Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/437909
42 Wines&Vines January 2015 GRapEGRoWiNG because their water permits pro- hibit capturing stream water after March 31—even though there are sometimes significant rain events in April or even May. Smith said that growers told her, "If I could just enter summer with a full pond, it would really help." So that's what she and her team are working to help create. "We're ex- ploring how, through the state per- mitting process, folks might be allowed to divert water past March as long as our stream gauges show there is more than enough available to meet the needs of the fish." "Everyone has been interested in finding solutions, and they want to find them in a collabora- tive way. It's very refreshing." It's also refreshing to the region's winemakers, who would like to get more flexibility around strict water rights and permits. "We needed The Conservancy's exper- tise to explain to state water de- cision-makers what we needed, and to do something about it," Fay said. "We're really lucky someone cared as much about the valley and our wineries—as well as bringing back native fish—as we do," Fay said. "Because ultimately, that's what all of us in the Ander- son Valley care about: just having a healthy water source." It's a challenge trying to bal- ance the water needs of wineries and agriculture with the needs of the natural world. But it's a chal- lenge Smith and her team are ready to tackle. "Coho salmon are facing a mul- titude of challenges, and solving one piece of the puzzle will not be enough to save them. We can never lose sight of that," Smith said. "But in terms of solving this one piece of the puzzle for coho, we definitely think we can have a thriving vineyard industry and enjoy our wine. And we can sup- port that industry while also sup- porting the coho populations. Our research shows it is possible," she said. Finding ways for nature and people to thrive together is critical, especially during one of the worst droughts in history. "The incredible crisis we're in has heightened peo- ple's sense of urgency and willing- ness to innovate to find solutions," Smith said. Kate Getty is a surfer/farmer/freelance writer based in Portland, Ore. For more information about the stream gauge proj- ect, visit conserveca.com. The blue line in this stream gauge record shows stream flows, which peak during winter and spring rains. Many diversion permits allow users to capture and store these flows only until March 31, though there can be significant rainfall later. sIGnIFICant Flows Can oCCur aFter MarCh 31 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 Flow (cfs) Feb 1 Feb 15 Mar 1 Mar 15 Mar 29 Apr 12 Apr 26 May 10 2014 Stream flow after April 1 End of diversion season for many appropriative rights