The North Coast Regional Water Board recently released their proposed permit to regulate non-point source pollutants (e.g., sediment and pesticides) coming off of vineyards within our region. This is a huge step forward for water quality in our region as vineyards are the last major industry to be required to take measures that are meant to be protective of our water quality and water health. However, the key to improving the health of our waters for sensitive species like endangered salmon and ensuring clean water for recreational needs is to have a strong permit in place with iterative monitoring and reporting requirements that inform necessary and timely corrective actions. While those vineyards doing everything right to protect our water quality and be good environmental stewards should be reasonably rewarded, it is absolutely vital that any such rewards be based on verifiable actions and transparent to the public. Please join us at the Regional Board meeting (in-person or virtually) on December 4th at 9 am to help inform the Board on why a strong permit is necessary to protect our finite and sensitive water habitats.
If you’re interested in receiving a list of potential issues for you to use in any oral comments, please email advocacy@russianriverkeeper.org with the subject line “Vineyard Oral Comments.”
Meeting information can be found here: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/board_info/board_meetings/12_2024/index.html