99th ESA Annual Meeting (August 10 -- 15, 2014)

FT 1

North Coast Sustainable Winegrape Vineyards and Wine Tasting

Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties form the heart of Northern California's Wine Region and contain some of the State’s best examples of riparian and Coast Range forests.  In addition to the striking countryside, the mild climate and characteristic mix of soils perfect for wine grapes makes the cultivable land in this region some of the most coveted and expensive in the world.  The region is also highly desirable as a place to live and recreate, with many coastal and inland state parks, extensive hiking and biking trails, and numerous tourist attractions. It also has important and unique habitat supporting some of California’s most charismatic biodiversity, including some of the tallest trees in the world (the Coastal Redwoods), key spawning grounds for several threatened fish species, and a natural fly-way for millions of migratory birds. Explore the beautiful and biodiverse landscape that protects these watersheds and supports one of the most renowned wine making regions in the world. The Napa and Alexander Valleys have a rich tradition of conservation and sustainable farming practices.  The tour will consist of stops at various vineyards and wineries engaged in sustainable practices, e.g., Parducci, Simi, MacMurry, and McNabb, including a wine tasting.  We will stop at Mill Creek in Napa Valley where restoration of riparian habitat resulted in the return of the coho salmon and corridors provide critical habitat for migratory birds, butterflies and a wide variety of native plant and animal species that coexist with a growing human population and its resource needs.