation hearing may also be brought
cance contained in each designated area and an estiniate of before the Board by any other party provided that the Board
the amount of each mineral commodity that is available for has received and approved land classification information
Knining under present or foreseeable technologic9 economic that indicates that the area in question is classified MRZ-2 or
and land use oonditions, for MRZ~2 areas, or a description SZ and that the Board has not yet considered designation.
of the materuials of scientific value in the SZ arcs Petitions submitted to the Board shall include the following
information.
(3) The reason that each designated area is of significance
to the State or region, the advantages to the State or region (1) The petitioner's name, mailing address and interest
that might be achieved from the extraction of the minerals (beneficial, jurisdictional, or other) in the area to be consid-
of the area, and the adverse effects that might result from ered for designation.
premature development to land uses which would preclude
mining. (2) A map (USGS 7'A' quadrangle or other appropriate
map) showing the boundaries of the MRZ-2 or SZ area the
(4) The time limit, if any, for the designation. petitioner wishes to be designated.
(5) The specific goals and policies to protect the areas (3) The reasons for requesting designation.
containing mineral deposits designated to be of statewide or
regional significance from premature development to uses (4) The name and mailing address of each recorded land
which would preclude mining, or to uses with which mining owner and each recorded lessee in and adjoining the area
would be incompatible. described. The Board shall then evaluate the data submitted
in the petition as to its accuracy and sufficiency. If the
(6) ~ agencies having jurisdiction over the area. Board finds that the petition contains sufficient information
and arguments to require a public hearing, then the Board
3. Lead Agency Designation Responsibilities shall schedule such a hearing and proceed as outlined in this
section.
(a) Upon designating an area containing significant mineral 5. Tefl27ination of Designation Status
deposits the Board will transmit a report of its action to the
affected lead agencies. The report will include a map of the (a) The status of mineral lands previously designated to be
designated areas at a scale suitable for general plan purposes. of statewide or regional significance may be terminated, ci-
ther partially or wholly, by the Board on a finding that the
(b) Every lead agency within 12 months of the designation protection afforded by designation is no longer necessary. In
of an area of statewide or regional significance within itajuris- making this finding the Board shall consult with affected lead
diction, shall: agencies as to the desirability of terminating designation.
Such a finding may result from, but not be limited to, the
(1) Recognize and include in its general plan the designat- following reasons:
ed areas of statewide and regional significance transmitted
to it by the Board.
(I) Depletion of the mineral deposit or deposits within the
(2) Develop and adopt policies for the management of land designated area.
use of areas classified MRZ-2 or SZ and designated by the
Board as areas of statewide and regional significance to (2) The mineral deposit or deposits within the designated
protect those areas from premature development incompat- area are shown to be in excess of quantities required for
ible with mining. present or foreseeable future statewide or regional needs.
(3) Emphasize the conservation and development of min- (3) Ending of the time limit, if any, for the designation to
eral deposits designated by the Board to be of statewide or be in force.
regional significance.
(b) Prior to making such a finding, the Board shall hold a
(c) Prior to the adoption of mineral resource management public hearing. If practicable it shall be held in or near the
policies, lead agencies shall submit them to the Board for county in which the designated areas occur.
review and comment. The Board shall make its comment
within 60 days of receipt of the proposed policies. Any subse- (c) Petitions may be brought before the Board to terminate
amendment to these resource management policies shall the designated status of mineral lands. Petitions submitted to
quent the Board shall include the following information:
also require Board review and comment.
(d) The Board shall continuously monitor local government (1) The petitioner's name, mailing address and interest
implementation of its mineral resource management policies (beneficial, jurisdictional or other) in the petitioned area.
for designated areas.
(2) A map (USGS 7'A' quadrangle or other appropriate
nap) and legal description of the petitioned area.
4. Petitions for Designation (3) Reference shall be made to the specific Board action
which designated the area.
(a) Prior to permitting a use which would threaten the po-
tential to extract minerals classified by the State Geologist as (4) The reasons and ~.upporting data as to why direct
MRZ-2 or $Z but not yet designated, the lead agency may Board involvement is no longer necessary. The Board shall
petition the Board for a designation hearing. then evaluate the data submitted in the petition as to its
RES~C- 14
PAGE 232 Show Image
28 CAUFORNIA DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOI~OY SP-51
accuracy and sufficiency. If the Board finds that the petition activity which requires compliance with the California Environ-
contains sufficient information and arguments to reqwre a mental Quality Act (CEQA), and an environmental impact
public hearing on lermination, then the Board shall sched- report will be required if the designation may have a significant
ule such a hearing and proceed as outlined in this section. effect on the envir~t. The Board will have the responsibility
for p-ng any environmental documents which may be
6. CEQA Compliance quired with the assistance of the State Geologist and the Divi-
sionofMinesandGeology(Adoptedl/3/79).
The designation by the Mining and Geology Board of mineral
bearing areas as being of regional or statewide significance is an
SECTION III. GUIDELINES FOR CLASSIFICATION-DESIGNATION PETITIONS
(Adopted 7/12179)
1. Introduction a copy of the petition. The Board Shall also notif~r lead agencies
of each petition's assigned priority for classification.
The State Mining and Geology Board recogniees the mineral
potential of non-urban areas in California such as the California 2. Criteria for Consideration of Pedtions
Desert Conservation Area and other federal lands in the state
However, the Board is constrained in pursuing a comprehensive
classification~esignation program in these areas because of the (a) The State Mining and Geology Board shall be guided in
urban orientation of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act its consideration of petitions for classification-designation by
and restrictions in the 1978 Budget Act. the following criteria:
The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, Section 2761, pro- (I) The petitioned mineral deposit must meet the thresh-
vides that the State Geologist shall classify for mineral potential, old value and other criteria for classification as MRZ-2 as
areas identified by the Office of Planning and Research as urban specified in Section 1, paragraphs I (Classification Crite-
areas as may be specified by the ria) and 2 (Mineral Resource Zones and Scientific Zones)
and urbanizing, and such other of the "Guidelines for Classification and Designation of
Board. The 1978 Budget Act requires that "positions engaged in
the classification of mineral resource areas pursuant to Section Mineral Lands".
2761 of the Public Resources Code shall be used principally for
the classification of such areas within urban and urbanizing (2) The petitioned deposit must be threatened by a land
portions of the State that are subject to urban expansion or other use incompatible with mining which is of such imminency
irreversible land uses . that Board action is required. The threat must be one that
could be alleviated by a lead agency responsible for making
A petition process is provided in the Board's "Guidelines for land-use decisions pursuant to SMARA and Board guide-
Classification and Designation of Mineral Lands" as a `1w~ of lines.
bringing to the Board's attention significant mineral deposits
which have not yet been classified in both urban and non-urban (3) The petitioner must supply sufficient geologic and eco-
areas that are subject to irreversible land uees incompatible with nomic data with each petition to enable the State Geologist
mining. to classify the mineral deposit areas that are the subject of
the petition. If the petitioner desires that deposits in areas
However. petitions for mineral deposits in non-urban areas classified as MRZ-2 by the State Geologist be designated by
submitted pursuant to the guidelines may not be acted upon in the Board as being of statewide or regional significance,
a timely fashion due to funding and staffing constraintL Rather then the petitioner must supply the environmental informa-
than place a moratorium on petitions from these areas, the Board tion required by the California Environmental Quality Act.
developed criteria to guide it in accepting petitions and establish- Information submitted with the petitions will be of public
mg their priority for classification. record.
These criteria also serve as a guide to potential petitioners in (4) Petitions will require a third party review of the su~
asssing whether a petition for a particular deposit may be mitted mineral resource data to determine:
acceptable to the Board and also as a guide in preparing peti-
tions. The State Mining and Geology Board urges petitioners to (i) If the submitted data is adequate, and
review the petition process closely in the context of the classifica-
tion-designation process. (ii) If the deposit meets the threshold value and other
criteria required to qualify for classification as MRZ-2.
It should be recognized that petitioning does not create an
instantaneous action, but rather starts in motion the classifica- Petitions will also require a third party analysis of the
tion-designation process which requires actions by the State Ge- land-use threat, its incompatibility with mining, and its im-
ologist, the Mining and Geology Board, and lead agencies prior minency. The reeiewers, who shall be funded by the peti-
to a final land-use decision. tioner, shall be selected by and report to the Board and State
Geologist.
The Board shall noti~ affected lead agencies upon formal
acceptance of a petition for classification and provide tlhhn with (b) A petition form is provided in Appendix C.
RES-'C-15
PAGE 233 Show Image
1979 SU~ACE MINING AND RECLAMATION POUCIES 29.
3. Priority Considerations established by the Board for the Division of Mines and
Gcology's Ii'r~year mineral lands classification program.
See Appendices A and B for the priorities of this program.
(a) After acceptance of a ~tion by the Board, its priority
for classification shall be established in consultation with the (2) Petitions for specific mineral -its in tion-urban
State Geologist. The Board shall be guilded by the following arc's which do not rcquire market or area surveys (i.e.
considerations: industrial and chemical mineral materials, metallic and rare
minerals, and non~uid mineral fie~) shall be assigned a
(1) Petitions for mineral -its in urban and urbanizing priority by the Boord for consideration for spot clasfica
areas that rcquire market or arc~£urveys (i.e. construction tionand designation on the besis of their apparent economic
materials) shall be considered in the context of priorities significance to the state and urgency for classification.
RES-C~16
PAGE 234 Show Image
3. SPECIAL REPORT 143
INCLUDING CLASSIFICATION OF
ORANGE COUNTY REGION
RES-C-17
PAGE 235 Show Image
SPECIAL REPORT 143
PART III
CLASSIFICATION OF SAND AND GRAVEL RESOURCE AREAS,
ORANGE COUNTY- TEMESCAL VALLEY PRODUCTiON~CONSUMPTION REGION
By
Russell V. Miller
Richard Corbaley
With the Assistance of
Thomas P. Anderson
Susan Kohler
Ralph C. Loyd
Marjorie M. Bushnell
Under the Direction of James F. Davis and Paul K. Morton
1981
CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY
1416 Ninth, Roam 1341
Sacramento, CA 95814
RES-C- 18
PAGE 236 Show Image
FORWARD
By James F. Davis
This re~5 ~~Classification of Sand and Gravel Resource Area~~range County.Temescal Valley
Pm~luction Consumption Regian,~~ is submitted a, the second analysis by the California Division of
Mines and Geolagy (CDMG) to the State Mining and GeoLogy Board for fransmiftal to the local
governments which regulate land use in this region. The report has been developed under the Surface
Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975. which was enacted by the State Legislature to assure adequate
mined land reclamation and mineral resource conservation under the auspices of the Mining and
Geology Board and CDMG.
The Mining and Geology Board enacted Guidelines in June 1978 to be employed by the CDMG
In it: mineral resource classification. This report embodies the intent of those d;rectives. The undertak-
11 is of signal impotonce in economic geology. because it deals with very specific mineral resource
conservation issues in an area of intensive land use.
RES~C--19
PAGE 237 Show Image
PREFACE
Tb. Los Angeles metropolitan area, with a population of nearly 10 million people, is the largest
inbonized area in California. This region includes the southern part of Los Angeles County and PO-t5
of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties. Although substantial ports of the Los Angeles ar..a
have been developed, widespread urbanization is still occurring at a rapid rate.
In any metropolitan or rural region undergoing urban development, it is of considerable importance
that adequate supplies of mineral commodities be readily available. Minerals used in construction,
particularly sand, gravel, or stone used in concrete, must be available from the region in su*ficie~t
quantities and at reasonable costs. For many years, the Los Angeles area has been fortunate in thi.'
respect: adequate quantities of law~ost aggregate materials, chiefly sand and gravel, have been
available !ocally. however, as more and more land in a region becomes urbanized, nearby sand and
gravel deposits suitcble as sources of law~ost aggregate tend to be either depleted by mining or lost
to competing land uses.
The principol oblective of this project is to classify land in the Los Angeles area into Mineral Resource
Zones based an guidelines adopted by the California State Mining and Geology Board. This classifica.
tion is mandated by the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975. The purpose of the classification
is to assist the State Mining and Geology Board in designating lands that are needed by the region
for their mineral content.
aassification information will be submitted to the State Mining and Geology Board in six parts,
one for each of the six production~onsumption regions that have been identified in the greater Los
Angeles metropolitan area. An introductory section describing the background. purpose, and scope
of the overall proibct and one section on the classification of each of the six production-consumption
regions are being published as they are completed as parts of C~lifomia Division of Mines and
Geology Special Report 143. Each of the six parts classifying production-consumption regions will
include maps showing the locations of significant sand and gravel deposits and an explonatory text
with tables and charts that present data on population, production, aggregate consumption, future
requirements, and estimates of aggregate resources.
Part I, the introductory section, and Part II, which explains the classification of sand and gravel
resource areas in the San Fernando Valley Production~onsumptian Region, were published in a single
volume. Part I is also being published as a seporate volume. The present volume, which focuses on
the classification of sand and gravel resource areas in the Oronge County . Jemescal Valley Produc.
tion~onsumption Region, is Part III of Special Report 143.
The reader may wish to refer to `Aggregates in the Greeter Los Angeles AreO,~e California Divisicr.
of Mines and Geology Special Report 139, which describes and evaluates the significance, uses, prices,
marketing, transportation, supply, and other factors that re;ate to the aggregate industry of the greater
Los Angeles metropolitan area.
RES-C-20
PAGE 238 Show Image
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Illasod upon the projected populotion increase and the predicted per capita consumption rates,
approximately B'o milian tons of aggregate will be required to satisfy demand in th- Orange
Cowity-Temescal Valley Production-Consumption Region to the year 2030. In the event of massive
i*constrvctian following a disaster, this total could double to 1,680 million tons (see Figure 3.14). Of
these projected omounts, about half of the material must meet the requirements of Portlond cement
coocrete aggregate.
CwY*nt ,~rves (aggregate materiols believed to be acceptable far commercial use that exist
within ~ owned or leased by an aggregate producing company and for which permission
ollowing exttaction and processing has been granted by the proper authorities) totol approximately
257 million tons, of which an e~timated 182 million tons are suitable for use in Portland cement
com~te. Based upon present rates of production. these reserves will be depleted in a little more than
two decades. The highest predicted demand for construction material in the next 50 years will be in
the southern Orange County area. In is areo is not only the farthest from the production districts of
the adjacent P.C region, b£:t is also a significant distance from the Mayhew-Coldwoter fan. which
includes 66 percent of the ovoi;oble reserves within the Orange County-Temescal Valley Production-
Coftsumption Region.
No~~emiifted `esources (potentially usable aggregate materials that may be mined in the future
but for which no use permit allowing extraction has been granted, or for which development has not
b**n definitely established to be feasible based upon current technology or economic conditions) total
approximately 1,200 million tons. It will be necessary to bring into production almost half of these
noft~permitted resources to meet the predicted need for the next 50 years, unless alternative sources
are relied upon (see Figure 3.14).
The alternative sourc2s, in order of their estimated feasibir£ty. are: 1) aggregate producers in the
odjacent production-consumption regions; 2) alluvia' deposits presently unavailable because of oreli-
nances; 3,' sedimentary bedrock deposits; A) sources far crushed rock; and 5) offshore sediments.
I. Although a significant percentage of aggregate is now shipped into the Orange County-
Temescal Valley Production-Consumption Region from adjacent regions, the danger of relying
an imported aggregate to cover the gap between sup~y and demand is that the adjacent
production~nsumption regions (except for the San Bernardino Production-Consumption Re-
gion) are also facing reserve-supply short falls over the next 50 years; the San Bernardino
Production~nsumph.on Region has about a 65-year supply of reserves. The enormous non-
permitted resources of almost 20 billion tons in these adjacent production-consumption regions
represent a long term, but expensive, alternative solution.
2. The use of the aggregate in Orange County underlying Caspers Regional Park and the sand
beneath Featherly Pork and portions of the Greenriver Golfcourse would require major land-use
changes, but do represent potential sources of aggregate of moderately well-known quantity
and quality.
3. The sedimentary bedrock deposits are not nearly as well assessed as are the modern alluvial
deposits. Much testing and evaluation will need to be done to discover aggregate deposits of
marketable quality and quantity in the bedrock.
A. There are large quantities of bedrock avalable for crushing and processing as aggrega~.e in
and near the Orange County-Temescal Valley Production-Consumption Region. Most of these
locks are either within the Cleveland National Forest in Orange County or in the area bordering
Temescal Wash in Riverside County.
5. The development of the sand and grave deposits offshore present a totally different set of
problems. Even if the feasibility of mining these deposits were proven, there would probably
be a protracted period of development necessary for what appears to be a limited supply.
RES'-C-2 1
PAGE 239 Show Image
Twenty-two aggregate resource sectors have been delineated in the Orange County-Temescal
Volley Production