A city (or county) is not an accident but the result of coherent visions and aims

C H A P T E R   4 :   R E Q U I R E D   E L E M E N T S
   |   110
4
discussion and evaluation of any water supply and demand information described in 
Section 65352.5
, if that information has 
been submitted by the water agency to the city or county.    
(2)  The conservation element may also cover all of the following:    
(A)  The reclamation of land and waters.    
(B)  Prevention and control of the pollution of streams and other waters.    
(C)  Regulation of the use of land in stream channels and other areas required for the accomplishment of the    
   conservation plan.    
(D) Prevention, control, and correction of the erosion of soils, beaches, and shores.    
(E)  Protection of watersheds.    
(F)  The location, quantity and quality of the rock, sand, and gravel resources.
(3)  Upon the next revision of the housing element on or after January 1, 2009, the conservation element shall identify 
rivers, creeks, streams, flood corridors, riparian habitats, and land that may accommodate floodwater for purposes of 
groundwater recharge and stormwater management.
Completeness Checklist
Local agency staff can use the following checklist to help ensure that the draft conservation element addresses all required 
issues. Please note that use of this checklist is purely advisory, and only contains issues that are legally required and the optional 
issues listed in 
Government Code section 65302(d)(2)
. Conservation elements may address additional issues at the discretion 
of the local government. Because general plan formats may vary, this checklist suggests identifying where the particular 
government code provision is satisfied.
Statutory Citation
Brief Description of Requirement
Gov. Code, §§ 65302(d)(1), 
65352.5
Water and its hydraulic force
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(3)
Floodwater Accommodation
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(1)
Forests
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(1)
Soils
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(1)
Rivers and other waters
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(1)
Harbors
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(1)
Fisheries

---

C H A P T E R   4 :   R E Q U I R E D   E L E M E N T S
   |   111
4
Statutory Citation
Brief Description of Requirement
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(1)
Wildlife
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(1)
Minerals
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(1)
Other natural resources 
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(2)
Reclamation of land and waters (optional)
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(2)
Pollution of streams and other waters (optional)
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(2)
Land use in stream channels and other areas (optional)
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(2)
Erosion (optional)
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(2)
Protection of watersheds (optional)
Gov. Code, § 65302(d)(2)
Rock, sand, and gravel resources (optional)
Required Contents
The conservation element 
must address
 the “conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources including 
• Water and its hydraulic force 
• Forests 
• Soils 
• Rivers and other waters 
• Harbors and fisheries
• Wildlife 
• Minerals, and other natural resources
The Government Code further requires the conservation element to “consider the effect of development within the jurisdiction, 
as described in the 
land use
 element, on natural resources located on public lands, including military installations” (
Gov. Code 
§ 65302(d)(1)
). Evaluation of a jurisdiction’s natural resource systems based on sound science and ecological principles is 
an important first step in preparing the conservation element. One role of the conservation element is to establish policies that 
reconcile conflicting demands on those resources. In recent years, some jurisdictions have adopted policies related to mitigation 
banking, conservation easement programs, and the state and federal Endangered Species acts in their conservation elements. 
Other local jurisdictions have incorporated policies related to regional 
greenprints
 or 
Natural Community Conservation 
Planning (NCCP)
 programs. Both of these methods present a broad-based approach to the regional protection of plants and 
animals and their habitats while allowing for compatible and appropriate economic activity. The 
California Department of Fish 
and Wildlife
,
 Department of Conservation
, 
Natural Resources Agency
, and 
Department of Water Resources
 are some of the many 
resources available for examining current and future conservation needs. In addition, resource data is available for jurisdictions 
through the 
General Plan Mapping tool
. Jurisdictions should assess the current condition of their natural resource systems, the 
ecological processes and compatibilities upon which they depend and their sustainability based on anticipated uses. Analysis 
of the sustainability of resource uses should take into account changing burdens on local ecosystems as a result of a changing 

---

C H A P T E R   4 :   R E Q U I R E D   E L E M E N T S
   |   112
4
climate
 or other environmental conditions, and should measure 
the values that these resources contribute to the community and 
state (see above sidebar on nature’s services). In their evaluation 
of natural resources, local governments should identify priority 
areas to conserve that offer the most effective and efficient 
protection of the natural resource systems, and focus policies 
on those resources or areas. 
Greenprints
, or sustainability plans 
seeking to balance conservation with growth, are one example 
of incorporating “green infrastructure” into general plans (see 
more in text box). 
Local governments can dramatically impact the type and 
amount of water used and conserved within their jurisdictions 
through land use decisions. For example, requiring more 
compact development types can significantly reduce per 
capita water use.  Limiting new impervious cover in key 
recharge areas can protect groundwater supplies. 
Low impact 
development
 strategies such as green roofs, bioretention, and 
soil amendments, can redirect storm water from sewer lines 
to recharge areas, and thereby enhance water supplies. The 
California Water Plan
 provides strategies, resources, and tools 
for water management and conservation throughout the State.
The following sections include descriptions of each of 
the requirements with links to model policies and useful 
information. Some of the requirements will not be locally 
relevant for all communities. For example, a land-locked 
county with no river ports would likely not need to address 
harbors in its conservation element. It is up to the jurisdiction 
to choose how to arrange their treatment of the various 
required issues, which may overlap with one another when 
addressed in the conservation element’s goals and policies.
Water and Its Hydraulic Force
Requirement Description:
The discussion of water in the conservation element must be prepared in coordination with “any countywide water agency 
and with all district and city agencies, including flood management, water conservation, or groundwater agencies that have 
developed, served, controlled, managed, or conserved water of any type for any purpose in the county or city for which the plan is 
prepared,” and must include any information on water supply and demand (
Gov. Code § 65302(d)(1)
).
Planning with conservation in mind can create thriving spaces in  
the community
Image by Urban Advantage, Community Design + Architecture

---