Artesa ("Fairfax")
vineyard conversion
Codorníu Napa's Artesa Vineyards plans to develop a 173-acre vineyard site ("Fairfax") near Annapolis, about five miles east of the Pacific Ocean, between Grasshopper Creek and the Wheatfield Fork of the Gualala River, destroying 154 acres of coastal redwood forest in the process.
Their Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) claims that the proposed project will have no significant, unmitigated adverse environmental or cultural impacts (and if you believe that, we've got a bridge to sell you).
The Draft Report was released in May, 2009; two sections (Cultural Resources and Climate Change) were revised and recirculated in March, 2011. The Draft EIR, including the recirculated sections, is available on the CALFIRE website.
Comments on the Partially Recirculated Draft EIR |
Artesa ("Fairfax") vineyard conversion summary
Artesa applied to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to clearcut 171 acres of coastal redwood forest in Annapolis, California, and convert the timberland to vineyard. Artesa is owned by Spanish-based corporation Codorníu, one of the oldest and largest winemaking companies in the world.
This proposed conversion, which would be the largest to date in Sonoma County, threatens the continued survival of coho salmon and steelhead in the affected creeks, and also threatens significant Native American cultural heritage sites.
Location
The forestland at risk is located one half mile southeast of Annapolis, in the northwest corner of Sonoma County. The land straddles a ridge; the southern portion drains to Patchett Creek, tributary to the Wheatfield Fork of the Gualala River, while the northern portion drains to Grasshopper Creek, then to Buckeye Creek, and finally into the Gualala River. Both Patchett Creek and Grasshopper Creek are "Class 1" (fish bearing) streams.
Archaeological and cultural resource impacts
The plan appears to disregard the expert archaeological and anthropological opinion of Prof. Peter Schmidt of the University of Florida, regarding the eligibility of the site as an
archaeological district for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.
The proposed conversion threatens key heritage sites that are critical to the cultural well-being of Native peoples.
For more information, see: "Erasing redwoods forests and Native American history?" by archeologist Peter Schmidt, PhD. and Pomo elders speak out about vineyards by Violet Parrish Chappell and Vivian Parrish Wilder.
Old growth redwood impacts
The Draft EIR states that no old growth redwood occurs on the site, but that is contradicted by a Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Pre-Harvest Inspection (PHI) report, which discloses that potential old-growth redwood impacts on site could occur, and the RWQCB recommends mitigation.
"Sacred Redwood"
The Regional Water Quality Control Board also reports that a "Sacred Redwood" (which is distinct from the old-growth redwoods mentioned above) occurs on the site.The Draft EIR does not identify the existence of "Sacred Redwoods" on the site, nor does it describe the general cultural context and environmental setting of the Sacred Redwood.CAL FIRE must protect sacred redwood trees and their setting and context as mitigation that satisfies Kashia tribal members who actively practice cultural traditions.
Economic viability
Neither the THP nor TCP/EIR have updated the alternatives analysis, and its assumptions, to reflect profound long-term economic changes in the regional and national wine industry that have occurred in the last year (2009-2010).The Artesa-Fairfax vineyard project was proposed circa 2001, and re-submitted as a THP/TCP in 2004, back when the economic bubble of premier wine grape growing was near its peak.The availability of vineyard properties for sale has dramatically increased in northern Sonoma County.
CAL FIRE has failed to consider the the regional "grape glut" and long-term decline of the luxury wine market. These wine industry changes have been widely reported by industry experts in national and regional newspapers [see, for example: "Luxury wine sales decline".]The alternatives analysis based on 2004 conditions is no longer valid or applicable.
The economic viability, as well as need and purpose, of the proposed Artesa-Fairfax forest conversion is now highly doubtful. CAL FIRE can no longer reasonably rely on outdated economic assumptions of the original alternatives analysis, nor can it justify permanent elimination of valuable and productive North Coast conifer forest for speculative economic purposes under current circumstances.
Domestic water supply impacts
The THP and PHI documents provide no analysis or evidence that proposed buffers around domestic water supply wells on site are adequately protective against contamination due to pesticide drift. The baseline condition is that no pesticides are applied to the areas near decades-old domestic water supplies on site. Neither the THP nor TCP/EIR documents include any quantitative estimates of long-term pesticide loads, and neither identifies which pesticides are likely to be used within the project life, or how mobile or toxic they are.
Carbon sequestration / Green house gases
Forests are one of this planet's greatest attributes in terms ofsequestering carbon, and, consequently, any loss of forest is cause for serious concern.
CAL FIRE has stated that, "One of the activities recognized as having adverse impacts to C02 sequestration potential of California's forests is deforestation through conversion."
However, the Draft EIR fails to discuss the importance of the fact that 171 acres of trees will no longer besequestering carbon. This is a big deal, especially when considered in light of the many otherconversions that have occurred or are occurring just in Sonoma County alone.
Environmental impacts
The Gualala River was once a famous salmon stream prized by fishing enthusiasts. Today coho salmon are on the verge of extinction, and steelhead are threatened.
The Gualala River and its tributaries are listed as impaired by the US Environmental Protection Agency for excess sediment and high temperature under the provisions of the Clean Water Act. Excess sediment and high temperature are harmful to the once abundant but now officially endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead trout.
In converting forestland to vineyard, clear cutting is followed by complete removal of vegetation and deep ripping of the soil, resulting in total and permanent destruction of a complex forest ecosystem. The stripped land sends large quantities of fine sediment into the river and its tributaries. The vineyard which replaces the forest is a monoculture surrounded by fencing which fragments the former wildlife habitat.
Chemical intensive agricultural methods used by today's wine industry pose additional risks to the watershed. Herbicides, insecticides and fungicides expose species dependent on the river -- including humans -- to dangerous toxins. Organic alternatives exist, but are not widely employed. Intensive irrigation of the vineyard and the building of large reservoirs reduce stream flow and could deplete the local aquifer.
According to experts who have reviewed the Artesa plan, the proposed conversion would result in increased sediment, increased water temperature, and decreased stream flows, all of which threaten the continued survival of salmonids in the affected streams.
|
Multinational Targets the Gualala River Letter published July 2009 in the Independent Coast Observer
Luxury wine sales decline
For information about the history |
For additional information, see:
Sonoma Co. freezes hillside vineyard conversions
"The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an emergency halt to new vineyards and orchards on forested slopes and hilltops."
January, 2012, Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Moratorium would block some proposed Sonoma County vineyards
"Growing unease about a wave of vineyard projects that call for clear-cutting forested hillsides has Sonoma County officials calling for an emergency halt until new regulations are crafted."
January, 2012, Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Into the Woods
"Two proposed vineyard projects in remote areas of Sonoma County are drawing the ire of neighbors and environmentalists -- but can winegrapes preserve a redwood forest?"
December, 2011, North Bay Biz
Codorníu's statement & our response
Following a tidal wave of negative publicity (over 125,000 signatures on petitions opposing their project), Codorníu issues a statement defending their project, and Friends of the Gualala River responds.
Artesa Vineyards & Winery
Artesa's Facebook page has a description of their vineyard "conversion" project in Annapolis, but it doesn't match what they say in their draft Environmental Impact Report.
Petition opposing destruction of redwood forests
Please encourage our elected officials to help us stop Codorníu's Artesa Napa Winery and Premier Pacific Vineyards from destroying coastal redwood forest and Native American heritage for financial gain.
90,000 signatures so far!
Read and sign the petition!
"Pídele a Codorníu que no destruya los bosques para producir sus vinos"
[Google translation:]
Ask Codorníu not to destroy forests to produce their wines
Over 40,000 people have signed a petition on Spanish website Actuable
asking Codorníu [based in Spain] not to destroy redwood forest in Sonoma County to produce their wines.
Read and sign the petition!
The Mendonoma Coast's Second Spanish Invasion
Spanish wine corporation Grupo Codorníu is accustomed to doing things in a big way. It is reputed to own a greater expanse of vineyard acreage than any wine company in Spain, which in turn has more land under grapevine cultivation than any nation in the world.
June, 2011, Anderson Valley Advertiser
Gualala vineyard conversions get national attention
June, 2011:
"Plan to cut forest for vineyards faces opposition",
an article by the Associated Press, appears in newspapers across the country, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, Sacramento Bee, etc., as well as Salon, Huffington Post, Forbes and many others.
Coalition asks Spanish corporation to withdraw proposal to clear-cut coastal redwood forest for vineyards
Friends of the Gualala River has joined with 18 national, California, and regional environmental organizations in asking the international wine corporation, Codorníu of Barcelona, Spain, to withdraw its controversial proposal to destroy nearly 150 acres of coastal redwood forest by clear-cutting and converting the area for new vineyards to produce premier wine grapes.
Artesa ("Fairfax") vineyard conversion
CAL FIRE has released a
Partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report, to address
inadequacies in the Cultural Resources and Climate Change sections of the DEIR.
Deadline for public comments is April 27, 2011.
Pomo heritage threatened
The Artesa vineyard project area is "very possibly the Kashaya Pomo village Kabatui" where "human remains may be present," and which contains rich archaeological areas that are eligible for listing in the National Registry of Historic Places.
Pomo elders speak out about vineyards
Where we used to live, no one can see anything now. It is time we open our mouths. Those vineyard people are interfering with our ancestors' area...
Erasing Native American history?
As an early morning mist filters through the Redwoods in the village of Annapolis in NW Sonoma County, a Pomo elder of the Kashia band walks through the forest toward an ancient settlement site...
Desecration of Pomo history
A first step toward satisfying the responsibility for Europeans and their descendants in North America would be to treat indigenous people with respect.
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