Happy Friday All!
We are THRILLED we got our permit to go ahead with the Adelaida Creek Restoration!!! Wait, what’s this about? Well, it’s something very cool…
Upon purchasing our Adelaida property, my dad (David), was walking around and noticed:”hey, there’s a creek bed!” Prior to us putting in our vineyard, from the Adelaida Road you would have never known that it was there. This creek is actually where the Adelaida Creek begins and travels almost the entire length of our property!
On our tallest hill, you can see the winding of the creek in the middle.
The beginning.
Every year when we receive our 1 downpour (that’s a sad CA joke), the water vigorously takes the path of this creek bed and washes all the way down to the Mid State Fair Grounds in Paso Robles, which is about 12 minutes from our Adelaida Property. I’m not sure how, but according to our local RCD, that’s the case. Not only is it a mess for the city, but it’s a waste of precious water!
Dry grass, weeds, and my feet.
We tried putting hay bails in the bed this last year to slow the waters, but they blew out with a heavy rainfall.
After talking with a local biologist and Fish & Wildlife, we were introduced to our local Resource Conservation District (RCD) who shared that they could help us restore the creek. So, over a year ago we donated the creek bed to the County for restoration. This means with the help of the RCD and California Conservation Corps (CCC) we will be cutting down the weeds and planting over 600 native plants. The plants will help slow the creek so that any time it rains the water will not just race down to the fair grounds, but instead will percolate into the aquifer!
My little fluff ball enjoying a run by the creek and vineyard.
Work has slowly begun as we wait for the CCC to return from Louisiana, but there has been some work started from the RCD and AmeriCorps Watershed Steward Program to take down the vicious star thistle (I can vouch it’s painful to weed eat). This is really a labor of love and I so admire the work they are doing and will do.
Thistle.
Philip (RCD Restoration Specialist) starts weed-eating.
In the future, probably next year, the County will be hosting 4 tours of the conservation project to the public. And once our tasting room project is complete, we look forward to giving tours as well.
Another above shot of the Adelaida creek.
A huge thank you to Devin Best and Audrey Weichert for leading the effort and working with us! It has been such a pleasure to work with you.
Till next time,
Cecily
P.S. Permit for our winery project is almost there, we will announce once it’s in our hands.
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