BUTTE COUNTY - GENERAL PLAN

LAND USE ELEMENT

Revisions through January - 2000

TO THOSE WHO USE THE BUTTE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN

The Butte County General Plan contains eleven separate documents or elements. Each element sets forth the County's adopted goals, objectives, policies and standards for various issues affecting Butte County. Together these Elements make up the Butte County General Plan:

Element Year Adopted Lastest Revision Date

1. Land Use 1979 2000

2. Circulation 1971 1988

3. Housing 1981 1994

4. Conservation 1971

5. Open Space 1973

6. Seismic Safety 1977

7. Safety 1977

8. Noise 1977

9. Scenic Highways 1977

10. Recreation 1971

11. Economy 1971

12. Agricultural Element 1995

The first nine Elements are mandated by the State. The last two, Recreation and Economy, although optional, have the same force and effect as mandated Elements once adopted. State law requires that zoning and subdivision approvals be consistent with the General Plan.

Each General Plan Element contains maps, diagrams, and written policies. Written policies carry as much authority as do those depicted graphically. Likewise all Elements of the General Plan have equal status and authority; no Element is more important than another. Thus, while most individuals are interested in the Land Use Element it is important to stress that all Elements of the General Plan are used to evaluate projects which require findings of consistency with the General Plan.

Because the Element contains several maps graphically depicting Butte County's land use policies. One map shows land use designations on a county-wide basis. In addition there are maps for various urban areas and other designated planning areas throughout the County (see Housing Element). Some of these more detailed maps either supplement (the white areas) or supersede the County-wide map as amendments. Please be certain to examine the maps, adoption dates and written policies closely.

The Board of Supervisors amends the General Plan from time to time (permitted by law three times a year). These amendments take two forms: changes to the maps and changes to the written policies of the text. Some amendments are initiated by individuals through an application and some are initiated by the Board or Planning Commission. Amendments to the planning area maps reproduced by blue print will be reflected in appropriate revisions to those maps. Amendments to the printed colored maps and text changes are provided as attachments.

Page

IMPORTANT NOTICE I

INTRODUCTION LUE - 1

State Requirements LUE - 1

Scope LUE - 1

Relationship to Other Elements and Plans LUE - 2

Development of Land Use Element LUE - 4

DEVELOPMENT SETTING LUE - 6

Natural Environment LUE - 6

Topography and Geology LUE - 6

Soils LUE - 6

Seismicity LUE - 7

Climate - Air Quality LUE - 7

Hydrology - Water Quality LUE - 7

Vegetation LUE - 8

Wildlife LUE - 9

Acoustic Quality LUE - 9

Visual Quality LUE - 9

Archaeological and Historical Resources LUE - 9

Population Growth and Characteristics LUE - 10

Historical Trends LUE - 10

Recent Growth LUE - 11

Reasons for Growth LUE - 12

Population Distribution LUE - 12

Population Characteristics LUE - 12

Future Growth LUE - 12

Economic Characteristics LUE - 14

General LUE - 14

Crop Land LUE - 15

Farm Animals and Poultry LUE - 15

Lumber and Wood Processing LUE - 15

Government Services and Education LUE - 16

Retail Trade LUE - 16

Development Patterns and Trends LUE - 18

Land Use LUE - 18

Land Divisions LUE - 19

Residential Construction LUE - 19

Commercial and Industrial Construction LUE - 21

PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES LUE - 22

COUNTY CONCERNS AND POLICIES LUE - 25

Purpose and Application LUE - 25

General - 1 LUE - 25

Resource Management - 2 LUE - 28

Residential Development - 3 LUE - 32

Economic Development - 4 LUE - 35

Public Facilities - 5 LUE - 37

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Environmental Preservation - 6 LUE - 40

Natural Hazards - 7 LUE - 43

LAND USE CATEGORIES LUE - 46

Functional Separation LUE - 46

Principles and Standards LUE - 46

Primary Uses LUE - 46

Secondary Uses LUE - 46

Site Designation Criteria LUE - 46

Intensity of Use LUE - 47

Consistent Zones LUE - 47

Zoning Factors LUE - 47

ORCHARD AND FIELD CROPS LUE - 48

GRAZING AND OPEN LAND LUE - 49

TIMBER-MOUNTAIN LUE - 50

AGRICULTURAL RESIDENTIAL LUE - 51

FOOTHILL AREA RESIDENTIAL LUE - 53

LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL LUE - 55

MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL LUE - 56

HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL LUE - 57

COMMERCIAL LUE - 58

INDUSTRIAL LUE - 59

RESEARCH AND BUSINESS PARK LUE - 60

PUBLIC LUE - 62

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY LUE - 63

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT LUE - 64

IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM LUE - 65

Land Use Plan Maps LUE - 65

Scale and Interpretation LUE - 65

Implementation LUE - 66

Map Revision LUE - 66

Implementation LUE - 67

Zoning LUE - 67

Consistency LUE - 67

Implementation LUE - 68

Initiation of Rezoning LUE - 68

Implementation LUE - 68

Development Review LUE - 69

Use Permit and Variances LUE - 69

Implementation LUE - 69

Subdivisions and Land Divisions LUE - 69

Implementation LUE - 70

Environmental Review LUE - 70

Implementation LUE - 71

Coordination of Plans LUE - 71

City Planning Activities LUE - 71

In the Spirit of Cooperation LUE - 72

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City and District Boundaries LUE - 72

Implementation LUE - 72

Other General Plan Elements LUE - 73

Implementation LUE - 73

Other County Wide Plans LUE - 73

B.C.A.G. Air Quality Implementation Plan LUE - 73

Implementation LUE - 74

Capital Improvements Program LUE - 74

Implementation LUE - 75

B.C.A.G. Regional Transportation Plan LUE - 75

Implementation LUE - 76

Review and Amendment LUE - 76

Text Revision LUE - 76

Implementation LUE - 76

Map Revision LUE - 76

Implementation LUE - 77

CHICO AREA GREENLINE LUE - 78

Purposes LUE - 78

Findings LUE - 78

Definitions LUE - 80

Establishment of Chico Area Greenline LUE - 82

Establishment of Chico Area Land Use Policies LUE - 83

Zoning Regulations LUE - 83

Zoning Consistency and Timing LUE - 84

Amendment and Review LUE - 84

POLICIES APPLICABLE TO SPECIFIC PLANNING AREAS LUE - 86

Oroville Area Land Use Plan LUE - 86

Chico Area Land Use Plan LUE - 88

Highway 32 Area LUE - 88

Gridley-Biggs Area Land Use Plan LUE - 92

Paradise Urban Reserve Policy Statement LUE - 95

South Paradise Area LUE - 95

Durham-Dayton-Nelson LUE - 98

Planning Area - Urban Reserve Policy LUE - 109

Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood LUE - 114

LU - 1 1860-1970 Population GrowthLU - 10

LU - 2 Population Growth Since 1970LU - 11

LU - 3 Population Growth 1970-1975LU - 13

LU - 4 County Population Estimates and ProjectionsLU - 14

LU - 5 Employment Characteristics for 1972 & 1977LU - 17

LU - 6 Summary of Crop ValuesLU - 18

LU - 7 New Land Divisions (Since March 1972)LU - 19

LU - 8 New Housing Units (1973-1978)LU - 20

LU - 9 New Commercial/Industrial Building (1973-1978)LU - 21

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FIG. LU - 1 Greenline LUE - 81

FIG. LU - 2 Oroville Urban ReserveLUE - 87

FIG. LU - 3 Chico Urban ReserveLUE - 91

FIG. LU - 4 Gridley Urban ReserveLUE - 94

FIG. LU - 5 Paradise Urban ReserveLUE - 97

FIG. LU - 6 Durham-Dayton-Nelson Planning Area Exhibit 1 LUE - 108

FIG. LU - 7 Durham-Dayton-Nelson Planning Area Exhibit 2 LUE - 113

FIG. LU - 8 Chapman/Mulberry Plan LUE - 116

FIG. LU - 9 Chico Area Land Use Map LUE - 123

FIG. LU - 10 Oroville Area Land Use Map LUE - 124

FIG. LU - 11 Paradise Area Land Use Map LUE - 125

FIG. LU - 12 Gridley/Biggs Area Land Use Map LUE - 126

FIG. LU - 13 General Plan Land Use Map LUE - 127

State Requirements: The purpose of this document is to provide a complete statement of the policies and intentions of the County of Butte and the Butte County Association of Governments regarding future development of land. Through the development and implementation of this plan, County government is attempting to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the area's present and future residents.

The responsibility for land use planning has long been delegated to counties and cities by the State of California. Since 1955 local governments have been directed to prepare and adopt a general plan containing a land use element. Government Code Section 65302 (a) requires:

"A land use element which designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land for housing, business, industry, open space, including agriculture, natural resources, recreation, and enjoyment of scenic beauty, education, public buildings and grounds, solid and liquid waste disposal facilities, and other categories of public and private uses of the land. The land use element shall include a statement of the standards of population density and building intensity recommended for the various districts and other territory covered by the plan. The land use element shall also identify areas covered by the plan which are subject to flooding and shall be reviewed annually with respect to such areas." (emphasis added)

The intended content and organization of the land use element is suggested in more detail in advisory guidelines prepared by the State Office of Planning and Research. Land use elements of local general plans should contain the following:

Identification of issues

Statement of policies

Description of uses and pattern

Development standards and criteria

Implementation program

This element attempts to fulfill legislative requirements and advisory guidelines in a clearly-written and well-organized fashion. Background information is presented to increase understanding and support for the proposed policies as well as to provide the "Environmental Setting" section required as part of the requirements for an environmental impact report on this project.

Scope: The term "land use" can include all aspects of occupying, exploiting or modifying the surface of the earth. However, this element focuses largely on the more intense types of use, especially those requiring building construction, public utilities and government services. Development activities by both the public and private sectors are subjects of concern herein.

Like the other elements of the "general" plan, the land use element need not be specific or precise as to the locations and boundaries of proposed uses. However, the land use map is precise to the general use of land within a given land use pattern. The discussion, policies and maps in this document deal with the broad outlines of the future development pattern. A major reason for the "generalized" character is the difficult and speculative nature of predicting the future and providing for needs that we can only estimate. The Government Code does not define how "long-term" a plan is required but the General Plan Guidelines suggest that 15 years or more be considered a long-range time span.

It is important to keep in mind the differences between the land use element and the current zoning of property. Zoning has immediate legal effect, precise boundaries and detailed regulations. California law requires zoning ordinances to be consistent with the objectives, policies and proposals contained in the local general plan. The translation of a land use element to current zoning thus requires the continual interpretation and application to specific situations by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.

California law does not exclude the area of incorporated cities from the coverage of county general plans. Therefore, the proposals in this land use element are county-wide in scope and are not limited to unincorporated areas. The current boundaries of the four incorporated cities (Biggs, Chico, Gridley, and Oroville) were not considered limiting factors because boundaries change frequently through annexation. More importantly, the problems and interests of our urban areas are community-wide and transcend jurisdictional boundaries. With the adoption of this land use element, the County of Butte and the Butte County Association of Governments again accept the joint responsibilities of intergovernmental coordination and area-wide leadership in planning.

Finally, it must be noted that the practical scope of a land use element is limited by the entire legal framework of constitutional rights and delegation of powers. Legislative actions and court cases have authorized only certain types of regulation or action as proper and reasonable means of implementing County desires. The County's control of development derive largely from its review of private proposals and applications. Actual development activities by local government are usually limited to construction of utilities, public facilities, and small numbers of public housing units.

Relationship to Other Elements and Plans: State legislation to date has mandated nine separate elements or sections of local general plans and allows the adoption of elements on several other subjects as well. The following list gives the title of each element, a summary of the subject and the date of Butte County's adoption or last major revision.

ELEMENT CONTENTS ADOPTION

Land Use Distribution, location, intensity 1971

and extent of land uses.

Circulation Location and extent of transportation

and facilities. 1971

Housing Standards and plans for improvement

and provision of housing.(update in

progress). 1974

Conservation Conservation, development and

utilization of natural resources. 1971

Open Spaces Preservation of land for natural

resources, resource production,

outdoor recreation and environmental

hazards. 1973

Seismic Safety Identification and appraisal of

seismic hazards. 3-15-77

Noise Noise levels of transportation

facilities and stationary sources. 3-15-77

Scenic Highways Development and protection of scenic

highways and corridors. 3-15-77

Safety Protection from fire and geologic

hazards. 3-15-77

Public Facilities Standards and locations of water and

sewer facilities, waste disposal sites,

schools and other public buildings. 1971 (optional)

Recreation Standards and locations of parks, trails

and other recreation facilities. 1971

The elements of the general plan are all related and interdependent because they all are concerned with the future physical development of the same area. Because the use of land plays such a critical role in the general plan, the land use element can be considered the most important element and a partial summary of the entire plan.

The dominance of the land use element is reinforced by the attention usually given to the land use plan map by the public and decision-makers.

Since all of the other elements provide information and concerns that are relevant to land use, the development of the land use element must consider each other element carefully. The circulation element controls the accessibility to land which affects development patterns which, in turn, affect traffic volumes and movement patterns. The housing element deals with the need for adequate housing for the entire population of the county and thus affects the location and intensity of residential land uses. The conservation, open space and scenic highways elements consider certain valuable resources and areas which should be preserved for non-urban land uses. The safety and seismic safety elements affect the land use element by defining natural hazard areas which are not suitable for urban development. The noise element affects the land use element by providing data on noisy uses and noise-sensitive uses.

The land use element must also consider several other types of long-range plans. The Butte County Association of Governments is now preparing an update to the Regional Transportation Plan and a new Air Quality Implementation Plan. Land use planning must also consider the Spheres of Influence or future growth plans adopted by the Local Agency Formation Commission for each city and utility district. Finally, the land use element should be coordinated with the general plans adopted in the past few years by the four incorporated cities.

Development of Land Use Element: The County's first involvement in General Plans came with the adoption of a Parks and Recreation Element in 1952. Thereafter, in 1966, a comprehensive General Plan was adopted which consisted of Land Use and Circulation Elements, with maps of topography, population distribution, geology, land use plans, and the street and highway pattern. The County's first housing element was added to the plan in 1970. Restrictive zoning in the County was introduced in 1953 with several general zoning classifications which allowed all uses but required a conditional use permit for some "objectionable" activities. Within a few years, more restrictive zones were applied to several large agricultural and residential areas at the request of residents and property-owners.

The Butte County Association of Governments received a federal grant to prepare a comprehensive general plan. The document prepared by the County Planning Department contained the mandatory land use, circulation and housing elements, and optional sections on conservation, recreation, and public facilities. After public hearings, the completed document was adopted by B.C.A.G. and the County Board of Supervisors in August 1971. The adopted plan thus serves as both the County General Plan required by State law as well as the comprehensive regional plan required for federal grants.

The 1971 Land Use Element has been amended only once since its adoption; in 1977 a statement was added concerning the consistency of existing and proposed uses not shown on the plan map. Since 1971, however, the other parts of the General Plan have changed considerable.

A more complete Housing Element was adopted in 1974 and a further update is underway. An Open Space Element with distinct policies but no maps was adopted by the County in 1973.

In response to new State requirements, the Safety, Seismic Safety, Noise and Scenic Highways Elements were prepared by a consultant and County staff and adopted in 1977.

The most significant recent change in land use planning and the strongest reason for revision of the County's Land Use Element is the State legislative requirement that zoning ordinances shall be consistent with adopted general plans. Since the consistency requirement took effect at the beginning of 1974, the inconsistencies between county zoning and the county plan have led to several interim zones, a lawsuit, major changes in the development review process, several large rezonings and above all, much more attention to the words and maps of the General Plan. The enhanced legal status of the General Plan due to the consistency requirement, when combined with the passage of time since 1971, has made the need for a new land use text a necessity.

After considerable discussion on revision procedures, the Planning Commission in January 1978 initiated preliminary hearings on draft proposals for Land Use Plan Map changes in the Chico and Paradise areas. Due consideration of the planning issues involved in each area made it obvious that some map changes could not properly proceed without an expansion, clarification and refinement of the objectives, policies, criteria and standards contained in the text of the Land Use Element. This new text is intended to fill that need and provide the framework and direction required to prepare and adopt new plan maps for areas of the County.

DEVELOPMENT SETTING

Natural Environment

Topography and Geology: Butte County encompasses approximately 1670 square miles (1.07 million acres) which is divided into two topographical sections: a valley area which is the northeast portion of the Sacramento Valley and a foothill/mountain region east of the Valley. Topography includes the relatively flat Sacramento Valley Floor and associated alluvial fans, with elevations from 60 to 200 feet generally, extensive rolling foothills with an elevation range from 200 to 2100 feet, and the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountain Ranges, with elevations from 2100 to 6000 plus feet above sea level. The valley comprises 45% of the County area, foothills 23%, and mountains 31%.

The County includes parts of three geomorphic provinces. One is the Sacramento Valley, composed of sedimentary deposits and extensive areas of alluvial fan deposits along the edge of the valley floor formed by foothill streams. Another geomorphic province is the northern extreme of the fault block Sierra Nevada mountain range, which lies in the southeastern and eastern portions of the County. This granitic Sierra batholith is exposed in numerous areas of the County, flanked by metamorphic, metavolcanic, and sedimentary rock. The third province is the southern portion of the Cascade Mountain Range. The mud flows of the Tuscan Formation form the foothills along the westward extent of the volcanic Cascades, adjacent to the valley floor. The foothill and mountain areas have deep-cut canyons which were formed by streams and rivers flowing westward from the glacial areas of geologic times. Elevations are generally lower in the Sierras than in the Cascades within Butte County, but slopes are generally steeper in the Sierras. There is a foothill transition zone between the Sacramento Valley on the west and the mountain ranges on the east.

Factors which would limit development of these mountain and foothill areas include shallow soils, steep slopes, erosion potential and landslide susceptibility. Erosion rates vary with slope and soil characteristics, but are generally high in the foothill and mountain regions. The appendix contains a map indicating slopes and topography in the County.

Soils: Soil types in the County include (1) the deep, nearly level, very fertile valley basin and alluvial soils of the Sacramento Valley and associated alluvial fans, which support intensive agriculture, (2) the shallow, gentle to steep sloping, less fertile residual soils of the foothill areas, and (3) shallow to deep, moderate to steep sloping residual soils of the mountain areas, which are suitable for rangeland, forestry and wildlife habitat uses. High clay-content expansive soil conditions (creating shrink-swell soil characteristics) predominate throughout the southwestern portion of the County ( and the western portion to some extent).

Generalized soil association and soil land-use capability classifications have been mapped by the Soil Conservation Service (1967), and are illustrated in the appendix: Soil Capabilities. The eight basic categories (I through VIII) are described in the appendix.

Seismicity: Despite the numerous faults which traverse the Sierra Foothills, the County has not experienced the high levels of seismic activity characteristic of many other parts of the state. The Oroville area and Wyandotte area are laced with fault zones of recent activity (recent major earthquakes occurred in August, 1975). The Cleveland Hills Fault lies east of Oroville, running in a north-south direction, with an inferred fault lying directly beneath Lake Oroville. Other important faults in the County include the Tuscan Monocline several miles east of Chico, the Foothills Shear Zone lying between Oroville and Chico in the low foothills, and the Big Bend Fault lying north and east of Berry Creek and Feather Falls.

Climate - Air Quality: Butte County has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and cool wet winters. Higher elevations experience cooler summers and cold winters. Annual precipitation, generally in the form of rain, ranges from 18 inches along the Sacramento River to 80 inches in areas of high elevation. Snow falls occur regularly at higher elevation. East-west winds are common above 3,500 feet in elevation. Average wind speeds are less than 8 miles per hour, and prolonged calm periods and common.

Prevailing winds are from the southwest during half of the year and from the northwest the other half, generally. Southerly winds are normally associated with approaching winter storms and are usually moisture-bearing due to their origin over the Pacific Ocean. Northerly winds are usually associated with winter and spring high pressure ridging (fair weather) and occasional summer daytime breezes. North winds tend to be dry.

Air quality is relatively good in the valley, and excellent in mountain areas. The County has been classified as a nonattainment area because carbon monoxide, suspended particulate and photochemical oxidant standards are occasionally exceeded. Because the Sacramento Valley Air Basin is a natural cul-de-sac acting in synergism with natural light-wind movements and high atmospheric stability, air quality may undergo a rapid degradation at any time of the year due to temperature inversions.

Hydrology - Water Quality: Butte County is part of the Sacramento River Basin watershed. Numerous streams and rivers drain the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades, emptying into the Sacramento River. Surface water quality is good to excellent except for local degradation as streams pass through urbanized areas. Large quantities of high quality ground water exist in the recent alluvial and Tuscan Formation strata of the valley floor. In the foothill and mountain areas, ground water is generally not abundant and occurs mostly in fracture zones.

Few natural lake bodies exist in the County. However, numerous artificially-created lakes have been built to provide domestic and irrigation water, recreation, flood control, and watershed management. The more important reservoirs include Oroville, Philbrook, Round Valley, Ponderosa, Wyandotte, Concow, Magalia, Paradise, and Madrone totalling about 35 square miles. The watershed area within the County produces enough surface water to allow water exports to other parts of the state.

A large portion of the County (predominately Sacramento Valley areas) is underlain by extensive ground water reservoirs. However, several areas in the County (primarily in the foothills) have very limited water resources available, either surface or ground water, such as Forest Ranch, the Cohasset Ridge, Bangor, and the Feather Falls area.

Various areas of the Sacramento Valley have flooding potential, depending on elevation and proximity to streams and flood plains. Most streams and rivers of substantial flow have been controlled by the construction of levee and diversion systems. (See Flood Hazard Map opposite page 8.2 of the General Plan Conservation Element).

Vegetation: Butte County contains abundant and diversified vegetation types including the non-native agricultural crop and pasture regions of the valley, native foothill and mountain oak and conifer forest communities, dry land chaparral areas, and water-oriented riparian and marshland areas of restricted and diminishing distribution which have a high value as wildlife habitat. The major vegetation types identified within Butte County include nine general plant communities.

Extensive agricultural areas (AG) dominate the western one-third of the County. Grasslands (GR) and Fresh-Water Marshes (FM) occur in the lower elevations (up to 1000 feet) in west-central Butte County, containing numerous vernal pool areas of transitory occurrence. Yellow pine forest (YP), dominated by Ponderosa Pine, covers the slopes of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges throughout eastern Butte County. Foothill Woodland (FW) forms a transition zone between the valley grasslands and the mountain forests.

Chaparral (CH) intermixes with foothill woodland and yellow pine forest in the drier, more exposed areas. Riparian woodland habitat communities (RW) occur along the rivers and streams throughout the County and contain limited and rather narrow belts of dense vegetative growth along the water bodies and watercourses. Red Fir (RF) is found in several restricted areas of the County at higher elevations above yellow pine forest, with isolated areas of Montane Chaparral (MC).

In addition to the general vegetation types, the Vegetation map designates specific locations of 17 rare and endangered botanical areas. The appendix provides descriptions of and further information about these categories.

The eastern portion of the County is generally dominated by native vegetation communities and natural habitats. Natural vegetation in the County has been modified especially in valley and foothill areas where intensive urbanization, agriculture, and rural residential development has occurred. In the valley grassland and foothill woodland communities, native bunch grasses have been largely replaced by exotic annual grasses. Native oaks (particularly blue oaks) are being removed for firewood and rangeland development by ranchers who apparently believe that removal of oaks from pasture rangeland will increase grassland production.

Extensive marsh and riparian habitat areas have been converted to agricultural uses and modified for streamflow control. Stands of tan oak and other non-coniferous species ("weed" species) have replaced Ponderosa pine and other commercial timber species in mountain forested areas because of logging operations, fires and development.

Wildlife: The wildlife species within the County are distributed according to available food, water and cover, as well as in relation to opportunities for breeding and nesting. These factors within the vegetation communities create the various wildlife habitats. The general basic habitat types found within the County are described in the Vegetation section and identified on the Vegetation map contained in the appendix.

Special wildlife habitats of significance of critical concern are mapped in the Special Wildlife Habitats map and are described in the appendix. These critical habitats include riparian habitat, the mid-elevation mixed forest habitat of the transition life zone, the migratory deer range, waterbird winter habitat, falcon winter range, turkey winter range, red for range, fisheries habitat, and the range of three rare or endangered bird species: bald eagle (winter range), yellow-billed cuckoo and black rail.

Acoustic Quality: The current ambient noise level in Butte County is low, typical of a rural setting generally, and provides a good living environment almost everywhere in the County. A few areas within the County have higher noise levels from various noise-generating sources, such as traffic noise along State Routes 99E, 70 and 32; the railroad and airport flight-path corridors near Chico and Oroville; the industrial areas south of Oroville and Chico; weekend recreational noise in the Lake Oroville area; and numerous dispersed noise-generating activities such as agricultural production, off-road motorcycle use, etc. Additional detailed information is contained in the Noise Element of the Butte County General Plan.

Visual Quality: The County is predominantly rural, having an agricultural character throughout most of the western portion of the County and a foothill/mountain natural environment character in the eastern portion of the County. The western half of the County, comprising the agricultural and urban areas, is dominated or largely influenced by human development, but provides extensive scenic views of the foothills and mountains toward the east from the valley. The eastern half of the County has a predominantly natural setting with dispersed human activities and modification throughout the lower and middle elevations and logging activities in portions of the middle and higher elevations. The road network throughout the area influences the visual character of the County, with corridor types including the state freeway routes, the extensive County road system, logging roads and numerous private residential access roads. Most roads have required some degree of topographic of vegetation alteration thereby influencing the visual quality of the County.

Archaeological and Historical Resources: Part of Butte County are archaeologically sensitive with numerous know and recorded archaeological sites of Native American importance (Maidu and Yahi tribes) and there is also assumed to be a large number of as yet undiscovered sites. Over 700 archaeological sites are on record, many of which occur in the Lake Oroville region. These were discovered as a result of intensive surveying prior to reservoir completion. Canyon and stream areas are particularly likely to contain sites. The Society for California Archaeology, District 2 Clearinghouse, maintains records of known resources and conducts site surveys in sensitive areas.

The County has experienced a rich history. First historical activities relate to the exploration, settlement and early economy of Butte County starting in the late 1840's particularly as a direct result of the discovery of gold in the foothills. At the time of European settlement, the land was inhabited by the Yahi and Maidu Indians. The last survivor of the Yahi tribe was discovered near Oroville in 1911. Thirty-one historical sites are identified in the California Inventory of Historic Resources (1976).

Population Growth and Characteristics

Historical Trends: When gold was discovered along the Feather River in 1848, the European or non-native population of this area was only 100. Two years later when Butte County was formed as one of the 27 original counties of the new State of California, gold miners and other recent newcomers to the County were still outnumbered by the native American Indian population. Since the County's present boundaries were fixed in 1856, the increase in resident population has been somewhat uneven but generally slow. As shown in the table below, the Federal Census totals have actually decreased three times in the County's history. Since the first census in 1860, Butte County has grown slower than the state as a whole in all but two decades, thus gradually reducing the County's share of California population.

Recent Growth: In a definite reversal of historical trends, Butte County's population growth rate has dramatically increased since 1970, averaging more than 3% per year in the 70's or at least 2 1/2 times California's growth rate. This growth and the resulting increase in the County-State ratio is clearly shown by the population estimates and percentages below.

Reasons for Growth: Only a small part of the County's steady population growth in recent years represents a net natural increase (births minus deaths). Over 90% of the County's recent growth is due to in-migration of new residents, most from the metropolitan areas of the State. This growth reflects a nationwide trend of urban-to-rural migration in the 1970's. The reasons for this movement are complex, but the essential factors in all migration trends are the negative aspects of the migrants' previous residential settings, the positive aspects of their new locations, and their financial capabilities to make the move and support themselves. In this case, people are moving to escape the congestion, pollution and irrigation of large urban environments and to enjoy the natural, semi-rural character of this area. This migration directly increases the County's labor force and service employment, although many of the new residents are retirees and others not in the labor market or able to support themselves without employment earnings.

Population Distribution: The results of the 1975 County-wide Special Census are summarized in the table below for cities, urban areas, high school districts and the entire County. Although less than 30% of the County's population resides within the limits of the four incorporated cities, it is important to note than an additional 50% live in Paradise and the unincorporated parts of the Chico and Oroville urban areas. The Chico and Paradise High School Districts have the highest proportion of residents living in cities or urban areas. While the City of Chico, Chico Urban Area and Chico High School District each remain the largest in their class, the corresponding Paradise areas all showed the largest growth by far in the 1970-75 period, with an annual growth rate of 6% or more.

Population Characteristics: The table below also summarized the two census statistics which have the most bearing on land use planning. Age is an important factor because the needs for various services and the sensitivity to surrounding development can both vary greatly by different age groups. Household size can provide an idea of current overcrowding and the number of housing units needed in the future. The concentration of elderly in Paradise is obvious from the low household sizes and very high median ages. The County's overall median age, however, is not raised significantly by the number of retirees because of the relatively low median ages of the 13,500 students enrolled at California State University of Chico. In a similar fashion, the effect of Paradise's small households on the County average are counter-balanced by the large families found in the Durham, Biggs and Gridley areas.

Future Growth: The State Finance Department and other reliable sources predict that Butte County will continue to grow faster than the State and increase its share of California's population. If the County's recent population growth of 3% per year were to continue into the distant future, the total population would reach 200,000 in 1993 and double every 24 years. However, it is also anticipated that birth rates and fertility levels will continue to decline throughout the country, gradually reducing natural increases in Butte County and nationwide.

Nonetheless, migration from California's metropolitan areas is expected to continue and will undoubtedly continue to represent the largest part of the County's population growth in coming years. This general expectation, and all related population projections, are based on assumptions about the preferences and financial capabilities of retirees and other urban dwellers, the future characteristics of the metropolitan areas, and the County's capacity to accommodate new residents with housing, services, employment and maintenance of environmental quality. Recent migration rates could be accelerated, if the State's metropolitan areas suffered major earthquakes or other drastic reductions in habitability or if the County became the site of new industry or other large new employers. Factors that could inhibit or slow down future growth in the County include limited water and sewer systems in some communities, insufficient employment opportunities or implementation of strict air quality standards.

In 1977 State Finance prepared careful estimates of the net migration into each county for the 1960-1976 period and used them in developing population projections for all 58 counties. Their projections for Butte County, which are shown in the table below, assume that there will be no major wars, earthquakes or other catastrophes, that fertility levels and mortality rates will gradually decline, and that future migration into both California and the County will reflect recent trends. For purposes of comparison, the table also shows the County population projections from the 1971 General Plan and the results of 2.0%, 2.5% and 3.0% growth rates from 1980 to 2000. Note that the State's projections fall within the ranges of the 1971 County projections and that the State has apparently assumed the County growth rate will gradually decline over the next 20 years.

Economic Characteristics

General: Reflecting the increase in population, Butte County has shown substantial economic growth in the 1970's. The Civilian Labor Force has increased almost 35% since 1972 to 55,575 in 1977. Wage and salary employment in 1977 was 39,250, an increase of 39% since 1972. Unemployment remains persistently high, representing 12.2% of the labor force in 1977, well above the state average of 8.2%.

Like employment patterns of the previous decade, wage and salary employment in non-agricultural industries continued to show the highest gains in the County, with agriculture losing a proportionate share of total employment, declining 2% since 1972. The most significant increases in employment in recent years have occurred in retail and wholesale trade and government services. Agriculture, however, continues to be the County's largest industry in terms of production value and will continue to support other sectors of the economy, including retail sales and services and food processing. The shift in employment from agriculture and related support services to other trades has resulted in a diversification and greater balance in the County's employment base.

Crop Land: The 1977 total crop value in the County was $124,801,000, more than doubling crop production values for 1972. Presently, nearly 8% of the wage-and-salary employment in the County is associated with agriculture activities. Total crop acreage has increased approximately 9% since 1972, from 212,979 acres to 233,268 acres in 1977. Nearly 21% of the County's land is thus utilized for crop production.

In 1977, fruit and nut crops provided $63,348,600 in crop value with almonds and persian walnuts accounting for $28,441,000 and $11,059,000 respectively. Approximately 56,300 acres or 25% of the County's crop land was devoted to tree crops, with almonds covering 28,176 acres.

Field crops provided an additional $60,494,400 in crop value in 1977 with rice accounting for $33,115,000. Approximately 176,900 acres or 75% of the County's crop land was utilized for field crops, with rice covering 60,100 acres.

Farm Animals and Poultry: In 1977 livestock and poultry production was third in total agricultural value, following fruit and nut crops and field crops. Livestock and poultry contributed $16,595,700 to the agricultural industry, an increase of 7.4% from 1972 to 300,000 acres in 1977. Production values from grazing on this land accounted for approximately $900,000 in 1977.

Lumber and Wood Processing: In 1976, 33.5% of the County's land area, or 356,000 acres, was devoted to commercial forest land. Approximately 240,000 acres was under ownership of private interests, and public land accounted for the remaining 116,000 acres. From this land, nearly 70 million board feet of lumber was harvested on 1976, amounting to a stumpage value of about 7.5 million dollars.

The processing of lumber and wood products accounts for approximately 50% of all manufacturing employment in the County, except for the agricultural processing season. Approximately 4% of wage and salary employment or 1,650 persons were employed in the lumber and wood industry in 1977. Several large sawmills and hardwood manufacturing plants are located in Chico and Oroville. Small business which process a variety of wood products are also found throughout the populated areas of the County.

Government Services and Education: While the total number of persons employed in Butte County increased 30% from 1972 to 1977, employment in city, district, and County government and in public schools and colleges, increased 33%. These services accounted for 23% of all wage and salary employment in the County in 1977.

The County of Butte is the single largest government employer, budgeting some 1,100 positions in 1977, of which 112 were public service employees sponsored by the Comprehensive Employment Training Act. The state employed 750 persons in the County in 1977, and the federal government had nearly 400 persons.

Educational services at the elementary junior high and high school levels collectively have an enrollment of more than 24,000 students. Advanced education in the County is provided at two academic centers. California State University, Chico, enrolled approximately 13,400 students in 1977, requiring 671 instructional faculty positions. On a smaller scale, Butte Community College offers a two-year academic program oriented to vocational training. In the Fall of 1978, nearly 8,000 students attended the college, with about 62% of the students enrolled on a part-time basis. The college employs approximately 470 persons, 238 of which work part-time.

Retail Trade: After government services, retail trade constitutes the second largest labor force in the County, providing nearly 8,000 jobs in 1977. Since 1972, employment in retail services has increased 7.8% annually. Much of this growth is tied to the County's continually expanding urban population. In 1977, 1493 new businesses in the County were licensed by the State Board of Equalization to sell taxable retail merchandise. Taxable sales from these businesses accounted for nearly $432,000. Approximately 52% of these new businesses were operating in unincorporated areas of the County. In 1970, 1,199 licenses for retail sales were issued with 49% of these distributed in unincorporated areas. Eating and drinking establishments have led all other retail trade industries in job gains in recent years.