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area as a rural landscape. A case study of farms revealed that the county's rural landscape has an existing structure. Certain areas were left vegetated; usually in wet areas along a stream corridor. Higher ground with well - drained soils were usually cleared and used for crops. Understanding the functions performed on the land allows for a systematic conservation plan to be developed. A conservation plan provides for a planned management of the rural landscape while following the traditional structure, which has been realized generation after generation of using the land. Siran described the land use unit process for analysis and a "land unit" (as being the crown of land between streams of the same order). The land unit process follows the farm's description and can be described as looking at water - collecting and water - gathering slopes as the organizing structure of rural land development. This approach provides a way to evaluate the land using its physical characteristics, while quantitatively measuring the characteristics. Siran described an overlay process using data available for each factor evaluated, such a s soil, slope, topography and vegetation that assigns values to these factors after the maps are combined. The values assigned reflect the factor's contribution to the structure of the rural landscape. The overlays are used produce a results map. The "results map" is a combination of the land unit process and the farm description, which led to the conservation map of rural lands. The conservation map reflects the qualities which are instrumental in maintaining the county's rural landscape structure. Siran described that the land unit process is important because: • It parallels the same process the farmer has used to develop their land into an agriculture landscape. • Agriculture has always been a strong force in the county, as a land use but also economically and socially. • The land unit process recognizes this because it works with the traditional land structure of the county. • This allows the process to be used for more than acquiring conservation land; it also can be used to provide a systematic approach for accommodating new development into the traditional structure. • The land unit process of analysis is systematic and therefore easily replicated. • It is a systematic because it uses factual data on the lands natural characteristics, such as stream channels, soil, topography, slope, and vegetation. • This data is available for the entire county and this allows it be applied to other farms throughout the county. • The ease of replicating this process allows it to be easily regulated and used as a planning tool for the county. Members thanked Siran and asked if she could help with identifying agricultural priority areas later this year, and asked her to be involved in future agricultural areas discussions. ITEM #4b: Priority Setting for Fall 2003 Agendas Stancil briefly reviewed a "straw" set of priorities based on previous discussions. Draft k -2-