Frost Protection for Vineyards and Orchards

The use of water for frost protection is one of the most effective methods of protecting crops from the damage caused by freezing temperatures. However, in the Russian River stream system the use of water can present a potential conflict with salmonids, in particular with Coho salmon, which are listed as "endangered" under the federal Endangered Species Act and under the California Endangered Species Act, and with Chinook salmon, which are listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. In an effort to proactively address and manage this conflict, the ordinance requires all vineyard and orchard frost water protection users in the Russian River Watershed to register with the Agricultural Commissioner prior to March 1. This annual registration will collect survey information on the nature of each frost system infrastructure and water diversions.

Frost Registration

Vineyard and orchard owners or operators are required to register annually with our office if:

1. Your frost protection system uses frost protection water, and
2. The site is within the Russian River Watershed

Find out if your system falls within the Russian River Watershed (PDF) from the map that outlines this area.

2012 Annual Registration Notice and Invoice

Each site that has a frost protection system as described above must be registered annually with our office by March 1^st. Registration notices and invoices were mailed to all 2011 registrants on January 24, 2012. Any late registrations will incur a late penalty of $64.00 per site.

• Letter to Registrants (PDF 151 kB)
• Frost Protection Registration Instructions (PDF 625 kB)
• Frost Protection Registration Form (PDF 103 kB)
• 2012 Renewal Frost Protection Registration Form (PDF 180 kB)

Registration must include:

1. Completed initial registration form
2. $64 payment
3. A separate registration form and fee is required for each site (‘site’ is a parcel or contiguous parcels under single ownership or control, considered a unit for the purposes of a vineyard or orchard frost protection system).
4. Initial registrations require a map of the site as described on the registration form and instructions. You can create and print your map from Google maps

Mail in registrations are accepted

• Russian River Watershed Map (PDF)
• Vineyard and Orchard Frost Protection Ordinance
• Summary Report to Board of Supervisors on the Ordinance (PDF), February 8, 2011

Links

• State Waterboard's Russian River Frost Protection Program Page
• State Water Demand Management Program Information
• Sonoma Winegrape Commission

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