Vineyard Program for Vineyard Facilities in the Napa River and Sonoma Creek Watersheds

You can receive Vineyard Waiver program updates via email! Subscribe online: Electronic Subscription List

Draft Vineyard Waiver

The conditional waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Vineyards is withdrawn.

Due to the comments received and current staff resource limitations, the Board will not proceed with the draft Conditional Waiver for Vineyards in the Napa River and Sonoma Creek watersheds and associated Mitigated Negative Declaration. Board staff intend on moving forward with preparation of general waste discharge requirements for vineyard discharges and an associated environmental document under the California Environmental Quality Act in the near future. We will update you on these developments.

Documents associated with the draft Vineyard Waiver and Mitigated Negative Declaration dated November 16, 2012

Public Workshop and CEQA Scoping Meeting

Water Board staff held a publicly-noticed workshop and CEQA Scoping Meeting for the Vineyard Waiver on April 14, 2011, at the Napa Main Library Community Meeting Room. During the workshop session, staff described the background, purpose, main elements, and proposed conditions of the Vineyard Waiver. The proposed conditions would require vineyard owners and/or operators to:

Enroll in the Vineyard Waiver program by submitting a Notice of Intent form, stating their intent to comply with the conditions of the Vineyard Waiver;
Develop a farm water quality management plan (Farm Plan) that addresses, at a minimum, erosion control, attenuation of increases in peak runoff, roads, pesticide and fertilizer applications, and sediment delivery sites such as gullies, rills, and landslides;
Implement and maintain management practices in accordance with the Farm Plan to meet the performance standards;
Conduct compliance monitoring and undertake corrective action as necessary; and
Report annually on the status of their current and anticipated management practices

After describing the proposed Vineyard Waiver, staff opened a CEQA Scoping session to discuss the potential environmental impacts of implementing the Vineyard Waiver. Staff heard oral comments during the scoping session and will consider them, along with written comments, in the environmental analysis.

Information about, and materials from, the Public Workshop and CEQA Scoping Meeting are provided below: