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

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are limited, and without proper maintenance, could eventually deplete the soil. Trees and source wood left on site significantly 
contribute to the abundance of biodiversity and the prevention of habitat loss and displacement. Trees in forest and urban areas 
act as micro and macro climate buffers by moderating temperatures and moisture.
Conservation of forests should be balanced with the proper action to prevent risk from wildfires (see the 
safety element
 for more 
information). As 
climate change
 persists and temperatures rise, wildfires will continue to grow in size, frequency, and total area 
burned. Throughout its history, California experienced frequent fires by lightning and burning regimes, critical in developing 
the composition, structure, and pattern of vegetation throughout the state’s landscapes. 
In order to prevent destructive wildfires and restore and maintain resilient landscapes, policies should be developed that are 
appropriate for local conditions to mitigate potential losses due to wildfire. Policies for mitigating potential losses should also 
consider approaches to maintain healthy forests, including prescribed burns, fuel breaks, wildfire protection zones, and forest 
thinning and grazing. Fuel treatment manipulates and removes fuel to reduce fire intensity with methods such as lopping, 
chipping, crushing, piling, and burning. Fuel treatment is critical to enhance protection of forests as well as develop resilience. 
As a guiding resource, OPR’s 
Fire Hazard Planning Technical Advisory
 includes a detailed discussion about how to incorporate 
and comply with the fire hazard requirements in a general plan. 
Forest conservation practices also present the opportunity to conserve species in their native habitat. Collaboration with local 
tribes, resource conservation districts, non-government conservation organizations, and other government entities may help 
determine the best tools for ecosystem restoration, wildfire prevention, and wildlife habitat enhancement. 
The management and protection of forests should take into account anticipated changes in coming decades in temperature, the 
viability or presence of particular wildlife populations in response to warming trends, and the impact on forestry resources of 
increased extreme weather events and more intense forest fire seasons. For reference, visit 
http://www.fs.fed.us/maps/
. 
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Intent of Analysis
Recommended Data
Analysis of conservation needs
Type, location, amount, and ownership of forests by category
Reduce risk of wildfire and post-fire mitigation needs
Fire hazard zone maps
Soils
Requirement Description:
Soils provide the fundamental resources necessary for the production of food, fiber and other agricultural products. Healthy soil 
resources, rich in soil organic matter, are essential to crop production, watershed functioning, carbon sequestration, and the 
support of vegetation. Highly productive soil resources that support agricultural production and ecosystem services are a finite 
resource; thus requiring long-term conservation. 
Soil management and conservation practices
, such as cover cropping, crop 
rotation, mulching, and nutrient management, may help support healthy soils and conservation goals.

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The 
Official Soil Series Descriptions (OSDs)
 and the 
Storie Index
 provide useful tools for assessing and inventorying farmland 
soils, as does the 
Farmland Mapping & Monitoring Program
 of the state Department of Conservation. Consultation with the city 
or county’s local 
Resource Conservation District 
may also be helpful in assessing soil resources and developing policies focused 
on the management of agricultural soils; consistent with the Resource Conservation District’s broader agricultural strategy. 
The conservation element should identify soils necessary for agricultural production and include policies that promote the 
conservation of these resources. Preservation of prime agricultural land, and identification of water availability for that land, 
can be a foundation for improving and maintaining soil while more permanently preserving lands, improving the economy, 
and preserving biological resources, and should be coordinated with the
 land use element
. Local governments should identify 
areas included in agricultural preserves under the 
Williamson Act
 (
Gov. Code § 51200
). Additionally, conservation easements 
on agricultural lands, working with willing landowners and land trusts, can also serve to protect soil resources and constitute 
feasible mitigation to lessen impacts on agricultural resources, including highly productive soils. The soils section may also 
identify areas subject to slides and erosion and include policies focusing on erosion prevention, one of the optional issues listed 
in 
Government Code section 65302(d)(2)
. 
Daylighting Existing Waters
Cities and counties across California and the country are recognizing the potential benefits of revitalizing rivers, streams, and 
creeks long hidden by previous development. Waterways have historically been covered, especially in urban areas, to quickly 
redirect stormwater, create more room for commercial districts, and enable automobile transport.  In the past decade, however, 
planners have begun to note the possible advantages of daylighting and restoring waterways, including:
• Reducing flooding
• Conserving groundwater
• Reducing heat island effects
• Providing greenspace for the community
• Activating urban spaces
Examples of programs to restore urban waterways include the
 LA River
 in Los Angeles, Strawberry Creek in Berkeley, and San 
Luis Obispo Creek in San Luis Obispo. 
Rivers and Other Waters
Requirement Description:
The rivers and other waters requirement examines water quality in local bodies of water. As with water and its hydraulic force, 
any 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 

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