Fact Sheet

Established: In 2002 as a subcommittee of the Rutherford Dust Society (RDS).
Purpose & Goals:

To manage and restore the 4.5-mile stretch of the Napa River, and its watershed, which flows through the Rutherford American Viticultural Area (AVA) between the Zinfandel Lane Bridge and Oakville Cross Road.

RDRT (or "Our Dirt") seeks to:

• Understand the dynamics of the river system
• Stabilize river banks and address bank erosion to reduce fine sediment pollution
• Create a riparian buffer to protect agricultural land uses
• Reduce the impacts of flooding
• Protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat
• Reduce Pierce's Disease pressure on vineyards
• Provide ongoing education about the river and its watershed.
 
Subcommittee Co-Chairs: Davie Piña, Piña Vineyard Management, LLC
RDS Board Members: Robin Baggett, Andy Beckstoffer, Gretchen Brakesman, Michelle Fields, Frank Leeds, Jim McMahon, Davie Piña, Mark van Gorder, Regina Weinstein
RDS Executive Director: Paul Wagner, Balzac Communications
Project coordinators: Gretchen Hayes of Tessera Sciences facilitates the RDRT team. Rick Thomasser oversees project implementation for Napa County. Leigh Sharp of the Napa County RCD provides fiscal sponsorship and oversight on the landowner group and monitoring activities. Jeremy Sarrow is the point of contact at the Napa County Water Conservation. To review detailed project documentation, check our project website at
http://www.napawatersheds.org/Content/10027/Rutherford_Dust_Society_Project.html.
 
Fundraising: To make a donation or find out how to support project fundraising, contact Gretchen Hayes at 925 980 2829.
About the RDS: The Rutherford, Napa Valley Appellation is both the geographic and historical center of grape growing in the Napa Valley. Approximately six square miles, the appellation includes more than 30 wineries and more than 60 grape growers. Vintners and growers founded the Rutherford Dust Society in 1994, whose mission is to encourage and promote the highest quality standards in grape growing and wine making in the Rutherford Viticultural Area, and gain recognition for this quality through education of the membership and public. www.rutherforddust.org
Media Contact: Tara Thomas, 707.255.7667, tthomas@balzac.com