Napa’s famed castle Castello di Amorosa one of many wineries to suffer losses in Glass Fire [San Francisco Chronicle]
Northern California’s wine industry has taken a number of glancing blows from wildfires in recent years. This week brought a direct hit. The Glass Fire plowed through vast swaths of northern Napa Valley on Sunday and Monday, destroying structures at several winery properties — including Tofanelli Family Vineyard’s 120-year-old barn and historic home in Calistoga and the stone winery of high-end estate Chateau Boswell. At least 143 Napa County wineries were within evacuation zones, according to the county’s Office of Emergency Services; most owners are still waiting to survey how their vineyards fared.
California needs masks to protect farm workers and to stay safe during wildfires [RFD-TV]
A strain on the availability of personal protective equipment takes a toll on producers. Ag groups are now urging the Coronavirus Task Force to take additional steps to protect the health of farm employees and communities. Jamie Johansson, the president of the California Farm Bureau, spoke with RFD-TV’s own Christina Loren on what these groups are calling for and how the West Coast wildfires are playing a role in the need for more masks.
Creek Fire: Water deliveries from dams might be affected due to evacuations [KFSN TV, Fresno]
Among the people forced to flee the Creek Fire were workers who keep the vast network of hydroelectric dams running. Eric Quinley is general manager of the Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District. He said reservoir releases were reduced to minimum levels. … Quinley worried some of his table grape growers might not get enough water in the future to finish up the growing season. Quinley said, “It’ll definitely be a challenge. We’re going to go through another heatwave this week and growers are reliant on those surface water deliveries.”
https://abc30.com/creek-fire-dams-water-evacuation-delano-earlimart-irrigation-district/6633107/
Wildfires in Oregon, California revive debate over spotted owl protection [Wall Street Journal]
The wildfires that ravaged the West Coast in recent weeks have renewed a debate in Oregon and Northern California over protections for the northern spotted owl, which some say prevented logging that would have thinned out forests and made the blazes less destructive. … Cutting down trees in old-growth forests can threaten local wildlife like the northern spotted owl, but such activities are also critical to reducing combustible fuel and lowering the risk of wildfires growing and spreading quickly, according to forest-management experts. Timber officials say reduced logging likely contributed to the ferocity of some of the latest wildfires.
Heat, smoke, pandemic: Dangers multiply for farmworkers in 2020 [Cronkite News/Arizona PBS]
The timing has been terrible for California farmworkers in 2020: wilting heat waves, wildfires spewing acrid smoke across the state and the persistent threat of COVID-19. This triple threat looms large over the lucrative fall harvest of grapes and almonds, which for some seasonal laborers is the busiest time of year, until November. … Farmworkers say they’re vulnerable to the health effects of the novel coronavirus and wildfires, and have little means to seek treatment because many lack health insurance. … Testing positive for coronavirus strips undocumented workers of their income, particularly when they are forced to quarantine with family.
Water Authority sets agricultural water discount in exchange for reliability [City News Service, San Diego]
The San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors approved a permanent special agricultural water rate structure Monday that offers lower water rates to farmers in exchange for lower water supply reliability. … Participants will pay $1,295 per acre-foot for treated water, while municipal and industrial users will pay $1,769 per acre-foot. Farmers and growers who participate in the program will receive a lower level of water service during water shortages or emergencies. … Regional farming leaders provided input on the parameters of the new program, which will be re-evaluated in five years to assess current and forecasted demands and supplies.
https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/sep/28/water-authority-sets-agricultural-water-discount/
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