ProtectedAreas_Solar (FeatureServer)

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Service Description: The protected area layer is a composite GIS layer designed to encompass areas where utility-scale renewable energy or transmission development is precluded by state or federal law, policy, or regulation. It draws from several protected areas datasets, local, state or federal land that is designated for other uses, easements, and other similar designations. The protected area layer is combined with the techno-economic exclusion layer to form the base exclusions in the CEC 2023 Land Use Screens.

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ProtectedAreas_Solar (0)

Description: The geospatial data reflected in the protected area layer mostly pertain to natural and wilderness areas where development of utility-scale renewable energy is prohibited and were heavily based on RETI 1.0 blackout areas.¹ The protected area layer is distinguished for solar PV technology by the BLM greater sage grouse habitat management area which provides separate exclusion areas for the different technology types. The tables below lists the data sources and precise selection query for each dataset, if applicable, that make up the protected area layer.

[1] Final RETI Phase 2A report, available at https://ww2.energy.ca.gov/2009publications/RETI-1000-2009-001/RETI-1000-2009-001-F-REV2.PDF.

For a complete description of the creation of this layer and its use in electric system planning, please read the Land Use Screens Staff Report in the CEC Energy Planning Library.

Table 1: Datasets used in the Protected Area Layer

Dataset	Example Designations	Citation or hyperlink
PAD-US (CBI Edition)	National Parks, GAP Status 1 and 2, State Parks, Open Spaces, Natural Areas	“PAD-US (CBI Edition) Version 2.1b, California”. Conservation Biology Institute. 2016. https://databasin.org/datasets/64538491f43e42ba83e26b849f2cad28.
Conservation Easements		California Conservation Easement Database (CCED), 2022a. 2022. www.CALands.org. Accessed December 2022.
Inventoried Roadless Areas		“Inventoried Roadless Areas.” US Forest Service. Dec 12, 2022. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/roadless/2001roadlessrule/maps/?cid=stelprdb5382437
BLM National Landscape Conservation System	Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, National Monuments, National Conservation Lands, Conservation Lands of the California Desert, Scenic Rivers	https://gbp-blm-egis.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/BLM-EGIS::blm-ca-wilderness-areas https://gbp-blm-egis.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/BLM-EGIS::blm-ca-wilderness-study-areas https://gbp-blm-egis.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/BLM-EGIS::blm-ca-national-monuments-nca-forest-reserves-other-poly/
Greater Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Areas (BLM)	For solar technology: BLM_Managm IN (‘PHMA’, ‘GHMA’, ‘OHMA’) For wind technology: BLMP_Managm = ‘PHMA’	“Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment.” US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Nevada State Office. 2015. https://eplanning.blm.gov/public_projects/lup/103343/143707/176908/NVCA_Approved_RMP_Amendment.pdf
Other BLM Protected Areas	Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs), Recreation Areas (SRMA, ERMA, OHV Designated Areas), including Vinagre Wash Special Recreation Management Area, National Scenic Areas, including Alabama Hills National Scenic Area	https://gbp-blm-egis.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/BLM-EGIS::blm-ca-off-highway-vehicle-designations<o:p></o:p> https://gbp-blm-egis.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/BLM-EGIS::blm-ca-areas-of-critical-environmental-concern<o:p> https://gbp-blm-egis.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/BLM-EGIS::blm-az-area-of-critical-environmental-concern-polygon [Big Marias ACEC and Beale Slough Riparian and Cultural ACEC] BLM, personal communication, November 2, 2022.
Mono Basin NFSA		https://pcta.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=cf1495f8e09940989995c06f9e290f6b#overview
Terrestrial 30x30 Conserved Areas	Gap Status 1 and 2	CA Nature. 30x30 Conserved Areas, Terrestrial. 2021. https://www.californianature.ca.gov/datasets/CAnature::30x30-conserved-areas-terrestrial/ Accessed September 2022.
CPAD	Open Spaces and Parks under city or county level	California Protected Areas Database (CPAD), 2022b. 2022. https://www.calands.org/cpad/. Accessed February 22, 2023.
USFS Special Interest Management Areas	Research Natural Areas, Recreation Areas, National Recreational Trail, Experimental Forest, Scenic Area	https://data-usfs.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/usfs::special-interest-management-areas-feature-layer/about
Proposed Protected Area	Molok Luyuk Extension (Berryessa Mtn NM Expansion)	CalWild, personal communication, January 19, 2023.

Table 2: Query Definition for Components of Protected Areas

Dataset	SQL Query
PAD-US (CBI Edition)	p_des_tp IN ('Wild, Scenic and Recreation River', 'Area of Critical Environmental Concern', 'Ecological Reserve', 'National Conservation Area', 'National Historic Site', 'National Historical Park', 'National Monument', 'National Park General Public Land', 'National Preserve', 'National Recreation Area', 'National Scenic Area', 'National Seashore', 'Wilderness Study Area', 'Wilderness Area', 'Wildlife Management Area', 'State Wildlife Management Area', 'State Park', 'State Recreation Area', 'State Nature Preserve/Reserve', 'State Natural Area', 'State Ecological Reserve', 'State Cultural/Historic Area', 'State Beach', 'Special Management Area', 'National Wildlife Refuge', 'Natural Area', 'Nature Preserve', 'Research Natural Area') Or s_des_tp IN ('Natioanal Monument', 'National Monument', 'National Park General Public Land', 'National Preserve', 'National Recreation Area', 'National Scenic Area', 'National Seashore', 'National Conservation Area', 'Area of Critical Environmental Concern', 'National Wildlife Refuge', 'State Park', 'State Wildlife Area', 'State Wildlife Management Area', 'State Wildlife Refuge', 'State Ecological Reserve', 'Wild, Scenic and Recreation River', 'Wilderness Area', 'Wildlife Management Area') Or t_des_tp IN ('National Monument', 'National Park General Public Land', 'National Recreation Area', 'Area of Critical Environmental Concern', 'National Conservation Area', 'State Wildlife Management Area', 'Wild, Scenic and Recreation River', 'Wildlife Management Area') Or p_loc_ds IN ('Ecological Reserve', 'Research and Educational Land') Or gap_sts IN ('1', '2') Or own_type = 'Private Conservation Land' Or (own_type = 'Local Land' And (p_des_tp LIKE '%"Open Space"%' Or p_des_tp LIKE '%Park%' Or p_des_tp LIKE '%Recreation Area%' Or p_des_tp LIKE '%Natural Area%')) Or (p_des_tp = 'Other State Land' And (p_loc_ds IN ('State Vehicular Recreation Area', 'BLM Resource Management Area', 'Resource Management Area') And gap_sts <> '2'))
CPAD	AGNCY_LEV IN ('City', 'County') And ACCESS_TYP = 'Open Access' And (UNIT_NAME LIKE '%Park%' OR UNIT_NAME LIKE '%Open Space%' OR UNIT_NAME LIKE '%park%' OR UNIT_NAME LIKE '%Recreation Area%' OR UNIT_NAME LIKE '%Natural Area%' OR GAP2_acres > 0 OR GAP1_acres >0)
Greater Sage- Grouse Habitat Conservation Areas (BLM)	For Solar Technology: BLM_Managm IN (‘PHMA’, ‘GHMA’, ‘OHMA’) For Wind Technology: BLM_Managm = ‘PHMA’

Copyright Text: California Protected Areas Database (CPAD - www.calands.org). December 2022.

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