Your Fees at Work

As part of the Napa River and Sonoma Creek Vineyard General Permit, the Napa and Sonoma County Farm Bureaus partnered with local Resource Conservation Districts to evaluate both streambed conditions and the effectiveness of sediment-reducing road treatments. Together, these studies provide a broader look at efforts to reduce sediment delivery to local waterways and protect habitat for salmon and steelhead.

Streambed monitoring conducted in 2022 and 2023 assessed potential salmonid spawning gravels throughout the Napa River and Sonoma Creek. Results found that conditions met the quality standard for successful egg incubation, although elevated levels of coarse sand and fine gravel could potentially reduce the survival and emergence of young fish. The study recommended continued watershed-wide implementation of best management practices to further reduce fine sediment entering streams.

A complementary study evaluated 484 road-related Best Management Practices, including rolling dips, waterbars, critical dips and trash racks. Overall, more than 90% of each type of treatment was found to be effective, demonstrating that properly constructed BMPs can successfully reduce sediment delivery and other risks associated with unpaved vineyard roads.

Together, the studies demonstrate the value of continued monitoring and practical, on-the-ground sediment reduction measures in supporting water quality and healthy stream habitat throughout the Napa River and Sonoma Creek watersheds.