Author: Ariel Osborne
Abtract:
In Napa County, CA, groundwater is the major source of water for fueling the wine industry. The population in the valley is mainly supported by harvesting from the fully allocated Napa River. With vineyard acreage increasing and densification of existing acreage, demand on these limited sources is predicted to increase, but lack of information on what water remains underground could put growers and wine producers in a tough situation. However, Napa has not reached a situation where independence has had to be compromised. Many types of groups, non-profits, grower alliances, and citizens, have taken ownership of the vitality and viability of their watershed and water supply. Using a studying conducted in 2005 on the state of water supply and demand in the Napa County and its predictions on what will happen in the future, this paper demonstrates the weaknesses for both regions, but highlights what collaborative decision-making and efforts have done for watershed management. The response the community has been able to give when problems arise has been effective in changing trends, such as hillside cultivation, and information is accessible to those who are interested. Opportunities are available for everyone to be involved, and though water has had to have supplementation in recent years from state agencies, the percentage is low and the efforts to curb their consumption have seen results.
Key References:
Broome, Janet C, & Warner, Keith Douglass. (2008). Agro-environmental partnerships facilitate sustainable wine-grape production and assessment. California Agriculture, 62(4), pgs. 133-141. Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/5kh383br 1 April 2010.
Chhabra, Deepak. ÒEconomic Impact of Nature Tourism: A Case Study of Napa County, CA.Ó Retrieved from: ertr.tamu.edu/attachments/241_a-2-3-2.pdf
Doremus, H. D., & Tarlock, A. D. (2008). Water War in the Klamath Basin: Macho Law, Combat Biology, and Dirty Politics (1 ed.). Washington, DC: Island Press.
Nakano, Gerry,
Project Manager, and J. J. Westra,
Project Engineer. ÒTechnical Memorandum No. 2-7: 2050 Napa Valley Water Resources
Study. Unincorporated Water DemandsÓ.
19 October 2005. Retrieved from http://www.napawatersheds.org/docs.php?oid=13166&ogid=10610.