Wine And Water Watch

Recap of Winery Event Ordinance – Supervisor’s Vote 3-2 “Usual Suspects” (Supervisor Hopkins, Gore & Rabbitt vote for wine industry interests, again). On March 14, 2023, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Winery Event Ordinance by a 3-2 vote. After approximately 10 years of debate, workshops, stakeholder groups and hearings, the approved Winery Event Ordinance was disappointing ...

Forest Unlimited: Action Lodge by the River, Thurs. Mar 23, 1:40 pm. Supervisors’ Chambers, Santa Rosa Our lead on this issue, Kimberly, has an action you can take on protecting redwoods from building ...

Excerpt: “If Permit Sonoma staff had to wear emblems identifying their sponsors, like NASCAR drivers, we’d know why, out of the blue, the Planning Commission recommendations are being revised.” OUR Letter RE: Sonoma County Local Coastal Plan www.winewaterwatch.org March 7, 2023 Supervisor:  Susan.Gorin@sonoma-county.org; David.Rabbitt@sonoma-county.org; district3@sonoma-county.org; district4@sonoma-county.org; district5@sonoma-county.org California Coastal Commission: NorthCentralCoast@coastal.ca.gov Caryl.Hart@coastal.ca.gov RE: Adoption of Local Coastal Plan  Wine and Water Watch is a local organization of over ...

As many readers may recall, in December 2014 in response to community outcry, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to prepare options for updating policy on regulating winery events, particularly in the over-concentrated wine areas of Sonoma Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Westside Road, either as a zoning amendment or local event guidelines. Finally, after ...

Our community is at risk.  In fact, our entire county is at risk. Last December, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors rejected established land use planning policies of urban centered growth, transportation-oriented development, wild lands protection, and prioritization of affordable housing in favor of a Specific Plan allowing for large scale commercial and hotel development and ...

We all know traveling in the EU, a growing segment of the population has gone to electric scooters and E-bikes for transportation needs. It helps the planet realize climate goals, costs less, is easy to use and keeps the greedy oil companies out of the loop. Transportation costs for cars, insurance maintenance and gas can ...

From Californians for Pesticide Reform: by Jane Sellen | Nov 16, 2022 | New draft regulation eliminates existing use cap, defies court order to protect farmworkers, and ignores OEHHA state scientists on cancer risk Sacramento,CA: Under a court-ordered deadline to regulate the use of the cancer-causing fumigant pesticide 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D, or Telone), the California Department of Pesticide Regulation ...

How Do Chemicals from Wildfires End Up in Water Supplies? https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/how-do-chemicals-from-wildfires-end-up-in-water-supplies The relatively new and potentially dangerous phenomenon of chemicals from wildfire smoke finding their way into water systems is occurring after ‘high severity’ fires, and scientists are just now learning about it.

In a too-close for comfort race last November, Donald Williams won Calistoga’s mayoralty by a 27-vote margin. The new mayor advocates for a diverse economy and careful use of our shared natural resources, and often reminds residents and voters that they are the ones who are in charge — elected officials should only keep those positions ...