Water, wine and marijuana

From the High Country News’ GOAT blog: Blogger Felice Pace writes that while there is much focus right now on water issues in the Central Valley, there are other water conflicts going on which aren’t getting the same attention:

Nevertheless, these other water conflicts are arguably just as important to the future of California as high profile Central Valley conflicts. Here then is a brief description of one California water conflict which may erupt into public and media consciousness over the next year:

The area between San Francisco Bay and the Oregon Border includes the wine counties of Marin, Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino as well as Humboldt and Del Norte Counties where the timber and marijuana industries dominate. In the wine counties a petition by Trout Unlimited early in the new century focused on reversing the progressive dewatering of Northcoast streams and rivers which support ESA-threatened Coho and other salmon. This led to passage by California’s legislature of AB 2121 in 2004. The law directed California’s State Water Resources Control Board (SWRC) to “adopt principles and guidelines for maintaining instream flows in coastal streams from the Mattole River to San Francisco and in coastal streams entering northern San Pablo Bay” on or before January 1, 2008.

The Water Board has not completed the task. They did come out with a Draft policy in 2008. The draft policy favors a “collaborative” approach that brings together water diverters to find ways to restore Northcoast stream flows. This is the approach favored by Trout Unlimited; it fits in well with the fishing groups national approach which favors collaboration; TU’s chief operating officer, Chris Wood, has advocated for collaborative approaches on this web site.

But the Draft Policy – and Trout Unlimited’s support for “collaboration” with the wine industry – has created controversy and conflict within the environmental and fishing communities. Led by the Redwood Chapter of thy Sierra Club, several local environmental groups say that “collaboration” with those who are illegally diverting Northcoast streams will not restore streamflows. These folks are pushing for straight-up enforcement of applicable Water and Fish & Game Codes.

Apparently, there are a lot of illegal diversions going on, both to wineries and pot farms – at least 1700 documented illegal dams, ponds, and water diversions – some from newer wineries, and some from marijuana growers. Read more from the GOAT blog by clicking here.

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