Natural History Wanderings

NAPA COUNTY, Calif.— Approximately 2,300 acres of intact wildlife habitat in Napa County is expected to be sold to a land trust for permanent protection under an agreement announced this week.

The county re-approved the controversial vineyard development known as Walt Ranch in 2022, after years of community opposition and legal challenges. The proposed vineyard would have ripped out riparian, oak and native grassland habitat to plant grape vines. But the new deal will permanently protect the site and would save 14,000 mature oak trees and other important carbon-sequestering habitats from total destruction.

Read more at: Critical Habitat in California Wine Country Slated for Conservation – Center for Biological Diversity