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16 WINES&VINES January 2018 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS Jones said. "We are living in a warmer, drier climate. The gen- eral conditions will be more con- ducive to fires." The high-velocity, offshore winds that drove recent fires come along when a high-pressure area positions itself just right in dry interior areas, he explained. Al- though not as prevalent as the notorious Santa Ana winds, gusts approaching hurricane speed also spread fires in Oregon and North- ern California this year. The winds are created by un- even heating of the earth, he said. When one place heats up, it draws the fire. Even the patterns of the North Coast fog could change if inland areas warm more than the coast, according to Jones. What can the wine industry learn from the firestorms of 2017? As many have observed, vineyards make great firebreaks. When planting new vineyards or replant- ing old ones, build fire risks into your plan, and be thoughtful about access. "We live in a very dry and challenging environment, and fires are not going away," Jones cautioned. "We need to be more prudent." In the aftermath of fires Some of the blackened hills of the North Coast are sporting a light covering of green as new grasses push from the soil follow- ing November rains. Yet many of the trees on those hills are dead brown, and large swaths of blackened hillside remain in So- noma, Napa, Mendocino and Solano counties. Months after fires ignited across the North Coast, much work remains to be done in ensur- ing the areas affected by the fires won't be further damaged by sig- nificant erosion. On Dec. 7, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers held a recovery session in Yountville at- tended by a few dozen growers and vintners and viewed by a m u c h w i d e r a u d i e n c e v i a livestream. Several speakers from county and state agencies offered advice and tips about how to deal with fire-damaged trees, protect vineyards from erosion and ensure waterways are clear. Shaun Horne, watershed and flood-control resource specialist with the Napa County Flood Con- trol & Water Conservation District, said land owners should conduct a thorough assessment of damage to trees on their property. If cuts into a given tree's bark reveal tis- sue that is green and healthy, it likely can survive, but if the tissue is brown, dry and dead—and the tree could fall across a road or onto a structure—it should be re- moved. In most cases, dead trees can be left where they are, and even trees that have fallen across creeks or streams can be "modi- fied" rather than removed. Horne said the branches can be removed and the trunk cut into sections so as to not block signifi- cant water flows or snag debris. The county also offers a stream- maintenance program that can assist with downed trees and help cover up to 75% (up to $35,000) of the cost of stream bank-stabili- zation programs. Watersheds in fire areas will experience signifi- cantly higher flows, and Cal Fire produces detailed Watershed Emergency Response Team re- ports following a fire. These fire- specific reports can be found KERI GREER A helicopter dumps water in an effort to battle the Thomas Fire in California.