Wines & Vines

18 WINES&VINES February 2018 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS N apa, Calif.—As the fire-scarred coast- line south of Santa Barbara gave way to deadly mudslides during the second week of January, vineyard owners in Northern California counted themselves fortunate to experience less rain and property damage as the first substantive precipitation accumulated following the firestorm of October 2017. The National Weather Service issued a flash- flood watch Jan. 8 in the San Francisco Bay Area, warning that "potential impacts from heavy rain include debris flows, mudslides, and flash flood- ing within the burn scars as well as locations downstream or downslope from the burn scars." In spite of the warning, Philip Miller, dep- uty director of flood control and water re- sources for Napa County, said flooding hadn't been an issue. Miller and county staff distrib- uted literature to property owners in the area, warning, "More than 70,000 acres within Napa County have burned. Vegetation that normally covers the hillsides is gone, creating the potential for higher levels of flooding, erosion and debris movement." Heidi Soldinger, marketing and communi- cations manager for the Napa Valley Grape- growers, spoke with local vineyard managers during the storm and learned the erosion- control measures put in place after harvest were holding up. "All of the main erosion-control practices took place in the winter, right against the end of harvest, such as making sure all irrigation and drainage areas are clear," Soldinger said, adding that viticulturists were pleased the rain was enough to drench the soil, but not enough to cause mudslides and major damage. "They can now see how their best practices and all the erosion control that they put in place is faring. So, they're looking to see how drainage is doing right now and if there was any sort of waterways created for drainage." Soldinger said growers would be going out into their vineyards after the rain stopped to see how the water flowed during the storm and to use leaf blowers to make sure the wa- terways are clear of debris. The Napa Valley Grapegrowers held a re- covery session for vineyard managers in De- cember, warning that growers should take care when removing downed trees and considering whether to cover hillsides with straw. Soldinger said many growers had wattles (rolls of straw to prevent erosion) in place prior to the rains. —Kate Lavin North Coast Vineyards Hold Erosion at Bay After Fires POST-FIRE RULES T he USDA outlined 10 rules to prepare vineyards for the winter rainy season following a fire: • Cover disturbed areas, • Prevent soil disturbance, • Evaluate roads and drainage facilities, • Monitor and maintain existing mea- sures, • Use caution with emergency treat- ments, • Treat high-hazard, fire-damaged trees, • Consider debris barriers below rocky slopes, • Seek professional assistance, • Work with neighbors, • Be prepared with an evacuation plan.

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