Introduction

Mono County's Conservation/Open Space Element is a combination of mandatory General Plan elements:  the Conservation Element and the Open Space Element.

State law (Government Code §65302 (d)) requires the Conservation Element to include policies for the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources including water, forests, soils, rivers, lakes, fisheries, wildlife, minerals, and other natural resources. The Conservation Element shall consider the effect of development, as described in the Land Use Element, on natural resources located on public lands, including military installations, and shall identify rivers, creeks, streams, flood corridors, riparian habitats, and land that may accommodate floodwater for purposes of groundwater recharge. The Conservation Element may also address:

• The reclamation of land and water;
• Prevention and control of the pollution of streams and other waters;
• Regulation of the use of land in stream channels and other areas required for the accomplishment of the conservation plan;
• Prevention, control, and correction of the erosion of soils, beaches, and shores;
• Protection of watersheds; and
• The location, quantity and quality of the rock, sand and gravel resources.

The Open Space Element is the county's Open Space Plan. Open space is defined in Government Code §65560 as any parcel or area of land or water essentially unimproved and devoted to an open-space use and designated in an open space plan for one or more of the following reasons, to:

• Provide outdoor recreation;
• Preserve natural resources;
• Manage production of resources;
• Provide for public health and safety;
• Support the mission of military installations; and
• Protect Native American places, features and objects (see PRC §5097.9 and 5097.993).

This Element serves as the county's Open Space Plan and contains policies to designate lands for open-space uses.

An inventory of the county's resources (the Master Environmental Assessment or MEA) is the foundation of the Conservation/Open Space Element. The goals, objectives, policies, and actions in this Element are based upon information in the MEA. The Conservation/Open Space Element opens with an overall Open Space Goal followed by goals, objectives, policies, and actions for the following nine resource areas:

Biological Resources;                                                Visual Resources;

Water Resources and Water Quality;                          Outdoor Recreation;

Agriculture, Grazing, Timber;                                   Cultural Resources; and

Mineral Resources;                                                   Public Health and Safety.

Energy Resources;