"All is not well in wine country," reports brave editor Stett Holbrook. Be sure to read his long, research cover article "Of Water & Wine" in this week's Bohemian. "New vineyards and resorts rising above the Napa Valley threaten the region's water," reads the sub-title. Sound familiar?
Fortunately, Stett adds, "A growing number of residents decry the region's proliferation of upscale hotels, the wineries that double as event centers and the strain on Napa Valley's water resources." Sounds like Sonoma County. "I want to know where the water will come from," says Christina Aranguren, a critic of the proposed resort recently bought for $800 million by a Hong Kong real estate conglomerate. It plans to cut 8000 trees. Other vineyard developers propose removing 23,000 trees in the 2,300 acre Walt Ranch.
Wine and Water Watch (www.winewaterwatch.org) activist Geoff Ellsworth of St. Helena is quoted as saying, "This big corporation is competing against that big corporation and the collateral damage are the citizens and the flora and fauna."
The cover features a photo of Napa winemaker and conservationist Volker Eisele, held by his son Alexander, who now runs their distinguished winery. Volker died in 2015, after identifying hillside protection as critical to land use.
Napa County Farm Bureau president Norma Tofanelli--a 4th generation farmer and grape grower--is quoted as saying, "We've lost the idea of what the ag preserve was. It was about saving land. It had nothing to do with wineries." Tofanelli has spoken at Wine and Water Watch meetings in defense of land use to really preserve ag.
Meanwhile, prominent Napa County vintners--such as Paul Hobbs & Joe Wagner--have expanded their operations to Sonoma County and elsewhere--cutting down forests, spraying chemicals to create what has been described as "chainsaw wine." They pay meager fines, for them, like $100,000 to $1 million for breaking the law.
Why are other local publications--like the Press Democrat and Sonoma West--not adequately covering these important issues and those mentioned in the following description of the "Common Ground" film at the Sebastopol Grange this Monday, 6/20, 7 p.m. ? Recent wine industry expansions in the Russian River area are particularly threatening, as they have long been in Sonoma Valley and North County.
Please join myself, geologist & water activist Jane Nielson, Ph.D., and other water, forest, and food ag. activists who plan to come to the following "Common Ground" film and discussion Mon., 7 p.m. on Land Use in Sonoma County.
As an alternative to Big Wine's mono-crop plans for land use in Sonoma County, the Sebastopol Grange will debut the following film "Common Ground" on June 20, Mon., 7 p.m. It will be followed by a community conversation with some who appear in the film. The Grange is located at 6000 Highway 12, between Sebastopol and Santa Rosa. Please join us and speak up. More information below.
Is there room in Sonoma County for agriculture, affordable housing and open space?
Join us for the public debut of "Common Ground: Speaking Out on Land Use in Sonoma County," a short film featuring the diverse perspectives of local farmers, environmentalists and affordable housing advocates on the topic of land use and the need for a shared dialogue in our community.
As a group project by students of the Leadership Institute for the Economy & Ecology, this film begins with the premise that our county faces huge barriers to preserving our natural environment, keeping farms viable and assuring that everyone has access to a home---we also believe that all stakeholders bring a unique perspective on what constitutes optimal land-use and that a healthy exchange of ideas can foster more resilient and equitable land-use policy.
After the screening of this film, we'll host a guided conversation to share ideas, perspectives and begin to forge the alliances needed for long-term solutions.
FEATURED IN THE FILM & PROJECT:
- Davin Cardenas, North Bay Organizing Project
- Brock Dolman, Occidental Arts & Ecology Center
- Elizabeth Kaiser, Singing Frogs Farm
- Lisa Micheli, Pepperwood Preserve
- Adrienne Lauby, Homeless Action!
- Jesse Pizzitola, First Light Farm
- Trathen Heckman, Daily Acts
- Jesús Guzmán, Graton Day Labor Center (Centro Laboral de Graton)
- Annie Dobbs Kramer, North Bay Organizing Project
- Scott Johnson, MidPen Housing
- Paul Kaiser, Singing Frogs Farm
Created by: Noah Andrus, Janae Lloyd, Stewart McBride, Chris Melançon, Teri Shore, Jim Taggart, Vicki Vaughn & Evan Wiig