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Napa Resource Conservation District
In March 1999, the CIWMB awarded contracts to two partnerships in the Napa/Sonoma area
to demonstrate the effectiveness of mulch on hillside erosion control in vineyards. Both
groups spread mulch made from yard trimmings on hillside vineyards in the winter of 2000
and will monitor erosion after each major storm event until May 2001. The partnership
headed by the Napa Resource Conservation District (RCD), which received $99,148 in project
funding, will apply mulch within the vine row and cover crops will be used between vine
rows. Members of this partnership provided matching funds in excess of the contract
funding.
An article from August 1999 Wine Business Monthly
discusses the studies and the importance of erosion control in hillside vineyards.
Goals
- Develop markets for mulch made from municipal yard trimmings.
- Increase the use of mulch in agriculture.
- Create public/private partnerships that will produce meaningful and credible study
results.
Partnership Organization Napa RCD.
Contract Manager: Will Bakx, Sonoma Compost.
Key Partners: Napa RCD, Sotoyome RCD, University of California Cooperative
Extension, USDA– NRCS, Sonoma Compost, Napa Garbage Company, and the City of Napa.
Participating Vineyards: Beringer Wine Estates, Walsh Vineyards Management, Iron
Horse Vineyards, and Everett Ridge Vineyards.
Project Components
- Partnership Development and Implementation of Work Plan.
The partnership team will
meet periodically and develop a detailed work plan for evaluating the use of mulch for
erosion control in vineyards. Erosion control will be monitored through the spring of
2001.
Development and Dissemination of Information. During the course of the contract, the
partnership team will develop and disseminate news releases, fact sheets, and other
outreach materials.
Coordination of Field Days and Workshops. The partnership will conduct at least two
field days or workshops while work is in progress and at least one workshop for
wine-grape
growers at the conclusion of the demonstration.
Project Evaluation. Throughout the project, the team will evaluate soil loss and
changes in the physical properties of the soil.
Submission of Quarterly and Final Reports. Quarterly reports will convey project
progress while the final report will summarize project protocol and findings.
Purpose
- Demonstrate the value of mulch for hillside erosion control in vineyards, specifically
within the vine row.
- Disseminate the results of the demonstration project to wine-grape growers in Napa and
Sonoma counties.
Contact:
Brian Larimore |
