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In 2002, the Rutherford Dust Society Board of Directors voted unanimously to empower a subcommittee, the Rutherford Dust (Napa River) Restoration Team (RDRT or “our dirt”), to initiate a plan to manage and restore the river. After 13 years and $21 million, restoration of 4.5 miles of Napa River banks in the heart of Napa Valley is complete, offering improved habitat and reducing flood damage.
In January 2020, Rutherford became the first AVA association to achieve 100% participation in the Napa Green Land program.
The Napa River restoration effort was initiated by the Rutherford Dust Society (RDS) to explore solutions to address flood and erosion risks, as well as how to improve the overall function in the Rutherford reach of the river. In 2002, RDS pooled their resources to hire environmental consultants to perform an initial geomorphic assessment and to develop a conceptual restoration plan for 4.5 miles of river between Zinfandel Lane and Oakville Cross Road.
Working with the Napa County Flood Control District and the Napa County Resource Conservation District, the Rutherford Dust Restoration Team (RDRT) formed a collaborative public-private partnership to seek support and identify resources to promote and push the visionary restoration plan forward. RDRT secured 100% buy-in from twenty-eight separate landowners, who in turn committed eighteen acres of prime vineyard land to convert back to floodplain and native riparian forest.
The RDRT project remains one of the most ambitious agricultural landowner-initiated ecosystem restoration efforts in California to date. Completed in 2015, after 13 years and $21 million, the restored 4.5-mile reach features new floodplain benches and secondary channels, instream structures to enhance spawning and rearing habitat, berm setbacks, and invasive plant removal and native species revegetation.
In January 2020, Rutherford became the first AVA association to achieve 100% participation in the Napa Green Land program.
The Rutherford Dust Society’s mission is to encourage and promote the highest quality standards in grape growing and winemaking in the Rutherford Viticultural Area, to be good stewards of the land while building community, and to help wine lovers and the wine trade discover Rutherford’s expression of its unique terroir.