Water Resources

Strategies for Effective Water Stewardship: The Lake County Winegrape Commission virtually hosted a line-up of speakers on March 16 to share effective methods of water stewardship for the upcoming growing season. The speakers covered best management practices for frost protection, irrigation, and protection of Clear Lake hitch, as well as water use efficiency tools and resources.

Australian Wine Research Institute Water Management: This page provides a wide range of resources to help growers use their water most effectively, achieving yield and quality targets despite seasonal fluctuations in water availability.

UC Davis Study Finds Using Less Doesn’t Compromise Quality: Researchers found that replacing 50% of the water was the most beneficial in maintaining the grape’s flavor profile and yield. Read more.

Water Stewardship in Drought Conditions: On May 13, 2021, the Lake County Winegrape Commission and Lake County Farm Bureau collaborated to present Water Stewardship in Drought Conditions, a webinar focused on managing water during a drought. View a recording of the webinar.

CVC Stress Index: Chart provided by Bryan Rahn, Coastal Viticultural Consultants

Top Four Myths of the California Drought: Pervasive myths about water use continue to circulate in the media. Help separate myth from fact with this post from the Northern California Water Association. Click to read more.

Vineyard Water Use in Lake County, California (December 1, 2014) by Glenn McGourty, Winegrowing and Plant Science Advisor, UCCE Mendocino and Lake Counties, et al. A brief summary of vineyard water use in two of the main winegrape growing areas in Lake County – Big Valley and Red Hills. Click to view document.

Water Stewardship in Drought Conditions: On April 9, 2015, the Lake County Winegrape Commission, Lake County Farm Bureau, and UC Cooperative Extension collaborated to present Water Stewardship in Drought Conditions, an in-depth seminar focused on the state of water in Lake County. Download speaker presentations from the event.

Lake County Farm Drought Response: On February 26, 2014, the Lake County Winegrape Commission partnered with the Lake County Farm Bureau to present Lake County Farm Drought Response, a forum for drought-related information exchange. View a video of the event. (2 hours, 55 minutes)

Living with Drought: A one-stop resource compiled by UC Cooperative Extension with links to several UC, state, and national resources.

Vineyard Irrigation with a Limited Supply of Water: Presentation by Glenn McGourty, UC Cooperative Extension, Lake and Mendocino Counties.

NOAA Drought Monitor: The North American Drought Monitor (NADM) is a cooperative effort between drought experts in Canada, Mexico and the United States to monitor drought across the continent on an ongoing basis.

California Department of Food and Agriculture: The California Department of Food and Agriculture maintains a Drought Resource web page as a valuable tool for farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers seeking information about the drought in California and available assistance programs.

Drought Information: Information gathered by the County of Lake Water Resources Department.