WHATCOM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL LAND COVER ANALYSIS TABLE OF CONTENTS. Planning & Development Services: Agricultural Program May 13, 2013

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1 WHATCOM COUNTY AGRICULTURAL LAND COVER ANALYSIS Planning & Development Services: Agricultural Program May 13, 2013 Version 2.3 Includes revisions to Rural Study Areas and other updates as recommended by the Whatcom County Agricultural Advisory Committee TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Project Approach 2.0 Project Results 2.1 Tables and Graphs 2.2 Map Series

2 Acknowledgements The Whatcom County Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC), a volunteer citizen committee appointed by Whatcom County Executive Jack Louws, contributed to and reviewed this report. AAC members include: Ed Block (Chair), Dave Buys (Vice Chair), John Bayer, Lesa Boxx, Brian Cieslar, Mike Finger, Vicki Hawley, Larry Helm, Wesley Kentch, Leroy Plagerman, Debbie Vander Veen, Landon VanDyk, and Richard Yoder. This report was written by Whatcom County Long Range Planning staff member Samya Lutz, with Geographic Information System analysis by Sarah Watts. Whatcom Farm Friends executive director Henry Bierlink, and Whatcom County staff members Mark Personius (Long Range Planning Manager), Peter Gill (Senior Planner), and Joshua Fleischmann (Planner) also contributed to the review and analysis contained in this report. Page 2

3 1.0 Project Approach PURPOSE Whatcom County has a goal of retaining at least 100,000 acres of agricultural land. As county staff members work with the agricultural community and decision makers on strategies to ensure this agricultural land remains available for agricultural use, the need for accurate and reliable data is clear. Planning and Development Services staff have developed a repeatable methodology for measuring the quantity and type of agricultural land in and around areas of the county with a potential for long term commercial agriculture use. This analysis is intended to supplement other data available on agricultural land in Whatcom County. The National Agricultural Statistics Service releases county level data through USDA every five years; the most recent release of 2007 data was published in late The 2012 data has not yet been released. This USDA NASS data includes the number of acres of farmland, and other statistical information, but is not geographically based. DATA AND METHODOLOGY The data used for this land cover analysis came from a variety of sources, accessed over time from July 2010 through July The bulk of the aerial inventory work was done during the first month of the project, and used May 2008 Pictometry aerial photos (oblique and 8 inch resolution ortho corrected images). Later in the project, the Spring 2010 Pictometry aerial photos became available (same resolution) and were substituted for the earlier 2008 data. The inventory was checked for consistency with August 2010 National Agriculture Imagery Program aerial photographs, which offer a lower 1 meter resolution. The extent of the analysis was restricted to areas zoned Rural and Agricultural. Areas that may be in agriculture outside of these zones are not included in the mapping and analysis. Additional data layers were overlayed on the aerial images to determine land cover characteristics, conveyed in the following categories (defined in the next section): Farmland, active Farmland, fallow Farmland infrastructure Farmstead single family residence Woodland/forest or CREP Water/stream/lake/wetland Commercial/public/educational Multi family/mobile home parks Page 3

4 Single family residence Quarry Vacant Public roads are not included. Private roads are generally included as part of the residences or farm infrastructure. Pervious farm field roads are included in the surrounding farmland category. Land use data comes from the county Assessor s taxation records associated with a parcel s land use code and building value information. This land use information helped verify aerial categorization such as farmland infrastructure, residential uses, and commercial or public uses. In addition, county critical areas data and zoning categories are used. The analysis was updated in June 2011 to reflect rezoning as a result of Council Ordinance which affected about 16,000 acres of land across the county; roughly 5,000 acres of which were in rural and agricultural designations. This version was updated with a re analysis of the agriculture zone and to reflect changes recommended by the Whatcom County Agricultural Advisory Committee to the Rural Study Area boundaries. Land analyzed includes lands in Agriculture, Rural 5 acre and Rural 10 acre zoning. Rural Study Areas are a subset of the Rural 5 acre and Rural 10 acre lands that the Whatcom County Agricultural Advisory Committee has delineated as critically important farmland areas due predominantly to their soils, agricultural viability, and location. Not all Rural 5 acre and Rural 10 acre lands in the county have been analyzed. Most Rural lands proximal to the City of Bellingham, and south of Van Wyck Road to the Skagit County line are not included, though the South Fork Valley of the Nooksack River is included. If incomplete, the percentage completion of the zone analyzed is included in the project results. Under Washington State s Open Space Taxation Act, Whatcom County offers an Open Space Farm and Agriculture voluntary program that offers modest tax relief for property owners with agricultural land that meets certain criteria. This information is geographicallybased, and information is available back to However, not all lands in agriculture are enrolled in the program, and the accounting might not accurately reflect productive agricultural land or keep up with the loss of that land from agricultural production in Whatcom County. DEFINITIONS The inventory of land cover does not necessarily equate to use. Even with the high resolution aerial data and the Assessor s use code data, it is impossible to have certainty that the land cover reflects a certain use. For example, what is inventoried as farm infrastructure might also include a building that is used as a single family home, or even one that is used for non farm related commerce. What is included here represents an analysis of land cover, with categories assigned based on available data and reasonable assumptions. Page 4

5 The categories used throughout the analysis are defined as follows: Farmland, active consists of land covered in berries, crops, hay, pasture, nursery stock, and the like. Any land that appears to be actively maintained through mowing, plowing, tillage, or other means of maintenance is included. Farmland, fallow consists of land covered with low overgrowth and appearing to be unmaintained, usually in close proximity to active farmland. These areas do not appear to be currently used for farming, but do appear to be easily convertible to active farmland. Farmland infrastructure consists of any structure, manure pond, staging or storage area appearing to be associated with farming activity, and usually in close proximity to active farmland. Farmland infrastructure may also include commercial activity directly associated with the farmland. Farmstead single family residence consists of any residence associated with farmland or farmland infrastructure. In some cases the residence is clearly separated from the farm s infrastructure and easy to delineate; in other cases the exact location of the residence is less clear and the location is estimated. Woodland/forest or CREP consists of any treed area. USDA NRCS Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) enrolled areas are included in this category, reflecting a change in the coding between the 2011 analysis and 2013 update due to proprietary issues with the result that CREP data is no longer available to be shared with Whatcom County. Water/stream/lake/wetland consists of any visible water bodies, including major ditches. (In certain circumstances, small, immediately adjacent vegetated areas are also included.) Commercial/public/educational consists of any public, utility, educational, or non farm commercial use. This category includes schools, businesses, sub stations, water storage, cemeteries, and the like; but does not include farm related commercial activity. The raw GIS data codes commercial separate from public and utility uses, but these subcategories are combined in this report. Multi family/mobile home parks consists of parcels coded as duplex, tri plex or greater, and established mobile home parks. Single family residence consists of any residence not tied to an agricultural use, based on either a non agricultural land use code or different ownership than adjacent agricultural land. If a residence is in the trees and boundaries are not easily seen, an area of approximately one acre is delineated for the homesite. Quarry consists of sand and gravel quarries and associated infrastructure. Vacant consists of any land that is cleared but unused, has derelict buildings, storage of cars or the like, or has no clear land use or cover. The reader is cautioned against using blanket statements that convey specific use assumptions as facts. The analysis contained here is a gross analysis of a broad area, and is intended to provide a reasonable baseline. Additional data can be overlaid to provide information on priority farmland protection strategies, and changes in land cover can be analyzed as well. Page 5

6 2.0 Project Results 2.1 Tables and Graphs The following subsections use the categories defined in the previous chapter to characterize the land cover by area. The Quarry and Vacant categories are combined for ease of depicting the data. The broader category of Farms is included here to incorporate the sum of the Farmland, active, Farmland, fallow, Farmland Infrastructure, and Farmstead Single Family Residence categories; which are then detailed in subsequent charts or adjacent graphs. The areas analyzed are the Rural 5 acre (R5A), Rural 10 acre (R10A), and Agricultural (AG) zoning designations, including the specific Rural Study Areas within the R5A and R10A zones that were delineated by the Agricultural Advisory Committee (the delineated lands shown here are an update of the maps that are part of the Rural Land Study published in 2007, based on 2012 Agricultural Advisory Committee review and analysis). Within this broad area, an overlay zone the Agricultural Protection Overlay was analyzed separately for land cover characterization of the reserve tract areas that have been affected by APO land division actions. As noted in the previous chapter, not all Rural lands are analyzed; if incomplete, the percentage completion is shown on the individual zone pages. Here are the areas analyzed: Agriculture zone consists of the land designated as Agriculture in accordance with Whatcom County Code 20.40, and the corresponding zoning map. Rural Study Areas (RSAs) consist of ten separate contiguous blocks of land within the R10A or R5A zoning designations with significant agricultural value. Rural 10 Acre (R10A) consists of land designated as Rural with a 10 acre minimum lot size in accordance with Whatcom County Code 20.36, and the corresponding zoning map. Rural 5 Acre (R5A) consists of land designated as Rural with a 5 acre minimum lot size in accordance with Whatcom County Code 20.36, and the corresponding zoning map. Agriculture Protection Overlay (APO) reserve tracts consists of land developed through the APO ordinance in accordance with Whatcom County Code 20.38, and specifically the reserve tract portion of the development set aside for agricultural use. Page 6

7 AGRICULTURE ZONE Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL AGzone GIS 11,185 2, ,790 84,211 Table1. Agriculture Zone: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail Land Cover Totals (acres) ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE 62,468 2,104 2,889 1,329 Table 2. Agriculture Zone: Farm Land Cover Acreage Single Fam Residence 1% Vacant/ Quarry 1% Multi family 0% Commercial / Public 0% Water 3% Forest 13% Farms 82% Active Farmland 74% Fallow Farmland 3% Infrastructure 3% Farmstead 2% Figure 1. Agriculture Zone: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 7

8 RURAL STUDY AREAS The Rural Study Areas (RSAs) delineated by the Agricultural Advisory Committee in 2012 as an updated delineation to the 2007 Rural Lands Study maps, consist of ten areas with significant agricultural value within the R10A or R5A zoning designations, totaling 25,619 acres. Each study area has significant prime soils and farming operations. As noted in the original Rural Land Study, the determination of these RSAs should not be viewed as a basis to foreclose agricultural activities in other areas of the County, but rather to identify those lands that are critically important due to their soils, agricultural function, and location in proximity to the actively farmed land within Whatcom County. The location of the areas within the county is shown on the map below. ALL RSAs Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres 6, , ,679 25,619 FARMS Detail Land Cover Totals (acres) ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE Table 3. All RSAs: All Land Cover Acreage FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE 13, Table 4. All RSAs: Farm Land Cover Acreage Page 8

9 Multifamily 0% Single Fam Residence 7% Vacant/ Quarry 2% Commercial/ Public 1% Water 2% Forest 27% Farms 61% Active Farmland 53% Fallow Farmland 2% Infrastructure 3% Farmstead 3% Figure 2. All Rural Study Areas: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Tables 3 and 4, and Figure 2 in this section depict the overall characterization for all of the Rural Study Areas together. Figures 3, 4, and 5 depict how the 25,619 acres within the ten RSAs are distributed in terms of comparative size, acreage, zoning, and soil categories. Overall, 11,384 acres (44%) carry R10A zoning, and 14,235 acres (56%) carry R5A zoning. Rural Study Areas by percentage of total acreage South Fork 6% Minaker 1% Ten Mile 19% Loomis Trail 14% Custer 8% E. Badger 8% Grandview 11% Guide Aldrich 18% Lawrence 2% Harksell 13% Figure 3. Page 9

10 Rural Study Areas by size and zoning (acres) TEN MILE SOUTH FORK MINAKER LOOMIS TRAIL LAWRENCE HARKSELL GUIDE ALDRICH GRANDVIEW EAST BADGER CUSTER 3,163 1, , ,373 2,555 2,913 2,117 2,066 2,008 1,581 R10A R5A Figure 4. Soils in the Rural Study Areas are predominantly suited to farming. Prime soils and soils of stateside importance are classified by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in coordination with state and regional offices. The following graph depicts the proportion of these agricultural soils within each Rural Study Area. RSAs by USDA soil categories (percentage area) TEN MILE SOUTH FORK MINAKER LOOMIS TRAIL LAWRENCE HARKSELL GUIDE ALDRICH PRIME Statewide Important Other GRANDVIEW EAST BADGER CUSTER 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Figure 5. Page 10

11 The following separate subsections describe each individual Rural Study Area in more detail: Custer, East Badger, Grandview, Guide Aldrich, Harksell, Lawrence, Loomis Trail, Minaker, South Fork, and Ten Mile. In addition to the land cover characterization, the subsections provide information on soil types present as categorized by the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. The number and size of parcels within each Rural Study Area is also presented. This parcel data comes from the Whatcom County Assessors office and does not necessarily reflect legal lots. In addition, the Assessors parcel data is drawn according to public lands surveys, and is not ground truthed or precisely corrolated to aerial photographic data. That is why, in additon to the acreage categorized within various parcel sizes, there is also some acreage categorized as outside parcel area; this extra acreage reflects the areas falling outside parcel lines when the characterization and Assessor data sets are overlain. The parcel data is provided to complement the information portrayed on the associated maps. Page 11

12 CUSTER RURAL STUDY AREA The Custer RSA is comprised entirely of Rural 10 Acre zoning. Seventy two percent of the area within this RSA is categorized as having agricultural soils; with 1,419 acres of prime soils, and 63 acres of statewide important soils. The following tables depict the parcel breakdown by acres and number of parcels and the land cover characterization for this RSA. The map also depicts the land cover characterization, as well as the locations of short and long plat subdivisions on record. Parcel Breakdown Acres <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 485 >40.01 Ac. 696 Outside parcel area Table 5. Custer RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Acres Parcel Breakdown No. of Parcels <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 15 >40.01 Ac Table 6. Custer RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Number of Parcels Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres ,398 2,066 Table 7. Custer RSA: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE Land Cover Totals (acres) 1, Table 8. Custer RSA: Farm Land Cover Acreage Single Fam Residence 2% Commercial/ Public 0% Water 3% Vacant/ Quarry 1% Active Farmland 60% Forest 27% Farms 67% Fallow Farmland 3% Infrastructure 2% Farmstead 2% Figure 6. Custer Rural Study Area: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 12

13 Average Parcel Size = acres Page 13

14 EAST BADGER RURAL STUDY AREA The East Badger RSA is comprised entirely of Rural 10 Acre zoning. Ninety nine percent of the area within this RSA is categorized as having agricultural soils; with 1,947 acres of prime soils, and 148 acres of statewide important soils. The following tables depict the parcel breakdown by acres and number of parcels and the land cover characterization for this RSA. The map also depicts the land cover characterization, as well as the locations of short and long plat subdivisions on record. Parcel Breakdown Acres <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 532 >40.01 Ac. 534 Outside parcel area Table 9. E.Badger RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Acres Parcel Breakdown No. of Parcels <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 18 >40.01 Ac Table 10. E. Badger RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Number of Parcels Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres ,204 2,117 Table 11. East Badger RSA: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail Land Cover Totals (acres) ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE 1, Table 12. East Badger RSA: Farm Land Cover Acreage Multi family 0% Single Fam Residence 2% Commercial/ Public 0% Water 3% Vacant/ Quarry 10% Active Farmland 50% Farms 57% Forest 28% Fallow Farmland 3% Infrastructure 2% Farmstead 2% Figure 7. East Badger Rural Study Area: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 14

15 Average Parcel Size = acres Page 15

16 GRANDVIEW RURAL STUDY AREA The Grandview RSA is comprised entirely of Rural 5 Acre zoning. Seventy six percent of the area within this RSA is categorized as having agricultural soils; with 1,830 acres of prime soils, and 385 acres of statewide important soils. The following tables depict the parcel breakdown by acres and number of parcels and the land cover characterization for this RSA. The map also depicts the land cover characterization, as well as the locations of short and long plat subdivisions on record. Parcel Breakdown Acres <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 669 >40.01 Ac. 418 Outside parcel area Table 13. Grandview RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Acres Parcel Breakdown No. of Parcels <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 23 >40.01 Ac Table 14. Grandview RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Number of Parcels Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres ,956 2,913 Table 15. Grandview RSA: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail Land Cover Totals (acres) ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE 1, Table 16. Grandview RSA: Farm Land Cover Acreage Multifamily 0% Commercial/ Public 1% Water 2% Single Fam Residence 7% Vacant/ Quarry 0% Active Farmland 59% Farms 67% Forest 23% Fallow Farmland 3% Infrastructure 2% Farmstead 3% Figure 8. Grandview Rural Study Area: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 16

17 R5A Average Parcel Size = 7.45 acres Page 17

18 GUIDE ALDRICH RURAL STUDY AREA The Guide Aldrich RSA is comprised of 56% (2,555 acres) Rural 10 Acre zoning, and 44% (2,008 acres) Rural 5 Acre zoning. Ninety six percent of the area within this RSA is categorized as having agricultural soils; with 3,843 acres of prime soils, and 561 acres of statewide important soils. The following tables depict the parcel breakdown by acres and number of parcels and the land cover characterization for this RSA. The map also depicts the land cover characterization, as well as the locations of short and long plat subdivisions on record. Parcel Breakdown Acres <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 949 >40.01 Ac. 436 Outside parcel area Table 17. Guide Aldrich RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Acres Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY Parcel Breakdown No. of Parcels <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 31 >40.01 Ac Table 18. Guide Aldrich RSA: Breakdown by Number of Parcels SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres ,272 4,564 FARMS Detail Land Cover Totals (acres) ACTIVE FALLOW Table 19. Guide Aldrich RSA: All Land Cover Acreage INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE 2, Table 20. Guide Aldrich RSA: Farm Land Cover Acreage Vacant/ Quarry Single Fam 2% Residence 8% Multi family 0% Commercial/ Public 1% Water 2% Forest 16% Farms 71% Active Farmland 62% Fallow Farmland 1% Infrastructure 3% Farmstead 5% Figure 9. Guide Aldrich Rural Study Area: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 18

19 Average Parcel Size R5A = 4.91 acres R10A = 8.27 acres Page 19

20 HARKSELL RURAL STUDY AREA The Harksell RSA is comprised entirely of Rural 5 Acre zoning. Ninety eight percent of the area within this RSA is categorized as having agricultural soils; with 3,281 acres of prime soils, and 9 acres of statewide important soils. The following tables depict the parcel breakdown by acres and number of parcels and the land cover characterization for this RSA. The map also depicts the land cover characterization, as well as the locations of short and long plat subdivisions on record. Parcel Breakdown Acres <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 667 >40.01 Ac. 213 Outside parcel area Table 21. Harksell RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Acres Parcel Breakdown No. of Parcels <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 24 >40.01 Ac Table 22. Harksell RSA: Breakdown by Number of Parcels Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres ,986 3,373 Table 23. Harksell RSA: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail Land Cover Totals (acres) ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE 1, Table 24. Harksell RSA: Farm Land Cover Acreage Single Fam Residence 12% Multi family 0% Commercial/ Public 1% Water 1% Vacant/ Quarry 1% Farms 59% Active Farmland 49% Forest 26% Fallow Farmland 2% Infrastructure 4% Farmstead 4% Figure 9. Harksell Rural Study Area: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 20

21 Average Parcel Size = 4.5 acres Page 21

22 LAWRENCE RURAL STUDY AREA The Lawrence RSA is comprised entirely of Rural 5 Acre zoning. Eighty eight percent of the area within this RSA is categorized as having agricultural soils; with 426 acres of prime soils, and 10 acres of statewide important soils. The following tables depict the parcel breakdown by acres and number of parcels and the land cover characterization for this RSA. The map also depicts the land cover characterization, as well as the locations of short and long plat subdivisions on record. Parcel Breakdown Acres <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 126 >40.01 Ac. 61 Outside parcel area Table 25. Lawrence RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Acres Parcel Breakdown No. of Parcels <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 4 >40.01 Ac Table 26. Lawrence RSA: Breakdown by Number of Parcels Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC Single Fam Residence Vacant/ Quarry 4% 1% Multifamily 0% Commercial/ Public 3% MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres Table 27. Lawrence RSA: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail Land Cover Totals (acres) ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE Table 28. Lawrence RSA: Farm Land Cover Acreage Water 2% Farms 68% Active Farmland 61% Forest 22% Fallow Farmland 1% Infrastructure 3% Farmstead 3% Figure 10. Lawrence Rural Study Area: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 22

23 Average Parcel Size = 6.6 acres Page 23

24 LOOMIS TRAIL RURAL STUDY AREA The Loomis Trail RSA is comprised entirely of Rural 5 Acre zoning. Ninety eight percent of the area within this RSA is categorized as having agricultural soils; with 3,166 acres of prime soils, and 397 acres of statewide important soils. The following tables depict the parcel breakdown by acres and number of parcels and the land cover characterization for this RSA. The map also depicts the land cover characterization, as well as the locations of short and long plat subdivisions on record. Parcel Breakdown Acres <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 936 >40.01 Ac. 348 Outside parcel area Table 29. Loomis Trail RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Acres Parcel Breakdown No. of Parcels <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 34 >40.01 Ac Table 30. Loomis Trail RSA: Breakdown by Number of Parcels Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres 1, ,752 3,653 Table 31. Loomis Trail RSA: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail Land Cover Totals (acres) ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE 1, Table 32. Loomis Trail RSA: Farm Land Cover Acreage Multi family 0% Commercial/ Public 0% Single Fam Residence 8% Vacant/ Quarry 1% Water 2% Active Farmland 41% Farms 48% Forest 41% Fallow Farmland 2% Infrastructure 2% Farmstead 3% Figure 11. Loomis Trail Rural Study Area: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 24

25 Average Parcel Size = 6.06 acres Page 25

26 MINAKER RURAL STUDY AREA The Minaker RSA is comprised entirely of Rural 10 Acre zoning. Ninety nine percent of the area within this RSA is categorized as having agricultural soils; with 187 acres of prime soils, and 92 acres of statewide important soils. The following tables depict the parcel breakdown by acres and number of parcels and the land cover characterization for this RSA. The map also depicts the land cover characterization, as well as the locations of short and long plat subdivisions on record. Parcel Breakdown Acres <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 186 >40.01 Ac. 43 Outside parcel area Table 33. Minaker RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Acres Parcel Breakdown No. of Parcels <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 6 >40.01 Ac Table 34. Minaker RSA: Breakdown by Number of Parcels Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres Table 35. Minaker RSA: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE Land Cover Totals (acres) Table 36. Minaker RSA: Farm Land Cover Acreage Single Fam Residence 1% Commercial/ Public 1% Active Farmland 74% Water 5% Farms 85% Forest 8% Infrastructure 5% Farmstead 6% Figure 12. Minaker Rural Study Area: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 26

27 Average Parcel Size = acres Page 27

28 SOUTH FORK RURAL STUDY AREA The South Fork RSA is comprised of 1,412 acres total: 1,199 acres in Rural 10 Acre zoning, and 213 acres in R5A zoning. Fifty four percent of the area within this RSA is categorized as having agricultural soils; with 577 acres of prime soils, and 183 acres of statewide important soils. The following tables depict the parcel breakdown by acres and number of parcels and the land cover characterization for this RSA. This area is depicted in two maps a north South Fork RSA, and south South Fork RSA in order to reach the scale needed to convey the land cover characterization, as well as the locations of short and long plat subdivisions on record. Parcel Breakdown Acres <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 202 >40.01 Ac. 81 Outside parcel area Table 37. S. Fork RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Acres Parcel Breakdown No. of Parcels <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 7 >40.01 Ac Table 38. S. Fork RSA: Breakdown by Number of Parcels Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres ,412 Table 39. South Fork RSA: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE Land Cover Totals (acres) Table 40. South Fork RSA: Farm Land Cover Acreage Commercial/ Public 1% Water 5% Single Fam Residence 6% Vacant/ Quarry 4% Active Farmland 27% Farms 32% Forest 52% Fallow Farmland 1% Infrastructure 2% Farmstead 2% Figure 13. South Fork Rural Study Area: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 28

29 Average Parcel Size = 9.9 acres Page 29

30 Average Parcel Size R5A = 5.33 acres R10A=6.32 acres Page 30

31 TEN MILE RURAL STUDY AREA The Ten Mile RSA is comprised of 4,745 acres: 3,163 acres in Rural 10 Acre zoning, and 1,581 acres in Rural 5 acre zoning. Ninety two percent of the area within this RSA is categorized as having agricultural soils; with 4,080 acres of prime soils, and 281 acres of statewide important soils. The following tables depict the parcel breakdown by acres and number of parcels and the land cover characterization for this RSA. The map also depicts the land cover characterization, as well as the locations of short and long plat subdivisions on record. Parcel Breakdown Acres <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac >40.01 Ac. 957 Outside parcel area Table 41. Ten Mile RSA: Parcel Breakdown by Acres Parcel Breakdown No. of Parcels <5.00 Ac Ac Ac Ac. 46 >40.01 Ac Table 42. Ten Mile RSA: Breakdown by Number of Parcels Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres 1, ,074 4,745 Table 43. Ten Mile RSA: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE Land Cover Totals (acres) 2, Table 44. Ten Mile RSA: Farm Land Cover Acreage Single Fam Residence 6% Commercial/ Public 2% Water 2% Multifamily 0% Vacant/ Quarry 1% Farms 65% Active Farmland 58% Forest 24% Fallow Farmland 1% Infrastructure 3% Farmstead 3% Figure 14. Ten Mile Rural Study Area: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 31

32 Average Parcel Size R5A = 6.83 acres R10A = acres Page 32

33 RURAL 10 ACRE LAND COVER ANALYSIS The Rural 10 Acre zoned areas of the county that do not lie inside a Rural Study Area are characterized here. This analysis is based on 99% completion of the characterization in all R10A areas. Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres 9, ,103 17,218 FARMS Detail Land Cover Totals (acres) ACTIVE FALLOW Table 45. R10A Zone outside RSAs: All Land Cover Acreage INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE 3, Table 46. R10A Zone outside RSAs: Farm Land Cover Acreage Multi family 0% Single Fam Residence 5% Water 1% Commercial / Public 4% Vacant/ Quarry 3% Active Farmland 23% Farms 30% Forest 57% Fallow Farmland 4% Infrastructure 1% Farmstead 2% Figure 15. Rural 10 Acre areas outside RSAs: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 33

34 RURAL 5 ACRE LAND COVER ANALYSIS The Rural 5 Acre zoned areas of the county that do not lie inside a Rural Study Area are characterized here. This analysis is based on 83% completion of the characterization in all R5A areas, as described in the first chapter. Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres 29,187 1, ,151 1,671 20,116 57,802 Table 47. R5A Zone outside RSAs: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail ACTIVE FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE Land Cover Totals (acres) 16,051 1, ,349 Table 48. R5A Zone outside RSAs: Farm Land Cover Acreage Multi family 0% Single Fam Residence 9% Commercial / Public 1% Vacant/ Quarry 3% Water 2% Active Farmland 28% Farms 35% Forest 50% Fallow Farmland 4% Infrastructure 1% Farmstead 2% Figure 16. Rural 5 Acre areas outside RSAs: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover Page 34

35 AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY RESERVE TRACTS LAND COVER ANALYSIS Agricultural Protection Overlay (APO) reserve tracts consist of land developed through the APO ordinance in accordance with Whatcom County Code 20.38, and specifically the reserve tract portion of the development set aside for agricultural use. Based on analysis by WWU students 1 and verified by county GIS analysis, APO cluster short plat reserve tracts were identified and overlain on the land cover categorization. This data is taken from sixty APO short plats representing 1,566 acres. The percentage of this total APO short plat acreage set aside as reserve tract (as opposed to residential) acreage is 74%, or 1,158 acres as detailed below. Land Cover Totals (acres) FOREST WATER COURSE COMMERCIAL /PUBLIC MULTI FAMILY SINGLE FAM RESIDENCES QUARRY /VACANT FARMS TOTAL GIS Acres ,158 Table 49. APO Reserve Tracts: All Land Cover Acreage FARMS Detail Land Cover Totals (acres) Single Fam Residence 2% Water 2% ACTIVE Vacant 1% FALLOW INFRASTRUCTURE FARMSTEAD RESIDENCE Table 50. APO Reserve Tracts: Farm Land Cover Acreage Active Farmland 54% Forest 35% Farms 60% Fallow Farmland 2% Infrastructure 2% Farmstead 2% Figure 17. APO Reserve Tracts: Characterization by Percentage Land Cover 1 Database from WWU identified clustered residential parcels and not the reserve tract portion specifically. Analysts used best judgment in determining Reserve Tract location where questioned. In one case, two neighboring short plats share a reserve tract. (2012) Page 35

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37 2.2 Map Series The following maps depict the land cover characterization by the categories defined in the first chapter, as shown in the legend. This legend is repeated later on its own page for ease of use. While the tables and figures in the previous chapter grouped some of the land use categories, the maps retain them as separate categories. It is important to note that these maps depict the land cover characterization at a point in time. Some analysis is not complete due to the differentiation of the land cover in those areas, or the relative lower priority of those areas for commercial agriculture protection. Where zoning designations are depicted, the land cover analysis has not been done. The urban and more intensely developed small town areas of the county are not intended to be analyzed, as they are not high priority areas for the protection of long term commercial agricultural operations. The first map shows the entire county. 2 In order to better see the characterization, the next maps depict larger scale subareas of the county, by number, as labeled on the key. The Rural Study Areas are outlined in orange on the maps. Refer to the map on page 7 to see the location of the RSAs by name in relation to one another. A full size map is available on the County s Planning and Development Services web site here: 2 For purposes of this report, the entire county consists only of the western portion of the county governed locally, not the eastern mountainous portion that is federally owned and managed. Page 37

38 Whatcom County Agricultural Land Cover Analysis v COUNTY MAP OVERALL LAND CHARACTERIZATION Page 38

39 Whatcom County Agricultural Land Cover Analysis v COUNTY MAP KEY TO SUBSEQUENT AREA MAPS Page 39

40 AREA MAP 1 Page 40

41 AREA MAP 2 Page 41

42 AREA MAP 3 Page 42

43 AREA MAP 4 Page 43

44 AREA MAP 5 Page 44

45 Whatcom County Agricultural Land Cover Analysis AREA MAP 6 Page 45 v

46 Whatcom County Agricultural Land Cover Analysis AREA MAP 7 Page 46 v

47 AREA MAP 8 Page 47

48 Whatcom County Agricultural Land Cover Analysis AREA MAP 9 Page 48 v

49 AREA MAP 10 Page 49

50 MAP LEGEND LAND COVER CATEGORIZATION AND ZONING Page 50