Rhys Vineyards diverted rain water

[Peter Creasey]

Any thoughts by the Rhys fans here?

Rhys Vineyards LLC, based on the California Central Coast but with vines in Mendocino County’s prime pinot noir region of Anderson Valley, has agreed to pay $3.76 million to settle enforcement actions brought by state wildlife and water regulators for unpermitted diversion of rainwater runoff on property of a planned small vineyard in a northern part of the county.

Investigators in 2015 found what they determined to be three reservoirs totaling nearly 22 acre-feet and collecting rainwater runoff headed to the north fork of Ten Mile River and the south fork of the Eel River, according to State Water Resources Control Board documents.

“The illegal and permanent loss of wetlands and streams caused by the vineyard construction was an egregious violation of state and federal law"

Rhys Vineyards to pay $3.7M to settle regulatory action on Mendocino County irrigation ponds

. . . . Pete

 

[Christian Miller (CMM)]

Embarrassing, given that their statement on viticulture in the website. But also an interesting contrast of the differing emphases of organic vs. sustainable agriculture. Organic (at least in the U.S.) originated with concern over what was literally going into the actual product. The sustainability movement grew up with wider environmental issues.