BART Route to Livermore Subject of Debate

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

BART Route to Livermore Subject of Debate VOLUME XLVIII, NUMBER 16 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011 BART Route to Livermore Subject of Debate Which BART extension choice That decision led citizens to route, it is estimated that 6,414 Specific Plan calls for a review of the freeway would destroy the would be better for Livermore? launch an initiative campaign to new units would be needed. The housing in the downtown when rural character of the landscape. That is the subject of an ongo- keep BART on I-580. downtown-Vasco route would 1400 units have been added. They use the same argument as ing debate among Livermore The two sides of the debate of- require 1,515 new units above Currently, the count is at around those who oppose the downtown. residents. fer different views on the impacts those included in the Downtown 1000. They argue that large park- Large parking garages and large One route follows the free- and whether an option could be Specific Plan adopted in 2004. ing garages and large numbers of numbers of high rise, high den- way with stations at Isabel and funded. CHARACTER high rise, high density buildings sity housing units near Isabel Greenville Road. The other op- The main issue has to do with The group circulating the would be needed to meet the and Greenville roads would be tion leaves the freeway at Portola, the requirement that 3,850 homes Keep BART on 580 initiative housing requirements. They use built on what is now open space, goes underground to a station in be built within a half mile of declares that bringing BART the East Dublin BART station as much of it outside the urban the downtown, then rises above each station. The numbers can be into the downtown would re- an example of what people could growth boundary. Essentially, Find Out What's ground beyond the downtown averaged between two stations. quire massive development that expect to see. the type of development Dublin ending at a station at Vasco Housing currently built or in the would change the small town Those who want BART to has approved would be allowed Happening Road. general plan for future develop- character of the area. They point come to the downtown note that in North Livermore. At Isabel, Check out the The downtown-Vasco route ment can be counted towards the out that there are 3600 potential the requirement to build hous- structures would either violate was selected as the preferred numbers. In the case of the 580 units planned in the Downtown ing near BART stations along the height restrictions(See BART, pageunder 4) second section alternative by the BART board. Specific Plan. The Downtown Section II is filled with infor- mation about arts, entertainment and special events. There are education stories, a variety of features, and the arts and enter- To a Stanford Scientist, the tainment and bulletin board list Oceans Tell an Alarming Volunteers Story about Climate Sought for By Jeff Garberson spoke to the Valley Study Group. A prominent Stanford Uni- Global temperatures have been Dublin Pride versity oceanographer believes rising for the past 100 years or so, The 26th annual Dublin Pride the oceans are a clear indicator with the steepest rise measured Week celebration will take place of the state of the climate. The since about 1970. Yet he consid- between May 7 and May 14 this story they are telling is an omi- ers the term “global warming” year. Dublin Pride Week is an nous one. something of a diversion. annual event that seeks to dem- For more than three decades, In the first place, there’s a lot onstrate ways in which individu- the oceanographer, Robert Dun- more than warming going on. als, families or groups can act to bar, has been a leader among Ocean levels are rising faster “Build a Healthy Community.” scientists trying to understand than predicted, threatening in The events encourage people the dynamics of complex systems the foreseeable future to displace to work to improve our world that govern climate around the coastal populations and ruin low through environmental aware- world. lying agriculture with increased ness and volunteerism. He is an award winning teach- salinity. The following events and ac- er as well as researcher. His work The ocean’s acidity is increas- tivities will be occurring this year has carried him and his students ing slowly as more carbon diox- throughout Pride Week: to places like Kenya, New Zea- ide dissolves, stressing marine • Volunteer Day - Saturday land, Galapagos and, perhaps life that forms the basis for the May 7 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 most importantly, Antarctica, food chain that much of humanity noon. Volunteers are needed where he has made some 30 trips depends on. to help with Senior Assistance, and spent six and a half years of Rainfall patterns change, School and Park Beautification, his life. making it difficult for even ad- Tree Planting, and Creek Clean- He has worked often with vanced societies to be sure of up projects. Volunteers will be Lawrence Livermore Lab climate water resources. In California, invited to a barbeque hosted by Photo - Doug Jorgensen experts as well as with colleagues for example, dams built to catch the Dublin Lions Club at Emerald One young reader meets her companion. from around the world. runoff from mountain snow melt Glen Park following all volunteer “Among climate scientists, will do little to store the increased activities from 12:00 noon – 1:00 warming is undeniable,” he said precipitation that rising tempera- p.m. Registration at www.dub- last week in Pleasanton, where he (See CLIMATE, page 5) linprideweek.com is required. • Fitness Challenge - Get Exceptional Needs Network, healthy and have fun at the same No June Tax Election Means Bigger time by joining the week long fit- ness challenge. Accumulate and Paws to Read a Great Match Stretch for Pleasanton Schools track points by choosing from a By Patricia Koning Arabella, Mojo, Hannah, and started the Paws to Read pro- Although the state budget The fact that the deadline wide variety of healthy activities In recognition of National Rico. gram, which is a partnership with is unsettled, there are indica- has passed for a June tax exten- and lifestyle choices. Autism Awareness Month, two “Kudos to the Livermore Valley Humane Society, about tions of how bad the state’s lack sion election for $12.5 billion in • Food Drive - Food will be great programs came together at Library for thinking outside the two years ago. “With budget cut- of funding for local education revenue to cover one-half of the collected throughout the week the Livermore Public Library last box and planning a program for backs, we were looking for ways might be. projected $26 billion deficit still at both Dublin Safeway loca- week: Paws to Read and the Ex- children with disabilities,” says to engage volunteers to continue Luz Cázares, assistant super- leaves the district without a firm tions and at Volunteer Day. The ceptional Needs Network (ENN). ENN co-founder Susan Hough- offering meaningful programs,” intendent of the Pleasanton Uni- number about its future budget. donations will be presented to the Thirteen children and teens with ton. “The kids really got a kick explains librarian Gary Myer. fied School District, filled in the However, Gov. Jerry Brown Children’s Emergency Council autism read to the popular therapy out of it.” Paws to Read, modeled after a school board about what might be has said that the cuts to education in Dublin. dogs—Kelda, Mitsy, Dash, Elsa, The Livermore Public Library (See READ, page 12) in store. She made her comments (See BUDGET, page 5) • Free Household Hazardous at the April 12 board meeting. Waste (HHW) Collection and Compost Give-a-Way Day, Sat- urday May 14. • Planet Dublin Poster Contest Decades later, Livermore man looks back at Manhattan Project for students, grades K-12. Prizes By Jeff Garberson years ago, growing up in Princ- wouldn’t turn out well. But he the machine operating. years brought the Pacific War include certificates for all partici- Tom Lanahan was always eton, N.J., that he got a job in went anyway, and he turned out That skill and the job that it led to a close without the invasion pants, gift cards and City Council handy. When a machine wasn’t the Princeton University physics to be good at it. He fixed what to were the start of a remarkable of Japan. recognition for the winners of working well, he figured out a department and was tasked with needed fixing, be it a vacuum career that took him to the heart Lanahan, now 90 and a Liver- each category. way to make it run better. When keeping a cyclotron running. leak, an electrical malfunction of the top secret U.S. nuclear more resident, reminisced last • Farmers’ Market Grand it broke, he could fix it. The year was 1941. He didn’t or mechanical defect. He was in weapon program, the Manhattan week about the war years. Princ- Opening at Emerald Glen Park on So it wasn’t too surprising, 70 have a formal degree. Ffor that demand, because he could keep Project, which in the next four (See MANHATTEN, page 12) Thursday, May 12 from 4:00 p.m. reason his father thought the job - 8:00 p.m. with a special Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 6 p.m. • Bike to Work Day at the Local Congressmen Stress Dublin/Pleasanton Bart Station on Thursday, May 12, 6:30 a.m.
Recommended publications
  • Lamorinda AVA Petition
    PETITION TO ESTABLISH A NEW AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREA TO BE NAMED LAMORINDA The following petition serves as a formal request for the establishment and recognition of an American Viticultural Area to be named Lamorinda, located in Contra Costa County, California. The proposed AVA covers 29,369 acres and includes nearly 139 acres of planted vines and planned plantings. Approximately 85% of this acreage is occupied or will be occupied by commercial viticulture (46 growers). There are six bonded wineries in the proposed AVA and three additional growers are planning bonded wineries. The large number of growers and relatively limited acreage demonstrates an area characterized by small vineyards, a result of some of the unique characteristics of the area. This petition is being submitted by Patrick L. Shabram on behalf of Lamorinda Wine Growers Association. Wineries and growers that are members of the Lamorinda Wine Growers Association are listed in Exhibit M: Lamorinda Wine Growers Association. This petition contains all the information required to establish an AVA in accordance with Title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 9.3. List of unique characteristics: All viticulture limited to moderate-to-moderately steep slopes carved from of uplifted sedimentary rock. Geological rock is younger, less resistant sedimentary rock than neighboring rock. Other surrounding areas are areas of active deposition. Soils in Lamorinda have higher clay content, a result of weathered claystone. The topography allows for shallow soils and good runoff, reducing moisture held in the soil. Despite its position near intrusions of coastal air, Lamorinda is protected from coastal cooling influences. Daytime microclimates are more dependent on slope, orientation, and exposure, leading to a large number of microclimates.
    [Show full text]
  • The Limitations of the Winkler Index by Patrick L
    GRAPEGROWING The Limitations of the Winkler Index By Patrick L. Shabram he Winkler Index or Winkler Scale is Methodology of the index days in the month for each month from April a standard for describing regional Modern-day calculations of GDD most often to October, then summed for the entire grow- Oct climates for viticulture in the United utilize daily accumulations of degree days. That ing season [∑Apr monthly((T_mean-50)•30)]. TStates. Developed by A.J. Winkler is to say that they sum the total degrees of aver- Further, a 1998 assessment of temperatures and M.A. Amerine at the University of Cali- age daily temperatures above 50° F (10° C) for in the city of Sonoma, Calif., determined that Oct 31 fornia, Davis in the first half of the 20th every day from April 1 to Oct. 31 [∑Apr 1 daily Amerine and Winkler’s original calculations century, the index was constructed to corre- (T_mean-50,0)]. If the average temperature for may have been simplified to account for only late wine quality with climate, focusing on a given day is 75° F, then the total degree days 30 days in each month.7 Hence, GDD originally California viticulture. Wine-producing regions added to the total sum for that specific date calculated in 1944 may have had four fewer of California were broken into five climatic would be 25° F. Any average below 50° F con- days figured into the equation than what mod- regions using heat summations above 50° F, stitutes zero GDD for the given day.
    [Show full text]
  • USCIS - H-1B Approved Petitioners Fis…
    5/4/2010 USCIS - H-1B Approved Petitioners Fis… H-1B Approved Petitioners Fiscal Year 2009 The file below is a list of petitioners who received an approval in fiscal year 2009 (October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009) of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, requesting initial H- 1B status for the beneficiary, regardless of when the petition was filed with USCIS. Please note that approximately 3,000 initial H- 1B petitions are not accounted for on this list due to missing petitioner tax ID numbers. Related Files H-1B Approved Petitioners FY 2009 (1KB CSV) Last updated:01/22/2010 AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 10042060. (Posted 04/20/10) uscis.gov/…/menuitem.5af9bb95919f3… 1/1 5/4/2010 http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resource… NUMBER OF H-1B PETITIONS APPROVED BY USCIS IN FY 2009 FOR INITIAL BENEFICIARIES, EMPLOYER,INITIAL BENEFICIARIES WIPRO LIMITED,"1,964" MICROSOFT CORP,"1,318" INTEL CORP,723 IBM INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED,695 PATNI AMERICAS INC,609 LARSEN & TOUBRO INFOTECH LIMITED,602 ERNST & YOUNG LLP,481 INFOSYS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED,440 UST GLOBAL INC,344 DELOITTE CONSULTING LLP,328 QUALCOMM INCORPORATED,320 CISCO SYSTEMS INC,308 ACCENTURE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS,287 KPMG LLP,287 ORACLE USA INC,272 POLARIS SOFTWARE LAB INDIA LTD,254 RITE AID CORPORATION,240 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO,236 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP,235 COGNIZANT TECH SOLUTIONS US CORP,233 MPHASIS CORPORATION,229 SATYAM COMPUTER SERVICES LIMITED,219 BLOOMBERG,217 MOTOROLA INC,213 GOOGLE INC,211 BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCH SYSTEM,187 UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND,185 UNIV OF MICHIGAN,183 YAHOO INC,183
    [Show full text]
  • New Studies Reveal the Diversity of the Maritime-Influenced Livermore Valley by Jim Gordon
    New Studies Reveal the Diversity of the Maritime-Influenced Livermore Valley BY JIM GORDON As a long-time resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, but not a native, Krall. The grape-growing season in this part of the Bay Area was a few things about this unique geographical location along Northern still in full swing and the clusters hanging on so many vines nearby California’s breezy coast continue to amaze me. The sourdough needed more warm weather to fully ripen. I was a Bay Area veteran. bread was and is a tangy, chewy treat from the first morning in 1979 I knew it would be cold. I wore two layers of clothing and brought when I arrived until today when my 26-year-old son in San Francisco two extra layers, and as Krall transitioned from song to song and brings us a loaf he just baked in his Sunset District apartment using the temperature dropped first into the 60s and then into the 50s a sourdough starter that goes back at least 150 years, according to along with a wind chill factor that deducted several more degrees, urban legend. Another is the notorious “marine layer” of low clouds I added the extra garments one by one. Still, they weren’t up to the or fog that waits offshore during the day challenge. My toes tapping to the music and moves inland in the late afternoon, soon devolved to legs shaking spastically bringing cool sea breezes and often fog “... a signature of the Mediterranean climate from the cold.
    [Show full text]
  • To Go Wine List Buy All of Our Wines at Discounted Retail Pricing to Go and Get 10% Off Any 12 Bottle Mixed Cases
    To go Wine List Buy all of our wines at discounted retail pricing to go and get 10% off any 12 bottle mixed cases. 450+ wines, so little time… Our wine list has received an award from Wine Spectator magazine every year since 2002 and the 2nd level “Best of Award” since 2016, one of only select restaurants in Ohio to receive the award. Let us find a great wine for you! White Chardonnay 76 Galaxy Chardonnay $12 California 87 Toasted Head Chardonnay $14 2017 California 269 Debonne Reserve Chardonnay $15 2017 Grand River Valley, Ohio 279 Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay $15 2018 California 126 Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay $15 2018 Alexander Valley AVA,California 88 Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay $16 2017 Livermore Valley AVA, California 242 La Crema Chardonnay $20 2018 Sonoma Coast AVA, California 241 Lioco Sonoma County Chardonnay $23 2015 Sonoma County AVA, California 247 Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay $26 2016 Sonoma Coast AVA, California (WS:87 - Drink now) 259 Kokomo Chardonnay $28 2016 Russian River AVA, California (WS:90 - Drink now) 234 Beringer Luminus Chardonnay $30 2016 Napa Valley AVA, California (WS:91 - Best from 2017-2020) 237 Ferrari-Carano Napa Valley Carneros Reserve Chardonnay $30 2015 Napa Valley AVA, California (WS:90 - Best from 2017-2020) 228 The Snitch Chardonnay by Prisoner $35 2016 Napa Valley AVA, California (WS:86 - Drink now) 222 Failla Sonoma Coast Chardonnay $37 2013 Sonoma Coast AVA, California 272 Stonestreet Estate Chardonnay $40 2016 Alexander Valley AVA, CA (WS:92 - Best
    [Show full text]
  • History in the Vines: Fremont's Wine Legacy
    History in the Vines: Fremont’s Wine Legacy “There is no more important vineyard district in California, all things considered, than that which lies around the old Mission San Jose. …The best wine vineyards are around the Mission and Warm Springs, and on the roads to Irvington and Niles -in other words -on the spurs of the great mountain that rises above the district.” –Charles Howard Shinn, 1889 By Ralph de Unamuno After having lived in Los Angeles for nearly a decade, I returned to the Bay Area to teach Chicano Studies & History at local community colleges. My commute took me past the Gallegos-Palmdale Winery ruins. My curiosity as a historian led me to research the past of the ruins I had once explored as a young boy growing up in Fremont. I soon uncovered an amazing story about the Gallegos- Palmdale winery in particular, and that Fremont had a remarkable viticultural and enological past in general. From the Spanish-Mission era up to Prohibition, south Fremont (then called the Washington Township), had once been one of the first and most productive wine regions in California. While the Gallegos-Palmdale Winery was not the first or the last winery in Fremont, it is a symbol of a bygone era of Fremont’s historic agricultural past. A past that is all but forgotten but much deserving of acknowledgment to the history of California viticulture and enology. Figure 1 Ruins of the Palmdale Winery. Photo Credit: The Wine Institute The origins of the Golden State’s wine industry has its roots in the Spanish colonial era.
    [Show full text]
  • Don Ernesto A.K.A
    Winter 2014 Drought, rain and sun. You just never know in this business what can happen next. Mired in our worst drought in recent memory, the skies opened up in November and December to reward us with an abundance of rain, so much so that some of us feel like the drought conditions are finished. Not so but it sure feels good even so. The grapevines will be fine for 2015 based on the ground water we received but we remain concerned about the water supply for the residents of California. We are now in the midst of a cold and dry period which is excellent for our winter pruning work and preparing for spring. Every morning, the crews of vineyard workers trek out to their fields and meticulously select, trim, and prune 95% of the growth from 2014 in order to promote strong, vigorous growth for 2015. It is precise work requiring skill obtained by years of observing how the grapevine grows and responds to the treatments we perform to obtain a successfully bountiful and ripe crop next Fall. We look forward to seeing you here whenever you can. It is a beauty and joy to visit any time of the year. Best wishes for a great 2015! Ciao, Don Ernesto a.k.a. Ernie Weir Cover Crop in action: In Fall we sow beneficial plants between the vine rows, which will assist to enrich the soil. Some nice added benefits are the beauty of the flowers and the resulting insect attraction that can be observed in the late winter and early spring.
    [Show full text]
  • Aglianico from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
    Aglianico From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aglianico (pronounced [aʎˈʎaːniko], roughly "ahl-YAH-nee- koe") is a black grape grown in the Basilicata and Campania Aglianico regions of Italy. The vine originated in Greece and was Grape (Vitis) brought to the south of Italy by Greek settlers. The name may be a corruption of vitis hellenica, Latin for "Greek vine."[1] Another etymology posits a corruption of Apulianicum, the Latin name for the whole of southern Italy in the time of ancient Rome. During this period, it was the principal grape of the famous Falernian wine, the Roman equivalent of a first-growth wine today. Contents Aglianico from Taurasi prior to veraison Color of Black 1 History berry skin 2 Relationship to other grapes Also called Gnanico, Agliatica, Ellenico, 3 Wine regions Ellanico and Uva Nera 3.1 Other regions Origin Greece 4 Viticulture Notable Taurasi, Aglianico del Vulture 5 Wine styles wines 6 Synonyms Hazards Peronospera 7 References History The vine is believed to have first been cultivated in Greece by the Phoceans from an ancestral vine that ampelographers have not yet identified. From Greece it was brought to Italy by settlers to Cumae near modern-day Pozzuoli, and from there spread to various points in the regions of Campania and Basilicata. While still grown in Italy, the original Greek plantings seem to have disappeared.[2] In ancient Rome, the grape was the principal component of the world's earliest first-growth wine, Falernian.[1] Ruins from the Greek Along with a white grape known as Greco (today grown as Greco di Tufo), the grape settlement of Cumae.
    [Show full text]
  • Petition List Id First Last Email Date Address1 City St Zipcode Comment 1 Zach Rubeck [email protected] 6/10/2004 4708 Roseville Road, Ste
    Official NVRSC Petition List id First Last Email Date Address1 City St Zipcode Comment 1 Zach Rubeck [email protected] 6/10/2004 4708 Roseville Road, Ste. 111 North Highlands CA 95660 I would like to see the VRS service to continue for the deaf community. It is important for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to use this service for better communication. Please, don't throw this important opportunity. 2 Randi Seiler [email protected] 6/10/2004 5738 Windmill Way 41 Carmichael CA 95608 n/a 3 Don Lee Hanaumi [email protected] 6/10/2004 4708 Roseville Road North Highlands CA 95660 n/a 4 Donna Crespo [email protected] 6/10/2004 2535 Meadow Court West PALM Beach FL 33406 I have VRS and its very very useful to call anywhere especially to doctors and other things and i am hard of hearing and I use voice carried over and my sons are so thrill ed to talk to me and hear my voices not only that its the best thing for every one companys dr hospitals so please please do keep this open regards , Donna Crespo 5 Mark Bella [email protected] 6/10/2004 173 nevada ave roseville CA 95678 n/a 6 Sally Garza [email protected] 6/10/2004 4708 Roseville Road ste 111 North Highlands CA 95660 n/a 7 David Pearson [email protected] 6/10/2004 8521 45th Dr. NE Marysville WA 98270 Not only it will help deaf people, it help hard of hearing people... with sound, you can lipread the operator who is signing.
    [Show full text]
  • 2021 Double Gold Medal Winners
    2021 Double Gold Medal Winners OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition Co-sponsored by the Orange County Wine Society Sycamore Ranch Vineyard & Winery 99 Points 2019 Mourvedre California Galleano Winery Inc 98 Points NV Mission Old Vine Cucamonga Valley AVA Husch Vineyards 97 Points 2017 Gewürztraminer Dry, Late Harvest Anderson Valley AVA Macchia Winery 97 Points 2019 Zinfandel old vine Lodi AVA Marin's Vineyard 97 Points 2020 Viognier Monterey County Schug Carneros Estate Winery 97 Points 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma Coast AVA Acquiesce Winery 96 Points 2020 Viognier Mokelumne River AVA Bellante Family Winery 96 Points 2018 Mourvedre 2018 Mourvedre, 95% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah Los Olivos District AVA, Camp Four Vineyard Cass Winery 96 Points 2020 Roussanne 100% Roussanne Paso Robles Geneseo District AVA Copyright Orange County Wine Society - Confidential and Proprietary Lewis Grace Winery 96 Points 2018 Syrah Sierra Foothills AVA, Renner Vineyard Napa de Oro 96 Points 2018 Chardonnay Non ML+ 100% Barrel Fermented Carneros AVA, Truchard Vineyards Pennyroyal Farm 96 Points 2018 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley AVA Rancho de Philo Winery 96 Points NV Sherry Mission, Triple Cream Sherry Cucamonga Valley AVA Robert Hall Winery 96 Points 2018 Syrah 92% Syrah, 8% Grenache Blanc, Cavern Select Paso Robles AVA Sobon Wine Company, LLC 96 Points 2020 Viognier Amador County Sycamore Ranch Vineyard & Winery 96 Points 2019 GSM 34% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 33% Mourvedre California Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery 95 Points 2018 Syrah Alta Colina Vineyard, 97% Syrah, 2%
    [Show full text]
  • The Viticultural Districts of the Livermore Valley AVA
    The Viticultural Districts of the Livermore Valley AVA by Patrick L Shabram Copyright ©2018, 2019 Prepared by Patrick L Shabram for the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Viticultural Districts of the Livermore Valley AVA Summary The Livermore Valley AVA is diverse in topography, soil, and as a result of Pacific airflow into the region, climate. The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association has commissioned a soils report and a climate report to better understand this diversity. Utilizing the results of the climate and soils reports, this report outlines twelve viticultural districts within the Livermore Valley AVA. Background The Livermore Valley AVA (27 CFR Part 9 §9.46) was created in 1982 and amended in 2006 to recognize the unique viticulture of the inland East Bay area of the San Francisco Bay Area. The AVA occupies sections of the Diablo Range in southern Contra Costa and eastern Alameda counties, including the Amador, Livermore, and San Ramon valleys (often referred to as the Tri-Valley area). The Diablo Range is a subset of the greater Coastal Ranges. The AVA is characterized by a combination of diverse topography and transitional climate, which creates diverse growing conditions within the AVA. Despite its inland location, which is not adjacent to any bodies of water, the climate of the Livermore Valley AVA is greatly influenced by Pacific airflow that moderates temperatures relative to warmer inland locations to the east. This airflow enters the AVA in several locations, complicating the temperature patterns in the AVA. Further complicating the climate is elevation, which ranges from approximately 160 feet to 3,848 feet in the area.
    [Show full text]
  • Climatic Analysis of the Lamorinda Area
    Climatic Analysis of the Lamorinda Area by Patrick L Shabram Copyright 2012 Prepared by Patrick L Shabram for the Lamorinda Winegrowers Association ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Summary The Lamorinda area, encompassing the communities of Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda, is generally warmer than areas to the north, west, and south; areas more exposed to coastal influences. The Lamorinda area is also cooler than eastern Contra Costa County, but not necessarily cooler than inland locations at Concord and Pleasanton. Yet Lamorinda’s viticulture is heavily influenced by terrain with microclimatic variations associated with air drainage and exposure. As such, terrain is important in distinguishing Lamorinda’s climates from climates in the broader, flatter Ygnacio Valley and the Livermore Valley to the east. Background In the interest of assessing the unique characteristics of the Lamorinda area, the Lamorinda Winegrowers Association has asked me to review the climate characteristics of the Lamorinda area. Located in central Contra Costa County, the Lamorinda area encompasses the communities of Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. The viticultural area may not necessarily correlate specifically to these communities, although the name “Lamorinda” does. The purpose of this study is both to establish what climatic characteristics define Lamorinda and to help establish the general parameter of the area. This report will be compared to geologic and historical reports for the purpose of creating a petition for establishment of the Lamorinda Viticultural Area. This study utilizes 2007 to 2011 weather data for eight weather stations from known reliable sources. Four of these weather stations are part of the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS).
    [Show full text]