Call to wine industry: do the right thing

I was at a meeting in Occidental when employees of California Department of Fish and Wildlife tried to get property owners along important creeks to commit to stop watering their lawns. They offered to help landowners obtain rainwater catchment systems. In return, Fish and Wildlife promised to put in a good word for the property owners with the State Water Resources Control Board if the Board issued “curtailment” orders.

The property owners confessed they were willing to stop watering their lawns, etc. but their “neighbors keep watering! And the vineyards, why are they not included?” That’s my question.

Sooner or later the wine industry is going to have to step out from behind their lobbyists and campaign contributions and do the right thing for the environment. How about now?

Karla Noyes, Sonoma