Uses of LESA

A LESA system can provide useful information to:

• Identify important farmland.
• Implement national, state, and local farmland protection policies.
• Prepare and update comprehensive land-use plans.
• Guide the appropriate use of state, local, or federal funds.
• Implement a program to purchase or transfer development rights.
• Prepare environmental impact statements as they relate to agricultural land.
• Plan water and natural resource projects.
• Plan sewage, water, and transportation systems.
• Determine the minimum size of farm units to be included in agricultural districts.

Assessments can help communities make more enduring land-use decisions by basing local planning decisions on natural resource attributes, as well as on cultural, social, and economic community values. Montana’s Statewide LESA system has two overall objectives:

• Facilitate identification and protection of important agricultural land.
• Assist in implementing farmland protection policies such as the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP).

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