The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board is writing the latest chapter in a saga that has gone on for years. It is continuing a quest to reduce human-created watershed sediment runoff that it says harms habitat for fish and other aquatic life.

“I think this is something the folks in the watershed can do,” said Mike Napolitano, an environmental scientist with the Regional Water Quality Control Board. “They can make a difference for generations to come.” 

Meanwhile, local wine and grape grower groups are keeping a close eye on the effort.

“We’re trying to help shape a regulation that achieves what the Regional Board is looking for without being unduly burdensome to landowners,” said Michelle Novi of Napa Valley Vintners. “It’s a balancing act.”

Napa Valley Grapegrowers has a long-standing commitment to restore and improve the health of the watershed, said Molly Moran of the group. But it has concerns with the Water Board's proposal.

“We just want to work with the Water Board to develop something that is realistic and effective,” she said.

State reports portray watersheds for the Napa River and Sonoma Creek that have been reshaped by humans since pioneer days. Dirt roads, vineyards and other developments in Napa Valley and its adjacent mountains have led to more erosion.

But sediments running into creeks and into the Napa River threaten spawning and rearing habitat for endangered steelhead trout and locally rare Chinook salmon, the reports said. Estimated historic steelhead runs of up to 8,000 fish have shrunk to a few hundred.

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