Environmentally Responsible Development
If not done responsibly creating vineyards can impact the environment. Premier Pacific seeks to reduce potential impact on the environment in many ways. Below are some of the major issues that must be addressed in some situations when developing vineyards.
Challenge: Soil Erosion
PPV’s Approach: Erosion Control Measures
Erosion of vineyard soils can not only endanger wildlife in watershed areas and creates the risk of landslides, it robs the vines of one of the most important elements in producing high-end grapes -- the soil. For all these reasons we take all viable measures -- in many cases more than is regulated -- to limit erosion.
When there is potential for long-term soil erosion on Premier Pacific properties the team turns to the following practices:
- Instead of terracing, which disturbs too much topsoil during planting, we aim to plant vine rows in a way that flows naturally with the contours of the land
- Planting indigenous “cover crops” in between vine rows to help bind the soil
- Installing cross-slope interceptor ditches, sedimentation basins and/or fiber roll sediment barriers
- Planting trees or other vegetation in areas prone to erosion or sedimentation
- Repairing elements of the site left by previous owners that might contribute to erosion such as fire or logging roads
- Properly engineering roads, bridges, reservoirs and drainage systems to ensure long-term stability
- Plan for large setbacks (buffer zones) between vineyard and the edges of streams, ponds or other bodies of water
Challenge: Ensuring the health of streams and aquatic life
PPV’s Approach: Fish-Friendly Farming & Salmon Safe Best Practices
Sometimes streams and lakes come into play on a vineyard project. Premier Pacific is certified as a Fish-Friendly Farming operation in California and Salmon Safe operation in Oregon.
A broad range of regulatory agencies are involved with this certification. California’s Fish-Friendly Farming certification, for example, includes participation of the Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Fish and Game, National Marine Fisheries Service, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, State Coastal Conservancy and others. They all recognize this program as being consistent with the laws and regulations that apply to wine grape growers.
By participating in these programs Premier Pacific undertakes various land management practices that restore and sustain fish habitat. The Fish-Friendly Farming Certification Program, for example, requires Premier Pacific to establish a farm conservation plan for its properties using best management practices for soil conservation, chemical use, water conservation, erosion repairs and the assessment and restoration of creek and river riparian corridors.
These programs are particularly important for watersheds that are home to Coho, which is endangered in California, the threatened Chinook Salmon and Steelhead trout.
Challenge: Ensuring open spaces and protecting valuable public uses
PPV’s Approach: Conservation Easements
Not all the land on Premier Pacific’s properties is suitable for vineyard creation. In other cases there may be a compelling environmental or societal reason to keep the land free of agricultural or alternative uses. In these cases Premier Pacific will look to execute Conservation Easements on its properties.
A conservation easement is a legally binding agreement that limits certain types of uses or prevents development from taking place on the land in perpetuity while the land remains in private hands.
In essence, when Premier Pacific executes a conservation easement on any of its land, it forfeits its right to develop and the land is protected for future generations.
Premier Pacific is currently assessing Conservation Easement activity – some of it significant – on several of its vineyard projects.