Protecting Our Environment - The Napa Green Program
The Napa Green program was officially launched in the spring of 2002. The purpose is to develop a voluntary program where Napa Valley grapegrowers can participate in a farm planning process that will enhance the watershed and restore habitat with sustainable agriculture while meeting or exceeding county, state and federal regulations such as the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, California Department of Fish and Game Code, and County Conservation Regulations.
The Farm Plan addresses all aspects of the vineyard and property and outlines practices to achieve soil conservation, water conservation, stable drainage, riparian corridor enhancement, fisheries enhancement and long-term improvement and sustainability. An inventory and assessment of the natural resources, streams, soils, topography, and vegetation of the property as well as an analysis of current management practices will be perfomred as part of the plan.
The project received a grant in the amount of $292,000 from the Coastal Conservancy, which will allow for the development of the farm planning program and Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) and initial farm planning workshops. These components will be specific to the Napa River watershed and will be technically based and involve significant scientific analysis. The majority (90%) of the Napa River watershed is in private ownership and the program creates a public/private partnership to enhance the watershed.
A Technical Advisory Group has formed which consists of local natural resource specialists such as USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Napa County Resource Conservation District, California Department of Fish and Game, Napa County Planning, Conservation and Development Department, Sierra Club, Friends of the Napa River, Napa County Farm Bureau, Napa Valley Vintners, Napa County Grapegrowers, individual growers and property owners and representatives from other interested stakeholder organizations.
The Program has support from a wide variety of groups including the Napa County Grapegrowers Association, Napa Valley Vintners, Napa County Farm Bureau, Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner, UC Cooperative Extension, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of Fish and Game. The Napa County Resource Conservation District will be the lead agency in facilitating and administering the program.
Napa Valley Vintner members are actively involved in programs that conserve our natural resources.
