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Section II. Defining and Scoring the California Land <br />Evaluation and Site Assessment Model Factors <br />This section provides detailed step -by -step instructions for the measurement and scoring <br />of each of the Land Evaluation and Site Assessment factors that are utilized in the <br />California Agricultural LESA Model, and is intended to serve as an introduction to the <br />process of utilizing the Model. Once users are familiar with the Model, a more streamlined <br />set of instructions and scoring sheets is available in Appendix A. In addition, the scoring of <br />a hypothetical project is presented using these scoring sheets in Appendix B. <br />Scorinq of Land Evaluation Factors <br />The California LESA Model includes two Land Evaluation factors that are separately rated: <br />1. The Land Capability Classification Rating <br />2. The Storie Index Rating <br />The information needed to make these ratings is typically available from soil surveys that <br />have been conducted by the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly <br />known as the Soil Conservation Service). Consultation should be made with NRCS staff <br />(Feld offices exist in most counties) to assure that valid and current soil resource <br />information is available for the project site. Copies of soil surveys are available at local <br />Feld offices of the NRCS, and may also be available through libraries, city and county <br />planning departments, the Cooperative Extension, and other sources. In addition, a <br />Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS) may also be consulted to obtain appropriate <br />soil resource information for the project site. A directory of CPSS registered soil <br />consultants is available through the Professional Soil Scientists Association of California, <br />P.O. Box 3213, Yuba City, CA 95992 -3213; phone: (916) 671 -4276. <br />1) The USDA Land Capability Classification (LCC) - The LCC indicates the <br />suitability of soils for most kinds of crops. Groupings are made according to <br />the limitations of the soils when used to grow crops, and the risk of damage <br />to soils when they are used in agriculture. Soils are rated from Class I to <br />Class VIII, with soils having the fewest limitations receive the highest rating <br />(Class 1). Specific subclasses are also utilized to further characterize soils. <br />An expanded explanation of the LCC is included in most soil surveys. <br />2) The Storie Index- The Storie Index provides a numeric rating (based upon a <br />100 point scale) of the relative degree of suitability or value of a given soil for <br />intensive agriculture. The rating is based upon soil characteristics only. Four <br />factors that represent the inherent characteristics and qualities of the soil are <br />