Contact: Suzanne Webb (707.577.7700 x108)
2009 Wine Country Water Summit
Looks at the Future of North Bay Water Resources
Santa Rosa, California (July 30, 2009) — A team of water officials, community leaders and business executives strategized the complex and controversial future of North Bay water resources at the 2009 Wine Country Water Summit. The event was held July 16 at the Event Center of Sonoma Mountain Village in Rohnert Park, Calif.
Publisher Robert Merletti of Vineyard & Winery Management magazine and his associates saw the need for a conference after learning the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) officially declared a countywide drought in early 2009. “The water shortage pressures everyone living and working in the North Bay,” said Merletti.
“Vineyard & Winery Management magazine demonstrated leadership in organizing a regional conference about water issues,” said Grant Davis, assistant general manager of the SCWA.
Tension filled the air at times, but by end of day, nearly everyone agreed the summit provided a necessary forum. “No successful solution will be found unless all interested parties participate in the discussion,”
During his keynote address, J. Dietrich Stroeh of CSW/Struber-
Delivered via a framework of half-hour presentations and panel discussions, the summit addressed water monitoring, recycling and reuse, endangered species, collection and storage, conservation and bureaucratic communications.
Speakers offered an array of success stories and solutions.
Sean White, general manager of the Mendocino County-Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District, discussed the benefits of collection ponds for agricultural use as well as water level gauges on the Russian River for protecting wildlife. He helped acquire $5.7M from the Federal Agricultural Water Enhancement Program for constructing storage ponds in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. He also explained how better management of overhead sprinklers can reduce water applied to vineyard frost protection.
Dan Carlson, deputy of the City of Santa Rosa Utilities Department, covered the success of recycling programs like the one used by his municipality. Santa Rosa currently recycles all of its wastewater into farms, vineyards, parks, landscaping and golf courses.
A proposed $385 million plan by the Sonoma County Water Agency to construct a network of reservoirs and pipeline prompted the most debate. Critics say using recycled water for agriculture is unsafe because harmful trace chemicals will work their way into groundwater while proponents, including Carlson and Davis, claim recycled water is nearly potable in quality.
Meteorologist Mike Pechner of KCBS All News 740AM delivered some promising statistics: Lake Mendocino is holding steady at 64% of total capacity while Marin County residents are using less water this year than they did in 2008. “This conference comes at a difficult time for small vineyard owners,” he added. “Their concerns about the recession can only be exacerbated by their worries over water.”
Other highlights included a discussion of “Endangered Species Issues” by Dr. David Smith of Merritt Smith Consulting, and “What to Expect in the Next 10 Years in Santa Rosa” by Mayor Susan Gorin.
Also presenting were Bradley Baker, president and CEO, Codding Investments;
A second Wine Country Water Summit is already being planned.
About the producer
Vineyard & Winery Services Inc. publishes Vineyard & Winery Management magazine (www.vwm-online.com)
