LandWatch State of Monterey County Report 1998

3.1 Introduction

State of Monterey County 1998 is the first annual comprehensive assessment of land use, the environment, and infrastructure for Monterey County. Prepared by LandWatch Monterey County, a nonprofit, public benefit corporation dedicated to promoting better land use planning, State of Monterey County 1998 provides an integrated overview of parameters broadly affecting the environmental and economic health of the County in the following areas:

• Population trends;
• Development and land use trends;
• Affordable housing needs;
• Water supplies;
• Water quality;
• Wastewater capacities;
• Air quality;
• Roads, highways, and traffic congestion;
• Economics;
• Schools;
• The status of local General Plans.

State of Monterey County 1998 includes LandWatch's recommendations. We encourage all Monterey County residents to become familiar with the State of Monterey County and to play an active role in maintaining Monterey County's quality of life.

Most of the data included in this report were compiled from reports prepared by local agencies. However, LandWatch compiled and analyzed Section 3.3 (Approved and Unconstructed Projects and Pending Development), using data from environmental impact reports and local jurisdictions; no current list was available from local agencies.

State of Monterey County 1998, as the first report of its kind, establishes baseline data that can be evaluated regularly and compared from year to year. The State of Monterey County will be updated and refined annually, providing residents with the necessary information to track whether conditions are improving or worsening. We anticipate adding new parameters as data become available and plan to conduct more refined analyses as resources allow.

This first year's report was prepared in a short time to provide a context for current land use debates. We welcome your suggestions for future amendments.

2.0 Summary of Indicators