Trends and Consequenses of Repurposing Agricultural Lands

As more agricultural land is developed for residential and commercial purposes a host of trends have resulted. The infrastructure needs required in new developments – water and sewer lines, roads, school and emergency services – have been bundled in cost of community service studies. These studies show that working landscapes and open spaces require significantly less public funds compared to the public revenue they create, while residential areas consume more public funds than they contribute in public revenue.

Decreased agricultural lands result in a mixed bag air and water quality changes. Timberlands help remove large amounts of carbon dioxide by absorbing the heat-trapping gas. But modern agricultural practices require expanding considerable resources on fossil fuels to produce food and fiber.

Agriculture has historically been exempted from complying with federal and state Clean Water regulations. Nonpoint source pollution from agricultural lands is recognized as a source of water quality degradation, but reliable methods of monitoring and mitigating water run-off from agriculture lands is prohibitively expensive.

However, changes are afoot. The California Bay-Delta Authority has a Working Landscapes Subcommittee working to improve water quality while maintaining healthy production levels. The subcommittee aims to provide regulatory assistance and support a flexible, agriculture-focused approach to wetland and habitat restoration.

By employing best management practices and conservation minded approaches to soil tilling as well as application of fertilizers and pesticides, working landscapes and open spaces can improve existing water quality.