Napa RCD would like to invite you to review our 2019-2020 Annual Report. The fiscal year brought about significant challenges and changes to our communities. Through it all, community members tapped into their creativity, kindness, and resolve to support each other and the natural world. We’re immensely grateful to have worked with so many of you. This annual report is a celebration of some of the results of our partnerships.

We also would like to take this opportunity to again share our 5-year strategic plan. We outline ways that we will help people take action on issues ranging from forest health to regenerative soil management, water security, fish habitat preservation, and more.

We are committed to community and conservation. We look forward to working with you to make Napa County a model of sustainability.

The North Coast Soil Hub’s 4th Annual Soil Health Symposium will be held virtually from 8:30am - 12pm on March 11 & 12, 2021. This year’s Soil Health Symposium will bring together growers, land and vineyard managers, scientists, agency staff, and others to provide an overview of soil health in our region. Topics will include potential climate change impacts and

The first day will focus on Climate Change and Soil Health on the global and regional scales, as well as an overview of North Coast Soil Hub projects.

The second day, Shop Talk: Soil Health in the Field, will feature growers and researchers discussing under vine management practices improving soil health, compost and the soil biome, and the benefits of integrating livestock into agricultural systems. We will end the day hearing about how soil health factors into a business’ economics and marketing.

Water Year (WY) 2019-20 (October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020) was the driest year in the 19-year ALERT System record with 49% of annual rainfall measured at the Napa County ALERT monitoring stations (napa.onerain.com). The 2020-21 water year has not started off better, with only 11% of our annual precipitation recorded through the end of December. On average we receive 35% of our annual rainfall by that time.*

January was slightly wetter with 10 days of measurable rainfall at most locations, including one atmospheric river storm. The rain gauges recorded between 3.3 and 4.7 inches during the month, approximately 12% of average annual rainfall (on average, we receive 19% of our annual rainfall in January). So far in WY 2020-21, we’ve received approximately 24% of our annual precipitation, well below the long-term average of 54% for this time of year. Seasonal rainfall totals at the rain gauges range between 6.3 inches (City of Napa) and 10.7 inches (Mt. Veeder).

*Fun fact to give context to average annual precipitation: Average annual precipitation for the Napa Valley is calculated from the last 30 years of record from the Napa State Hospital rain gauge, which has been in operation since 1893.

Purple 4 is an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team consisting of nine members from all across the country- from Arizona to Massachusetts- who live and volunteer in communities across the country for the duration of their ten-month service term. They have previously served at a food bank in Kalispell, Montana, and at a land trust in Sacramento, and they are excited to work in Napa for two organizations: Napa Open Space District and Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. 

Enchanted Hills is a camp run by Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the team is housed at this camp while they do wildfire reconstruction and establish COVID safety measures in the housing and facilities. The team aims to ensure the camp will be able to reopen and service the blind and visually impaired population this summer.

Did you know that a Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Napa Valley Subbasin is being created to make sure that we have a healthy groundwater basin now and in the future? You can take part in creating the Plan. Draft sections of the GSP are posted on the County's new Groundwater Sustainability website. You may review and provide comments at any time.

Draft Section 6: Groundwater and Surface Water Conditions was just released, and first round of comments are requested by Monday, February 22, 2021.

Comments are being collected through an online comment form. The form itself includes useful links to the Draft GSP Sections and supporting materials.

The GSP is being prepared as part of the Napa Valley Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency's implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

Would you like to stay posted on the release of future draft sections of the GSP, meeting dates, and meeting agendas? Sign up for the GSP eNews here!

Note, all of the Draft Sections of the GSP that have been released for comment so far, along with additional online surveys, can be found on the Documents and Resources webpage of the Groundwater Sustainability website.