Water Use
Hydrology, water use and watershed protections are important components of the Preservation Ranch project and its vineyards:
Smart Water Use for Irrigation
- Water for drip irrigation will come from on-site reservoirs which capture only a small percentage of the excess water runoff from winter storms. Neither ground water from wells nor surface water from streams is used to irrigate vines.
- Off-stream reservoirs actually help reduce sediment in the streams on the property as they reduce runoff during storms and themselves collect sediment.
- Off-stream reservoirs do not affect the amount of water available in streams, particularly important during the habitat-critical Summer months.
Limited Water Use for Labor
- Farm labor housing on the property will be sited in two locations and use wells for potable water. The limited number of wells and the very large size of the property suggests that the housing's effect on available ground water will be negligible.
Careful Erosion Control
- Preservation Ranch will upgrade over 80 miles of roads and drainage structures to significantly reduce sediment delivered to local streams. Currently, the property's deteriorating road system from past logging contributes large quantities of sediment to the Gualala River watershed.
- The entire water collection system is designed to limit erosion.
- Permanent cover crops between vine rows will help prevent erosion in the vineyards.
