State regulators debate water restrictions for fish and frost

State water officials fear local grape growers may dry up fish
spawning habitat in the Russian River and its tributaries again
next spring when vineyards pump river and stream water to protect
vines against frost.
“We know that frost protection has caused major reductions in
stream flow,” said Steve Edmondson, Northern California Habitat
Supervisor for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
The reduced flows are posing “significant threats to threatened
salmon populations,” said Edmondson in remarks to a state Water
Resources Control Board workshop held two weeks ago in Sacramento
to address Russian River watershed frost protection practices and
their potential damaging effects on the River’s endangered native
fishery.
Incidents of vineyard diversions killing fish were cited last
spring and the year before as reasons why vineyard frost protection
practices need greater regulation, said NMFS. The agency is in
charge of administering the federal Endangered Species Act, which
has listed the Russian River’s native salmon and steelhead as being
in danger of extinction.
NMFS wants regulations in place by next spring to prevent fish
from being stranded when multiple instantaneous diversions of river
or stream water have been shown to drastically drop water levels. A
fish kill in Healdsburg’s Felta Creek two years ago was attributed
to a vineyard frost protection diversion.
Winegrowers have countered with ambitious new self-governance
proposals they say will protect fish and still allow safe use of
river and stream diversions when needed to protect crops against
frost.
Growers last month submitted a Russian River Frost Program they
say will result in a coordinated effort among Russian River
watershed vineyards to manage the diversion and use of River and
stream water for frost protection.
“This grassroots, cooperative approach has already resulted in
immediate and real improvements,” said a winegrower statement to
the water board last month. “Under this Frost Program, both
episodes of alleged frost diversion-related stranding mortality
referred to in the National Marine Fisheries Service February 2009
letter to the State Water Board have been resolved and actions are
being taken to prevent similar problems from recurring in the
future.”
Off-stream ponds to reduce water diversion rates have already
been constructed, alternative water sources are being developed,
and BMPs (best management practices) are being implemented, said
the growers.
“As the program continues to implement these and other
conservation actions, it will ensure the continued sustainability
of fish and farms; recognizing that the prosperity of each, and
that of our communities, is intertwined,” said the growers’
statement.
“The frost program will enable growers to comply with the ESA,
negating the need for further regulation,” said the program cover
letter to state officials.
“A ban on the use of direct diversion for frost protection will
cause economic ruin for farm families and the communities that
support them,” said the letter signed by Mendocino and Sonoma
County agricultural representatives, including Sonoma County
Winegrape Commission President Nick Frey.
“The growers produced about a 142-page document detailing what
they would do to provide information to the state Water Resources
Control Board that will lead to better insight as to exactly what
risk frost protection does pose to the water supply and fish,” said
Frey.
“They’ve demonstrated a committed effort to conserve water,”
said Frey.
Frey said growers are awaiting word from state officials next
month on whether they will accept the growers plans or insist on
new regulations.
“I have no idea what will come out in January,” said Frey, “but
there is a risk that there will be limits to water availability in
some watersheds.”
The Winegrape Commission is holding meetings this month and in
January on how new restrictions could affect growers. Alternatives,
such as using wind machines for frost protection, and buying crop
insurance, are being promoted.
In the current uncertainty, “Growers really need to get crop
insurance,” said Frey.
Last year NMFS recommended a ban on Russian River watershed
stream diversions for frost protection, which if implemented could
have wiped out some grape crops.
“Not use water, period,” said Frey. “That’s a very draconian
measure,” considering there are only two documented fish kills, one
in Hopland and on Felta Creek, a tributary of Mill Creek.
The Felta Creek vineyard no longer uses stream diversion for
frost protection, said Frey. “This year they are no longer taking
water out of that stream,” said Frey. “We’ll watch next spring, but
that problem should be resolved.”
“As far as I know that was the only known fish kill in Sonoma
County due to frost protection,” said Frey. “There are only two
known points of data for dewatering. To extrapolate those two
incidents to mean there are fish kills on all streams is a stretch
if you don’t have the data,” said Frey.
The Growers’ proposal includes monitoring “to supply the water
board with the information that proves that point,” said Frey.
“The growers are going to report the data. It’s going to be
public,” said Frey.
“If the data says there’s a problem the growers understand that
under the Endangered Species Act they have to remedy the problem.
The growers feel like we can address the problems if we have
them.”
There are now more than 60,000 acres of vineyards in the Russian
River watershed, most of them within 300 feet of salmon habitat,
according to NMFS. That’s a 40 percent increase in vineyard acreage
in the last ten years, according to NMFS.