Napa Sierra Club Newsletter September 2021

November 13, 2021

Photo by Chris Sauer

Dear Supporter,

Welcome to the Napa Sierra Club's Sept/Oct, 2021 Newsletter.

News from the Chair:

Greetings. On September 18^th, several members of the Napa Sierra Club’s Excom, along with Jeff Morris from Redwood Chapter, and our two High School Interns Emily and Alisa, attended the American Canyon Community & Parks Foundations (ACCPF) fundraising event at the Ruins. The event was to raise money for the new Wetlands EcoCenter Project. It was truly an amazing event. The Napa Sierra Club agreed to donate $50,000 of its Rohloff Funds, a share of a bequest to the Bay Area Chapters to use for worthy “Save the Bay” causes such as this. Please read the article by Scott Thomason, the President of the ACCPF, about the event as well as more info about the EcoCenter.

Jeff Morris, Chris Benz, Alisa Karesh, Emily Bit, Nick Cheranich, and Samantha Smith

There are continuing issues with the development of the County Groundwater Sustainability Plan. Water security for the entire County is at stake. In his excellent article on the subject, below, Excom member David Campbell states that “the County chooses to ignore the reality of the water system as a whole, as it attempts to plan for ongoing sustainability of valley subbasin groundwater resources in the county.”

In another article, below, Roland Dumas, PhD creatively explains why the modeling methods used by the County paint a too rosy picture for our water forecasting.

The Napa Sierra Club has asked the Groundwater Sustainability Plan Advisory Committee to adopt stronger measures to enhance the sustainability of our fragile water system. Those high priority recommendations can be found here. We are asking you to attend one of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan Advisory Committee meetings to express your concerns.

David Campbell also presented to the Excom about the possible development of the Ghisletta property, which is currently 155 acres of open space just outside the Napa city limits. The Draft 2040 City of Napa General Plan proposes annexing this property for medium density housing. The ExCom voted to support keeping the property as an open space.

Interns Emily and Alisa, in their role as Co-Presidents of Napa Schools for Climate Action, have been extremely busy this summer. Please read how they have been pushing local governments to address several issues regarding the Climate Crisis.

Lastly, the Walt Ranch Conversion Project is back in the news. Please be sure to read Sue Wagner's informative piece on “why this project is a travesty for Napa County.”

Thank you.

– Nick Cheranich, Executive Committee Chair

RSVP for Our Next Conservation Committee Meeting: Nov. 16, 2021

Our Water Security As a Whole, Not As a Part.

by David Campbell; Photo by Steven Carter & Majestele

In 1624 John Donne wrote “No man is an island” thus making him one of the world’s first published systems theorists. Yet, despite its origins long ago, and its demonstrated usefulness in helping us to come to a proper understanding of so much, the notion of “systems” is too often overlooked in our analyses. We fail to see the interconnectedness of things, or worse, we ignore it.

This is the certainly the case in the approach of the County of Napa, which chooses to ignore the reality of the water system as a whole, as it attempts to plan for ongoing sustainability of valley subbasin groundwater resources in the county. Story continues...

Sierra Club Funds American Canyon Eco-Center

by Scott Thomason

The Napa Sierra Club Group recently agreed to commit $50,000 for the creation of a permanent environmental center, located in the heart of American Canyon’s wetlands. The Wetlands “Eco” center will provide a home for year-round environmental education, art and science programs for students and community members from Napa County and beyond.

Jeff Morris, Sierra Club Redwood Chapter Director, and Janelle Sellick, Executive Director of the American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation, made the announcement at ACCPF’s annual “Evening at the Ruins” fundraiser, September 18, in American Canyon. Story continues...

Why We Should Panic At a Comforting Water Forecast

by Roland Dumas, PhD; Photos by Cuba Gallery & Cyresne

The large enterprise the County is engaging in to comply with the State Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) includes a very complex and expensive modeling of the groundwater and the inputs and outputs to the water going into and stored under the valley. It creates a comforting water forecast.

Instead, we should be using the The Monte Carlo method. This method is well-known and used a lot in planning and forecasting; it’s important because there is a lot of uncertainty in the world, and more uncertainty ahead. We want the risks to show up when we do these exercises, so we can plan to avoid them as much as possible. Story continues...

A Busy Summer for Our Student Interns

by Nick Cheranich

Our Student Interns Emily Bit and Alisa Karesh have been busy over the summer. In their capacity as Co-presidents of Napa Schools for Climate Action, they presented before the Calistoga City Council on August 3, urging the council to adopt a Climate Emergency Resolution and a resolution asking the County to enact a temporary moratorium on forest and woodland removal. The council approved both resolutions.

Then, on September 7, they spoke to the American Canyon City Council in support of a General Plan Amendment to adopt climate change adaptation and green house gas reduction policies into the Land Use Element. This is the next step in adopting an ordinance banning additional gas stations in American Canyon. The amendment was approved.

They presented again on September 21, asking the Amcan Council to ban new gas station development, and to pass a Climate Emergency Resolution. The Napa Sierra Club sent the City Council a public comment of support for the Interns’ requests.

Understanding the Walt Ranch Travesty

by Sue Wagner; Photo credit: Napa Valley Register

For many of us who live in Napa County and have observed the steady erosion of our environment due to the proliferation of more and more vineyards and wineries, the hue and cry of "when is enough, enough?" has increased substantially over recent months. The effects of changing climate conditions, a severe drought, weakening water sources, and relentless wildfire have irrevocably changed life as we once knew it in this beautiful valley. Story continues, compliments of Vision 2050...