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In the Field

With suscol mountain Vineyards

 
 
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Suscol Mountain

Location:
Suscol Creek Napa,California

Years in Operation:
Five years

Leading Harvest Program User:
Nuveen Natural Capital

Size of Operation:
185 planted vineyard acres, 744 gross acres

Crop Type:
Wine Grapes

 

Objective 7. Conservation of Biodiversity

To manage farmland in a manner that maintains agricultural production while conserving biodiversity where appropriate or legally required.

Relevant Indicators

Indicator 7.1.2 At-Risk Species:
Program to locate and protect known viable occurrences of at-risk species on enrolled farmland. A protection program may be developed independently or collaboratively and may use easements, conservation land sales, exchanges or other conservation strategies.

Indicator 7.2.2 Ecologically Important Sites:
Participation individually or collaboratively in plans or programs that manage Ecologically Important Sites in a manner that takes into account their unique qualities.

The above picture is soybeans coming up with corn residue present from previous year.  The cereal rye cover crop planted the previous fall has been terminated but can be seen in the background.

Leading Harvest
Indicators at Work

  • Developing and implementing a plan to combat the invasive Himalayan blackberry plant which has engulfed the vineyard bisecting banks of Suscol Creek.

  • Eradication of the blackberry shrubs will allow for the growth of native tree species such as Arroyo willow and California buckeye.

  • Restoration of native trees, whose shade will moderate creek temperatures, will provide the cool water temperatures required for the suitable environment of the endangered Steelhead trout.

  • Native tree species will provide shade which cools water temperatures within the creek, helping indigenous populations of steelhead trout to live and breed.

 
 

“Did you know?”

  • The profitability of Suscol Mountain Vineyards will be strengthened by the removal of Himalayan blackberry as this weed species plays host to a bacterial pathogen, Pierce’s Disease, which is lethal to grapevines and can be transmitted by an insect vector.

  • Reestablishing ecological balance within the Suscol Creek corridor represents a major environmental achievement which bolsters the financial bottom-line, as well as the social fabric of the surrounding community.