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18 W i n e s & V i n e s s e P T e M B e R 2 0 1 4 S E P T E M B E R N E W S N apa Valley, Calif.—In early August Lau- rel Marcus, executive director of the California Land Stewardship Institute, joined local landowners and officials includ- ing U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson to unveil ex- tensive restoration of the Napa River channel planned from Oakville to Oak Knoll in the middle of Napa Valley. The 9-mile stretch is the second-largest seg- ment of the river north of Napa planned for habitat restoration. The new river restoration is concentrated at two large sites in Oakville and Yountville, Calif. The Oakville habitat restoration will occur on two properties owned by Constellation Brands and supplying grapes for its Francis- can and Chateau St. Jean brands as well as one across the river on Cardinale winery property owned by Jackson Family Wines. It will remove levees and create riparian regions as well as a wider river channel and backwaters vital to young Chinook salmon while adding boulders and logs to slow the river flow and create pools. In addition to the land and other resources donated by the landowners, the project re- ceived $1.2 million from the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency and an equal amount from Napa County Measure A funds. The project in Yountville is even larger and involves creating 35 acres of restored habitat. It occurs on property owned by Treasury Wine Estates (its Yountville vineyard), Sil- verado Vineyards, the Missimer family and Traina family along the Napa River south of Yountville Crossroad. The project will remove existing high levees, replacing them with a lower structure with gentle rises farther away from the river to cre- ate more aquatic and riparian habitat. The 65-foot river channel will grow to between 160 and 310 feet. In all, the Yountville project will create 35 acres of new riparian habitat as well as aquatic areas for waterfowl and other animals. This part of the project will cost $6.7 mil- lion, again funded by the EPA and Napa County, and will take two years to complete when construction starts in 2016. Marcus also announced a new Fish Friendly Ranching program and awarded its first certification to Ted and Laddie Hall, and their son Chris, owners of Long Meadow Ranch in St. Helena, Calif. who have exten- sive livestock operations as well as large vineyard holdings. Ted Hall helped develop the original Fish Friendly Farming program, known as Napa Green in that county, as well as the ranching program. —Paul Franson Many Wineries Involved in Repair of Napa River U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson speaks with Rachel Ashley, vice president of grape resources for Treasury Wine Estates.