Recent vineyard decisions good for economy, environment

Patricia Damery • 06.09.24

For the first time, three of our five Napa County supervisors voted to uphold regulations already in place but which, in the past, have been "mitigated" by a system in which the interests of certain factions of the wine industry have too often determined.

In the appeal of the Le Colline Vineyard project by the Center For Biological Diversity, the supervisors upheld the appeal, citing 14 conservation regulations that have always been a part of our General Plan. This is a testament to the power of collective action in environmental advocacy.

The Vida Valiente winery project faced scrutiny by the Planning Commission. Two of the three commissioners, citing safety concerns, voted against the project. The winery's access on a substandard public road, Crystal Springs Road, was a key issue. State Minimum Fire Safe Standards stipulate that public road access to a project must allow an exiting vehicle to pass safety vehicles. This requirement is not met on stretches of Crystal Springs Road, raising significant safety concerns.

These votes are not against agriculture, but rather, they consider the entire situation, especially the pressing issue of climate change. Drought and fire will almost certainly be a growing part of our future. The health of our watersheds, crucial for our groundwater and surface runoff, is at stake.

Residents' safety in these very high-fire areas is also at stake. In Napa County, the mountainous Ag Watershed lands are in high and very high fire-designated regions, making the need for their protection even more urgent.

As our permitting process undergoes changes, it is crucial that our county adheres to those minimum fire-safe regulations. This is especially important for developments in designated high and very high fire areas, which are integral parts of our watersheds. Perhaps we should consider a model where the zoned Ag Watershed lands prioritize watershed protection. Only then, if the soils and the area can safely support vines, should we consider agriculture. Our survival as a premium wine region hinges on our commitment to the environment.