Petition to Establish the Kelsey Bench

2011

Lake County AVA

– Terry Dereniuk Bench Petition to Establish the Kelsey Kelsey the Establish to Petition

This petition seeks to establish the Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA. Distinguishing features of soils, geology, and topography identify this area as a unique winegrape growing area in Lake County, California.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

This petition seeks to establish the Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA within the larger existing Clear Lake AVA. The proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County viticulture area covers about 9,100 acres and lies south of Clear Lake and entirely within the Clear Lake AVA. The area is bordered by the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County AVA to the north, and the Highland Springs Reservoir and the Mayacamas Mountains to the west. It is bordered by the Red Hills Lake County AVA on the east and the Mayacamas Mountains to the south. This area has a long history of agricultural activity due to its soils and favorable climate. Appendix Exhibit 1 contains a map from the Kelseyville Area Plan which shows the proposed area as a portion of the Prime Agricultural Soils. It also has history of viticultural activity with evidence of vineyards and a winery dating back to the late 1800’s. Currently, there are 27 growers farming over 900 acres of grapes and 1 winery located on the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County area. Appendix Exhibit 2 has a list of the growers and winery in the proposed area. Appendix Exhibit 3 is a map from the Lake County Farm Bureau showing the location of vineyards and other agricultural activities participating in the Farm Bureau Watershed program in 2009. This map does not include all of the vineyards and has not been updated since 2009. While the proposed area has been identified as part of the Big Valley in historical references and is included in the Kelseyville Planning Area, we believe that it should be recognized as a distinct and separate viticultural area based on soils, geology, and topography. This petition has broad support of both the grower community and the Rosa d‘Oro Winery located in the proposed area and other Lake County wineries.

The proposed boundaries for this area bisect vineyards along the northern boundary that is shared by the proposed Big Valley and the proposed Kelsey Bench. These vineyards are owned by Devoto Vineyards, and Hanson Ranch Vineyards. A letter confirming their understanding and approval of the proposed boundary line has been secured from each grower and is included with this petition in Appendix Exhibits 32 and 33.

History of Agriculture and Viticulture In the Kelsey Bench

Lake County and the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County area has been a hub of agricultural and viticultural activity since it was originally settled in the mid 1800’s. Local history shows that many families settled around Kelsey Creek and other areas of the proposed Kelsey Bench area. As with other settlements in Lake County, agriculture was a primary source of income. Pears, walnuts, prunes, and winegrapes were among the crops grown on farms in this area. Old walnut orchards are still in production today along Bell Hill Road and Kelsey Creek. Evidence of the early settlement of the area includes the following about the Rincon School: “Rincon School District was formed from the Kelsey Creek School District, probably between 1861 and 1867, after Lake County became a county, since it is not mentioned in the Napa County records. The first little schoolhouse was 2 1/2 miles south of Kelseyville, located between Kelsey Drive and Kelsey Creek. After a few years a good school was built on the west bank of Kelsey Creek, 2 miles south of town. The school district extended from one mile south of Kelseyville, southwest

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

to the county line, southeast to Mt. St. Helena, and back to Mt. Konocti.”1

Lake County history records three vineyards that were planted in the early 1900’s on properties located in the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County. According to the writings of Henry Maudlin as well as Ernest P Penninou, John J Staheli owned a 25 acre zinfandel vineyard located on a property a mile and a half south of Kelseyville on the west side of Kelsey Creek. Local resident Barbara Schnabl was interviewed in researching the history of this area. She stated that her father, Fred Gross, worked in the Staheli vineyard from 1909 until he left the area to attend college in 1912 or 1913. In an account written by Ernest P Penninou in 1955, it was noted that Staheli moved from Iowa to California in 1904 and in 1905 purchased the vineyard of William Johnson. In 1910, Mr. Staheli added a stone winery near the vineyard with a storage capacity of 4000 gallons. Although he closed the winery in 1912 due to the low price being paid for wine, he continued to farm the vineyard. The original property owned by Staheli is now divided into multiple smaller parcels. Wine grapes are still grown on some of the properties. Although much of the original vineyard has long since disappeared, some of the original zinfandel vines are still producing in a vineyard located on property owned by Burt Harlan, another long time Lake County resident.

Penninou’s account also refers to a 35 acre vineyard owned by Fred Stokes located a mile and a half south of Mr. Staheli’s property on Kelsey Creek. In the history written by Henry Maudlin, this vineyard was said to be owned by Albert Brock Carey of Fulton and farmed by Fred Stokes. The vineyard was planted in 1910 and later pulled out in 1950.

The Catfish Vineyard located on Bell Hill Road was also planted in 1901. This vineyard is still in commercial operation and owned by Steele Wines. According to Steele Wines, “Catfish Vineyard is truly an old-timer, planted in 1901. The vineyard is located on the Bell Hill bench of Lake County just south of Kelseyville. The vines are head pruned and stand on their own roots. Steele Wines purchased the vineyard in 2000 and we have been working to rehabilitate the old vines since that time. We have pruned the vines back so that each vine has fewer shoots and therefore fewer grape bunches and we have planted new vines where the 100-year-old vines have expired. A vintage consuming process but well worth the effort. The small, concentrated berries from this century-old vineyard offer just that, concentrated flavors. Catfish Vineyard Zinfandel is actually a field blend of a number of varieties, including small amounts of Carignan, Alicante Bouche, Cabernet, and several other varieties – even some white grapes. Having more than one variety assured the old-time vintners that they would have some grapes to harvest regardless of the spring frosts or autumn storms. The grapes from Catfish are not separated; the wine is vinified just as it grows. The vineyard was planted during the influx of Mediterranean

1 Lake County CAGenWeb Project, Schools, Teachers, & Students, Rincon School www.cagenweb.com/lake/Rincon%20School.htm

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

th 2 immigrants into Northern California at the turn of the 20 Century.” Catfish Vineyard is also registered with the Historic Vineyard Society at www.historicvineyardsociety.org. The photograph below shows vines from the century old Catfish Vineyard today.

Figure 1 – Head pruned vine at the Catfish Vineyard

Vineyards and viticulture disappeared in the County with Prohibition, with pears and walnuts becoming the most predominant crops. In the early to mid 60’s, grapes were planted in the area once again. The internet site for Nova Wine and Grape Brokers states that their old vine zinfandel vineyard located on Gold Dust and Staheli Drives was planted in 1960.3 Appendix Exhibit 4 contains a copy of the home page for the Nova Wine and Grape Brokers website. Vineyards continued to be planted in this area in the 1970’s and beyond. Early vineyards used root stock that was not phylloxera resistant and have been replaced since the original planting. Both red and white grape varieties have been planted in the area although as noted in an article from Wine Business Monthly (03/15/2007), “The Kelseyville Bench is a distinct area 1600 feet

2 Steele Wines, Zinfandel Catfish Vineyard 2008, www.steelewines.com 3 Nova Wine & Grape Brokers, The Nova Zinfandel Vineyard, www.novawinegrapebroker.com

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition above sea level, better for red grapes.”4 The current agricultural landscape of the proposed Kelsey Bench is predominantly walnuts and grapes, with cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and zinfandel being the most planted red varieties.

Name Evidence

The name Kelsey Bench was selected as the name for the proposed area to reflect both the history of the area and the topography. Name evidence includes information on early settlers with the surname Kelsey, geographical names that include the name Kelsey, business and government entities that use Kelsey as part of their name, and finally both historical and present day evidence that supports using the word bench to describe the topography of this area.

Andrew Kelsey was one of the first settlers of Lake County. In 1847, Kelsey and Charles Stone bought land from Salvador Vallejo and built the first adobe home using forced Indian labor. Historical accounts state that their treatment of the local Indians was harsh. This caused a great deal of resentment among the local Indian population. Kelsey and Stone were murdered by the Indians in 1848. Their remains are buried on the site of California Landmark 426, Site of the First Adobe Home, Lake County shown in Figure 2 below.

4 Paul Franson, Spotlight on Lake County, Wine Business Monthly, 03/15/2007, printed from www.snowslakevineyard.com

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 2 - California Landmark 426

The Pioneer Cemetery located in Kelseyville just off Highway 29 provides further evidence of the name Kelsey as one of the early pioneer families. The stone monument at the gate to the cemetery states “Some of the original settlers of Lake County are buried here.” Kelsey is listed as one of the early pioneer families on this plaque. A photo of this monument is shown below in Figure 3.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 3 - The Monument at the Entrance of Kelseyville Pioneer Cemetery

Additional historical evidence supports the continuing influence of the Kelsey pioneers. The History of Napa and Lake Counties contains the following account for John Kelsey, an early pioneer.

“KELSEY, John -

Was born in Kentucky, July 17, 1819. At the age of eighteen he went to Tennessee, where he engaged as apprentice to the gunsmith trade for four years. We next find him in Ray County, Missouri, where gunsmithing was followed until 1867, when he was elected to the position of County Treasurer, which office he held for six years. In 1873 he came to California, and to Lake County, settling in Kelseyville, where he still continues to reside. Mr. Kelsey married, in 1839, Miss Emma Jones, a native of Tennessee. Their children are, William, Alvin, Solomon and Linnia A.”5

Additional examples include the 1878 – 79 McKenney’s District Directory for Lake County which lists W. F. Kelsey as a farmer owning 150 acres.6 And the Pioneer Cemetery contains a grave marker for another Kelsey, James Kelsey, who died in 1878. A photograph of the grave of

5 History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, (Slocum, Bowen, & Co., Publishers 1881) page 257

6 McKenney’s DISTRICT DIRECTORY 1878-79 , Kelseyville, www.cagenweb.com, 1878 District Directory

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

James Kelsey is shown in Figure 4 below.

Figure 4 - Grave Monument for James Kelsey

The name Kelsey is found in a number of geographical, business, and government organizations in the local area. The town of Kelseyville was originally called Kelsey Town in honor of Andrew Kelsey.7 Appendix Exhibit 5 contains a print of the webpage on Kelseyville from the U. S. Geological Names Information System website. The name was changed to Uncle Sam after Mount Uncle Sam when the first blacksmith’s shop opened in 1857, and then later changed to Kelseyville in 1882. Erving Feltman’s book California’s Lake County notes, “After the formation of Lake County in 1861 the town is mentioned in the local newspapers as Kelsey Creek or just Kelsey for at least 15 years until it was officially renamed Kelseyville.”8 Appendix Exhibit 6 contains examples of this with advertisements and an article on the election published in the Clear Lake Journal in September, 1865. Additional references to the names of this location are shown below in Figure 5 taken from the Lake County CAGenWeb Project website.9

7 Wikipedia, www.wikipedia.com 8 Erving R. Feltman, California’s Lake County Places and Postal History, (The Depot, 1993), page 23 9Lake County CAGenWeb Project, www.cagenweb.com, Location of Places in Lake County, H – S, section 7 of 13

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 5 - Section: 7 of 13, Location of Places in Lake County, H - S Feature Name County Type Latitude Longitude Alt USGS 7.5' Map

Kelsey Lake pop place 385841N 1225018W 1386 Kelseyville

Kelsey Creek Lake pop place 385841N 1225018W 1386 Kelseyville

Kelsey Creek Lake stream 390114N 1224854W - Lucerne

Kelseyville is currently a Census Designated Place, and can be found on numerous maps of the local area including USGS map, Kelseyville Quadrangle,( published by National Geographic Holdings, Inc),( the 1989 soil survey map for Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (Kelseyville Quadrangle), Sheet No. 21 published by the U S Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service), California’s Lake County Farm Trails Discovery Map printed in 2008 (Appendix Exhibit 7 ) and the 2008 AAA Clear Lake Communities City Series map (Appendix Exhibit 8 ).

The name Kelsey appears in the name of a local creek, a slough in Clear Lake State Park, and as in the name of a local road. Kelsey Creek is one of a number of creeks in the Big Valley watershed. A portion of this waterway runs through the proposed Kelsey Bench –Lake County as it flows into Clear Lake. Kelsey Slough is located in Clear Lake State Park and shown on the map of the Park contained in Appendix Exhibit 9. Kelsey Creek Drive runs west from Highway 29 and follows the creek. Kelsey Creek and Kelsey Creek Drive are shown on maps including many of those referred to earlier in this discussion. The photograph in Figure 6 was taken on Highway 29.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 6 - Kelsey Creek Drive sign on Highway 29 South

The name Kelsey is also used as part of a number of business names including Kelsey Creek Storage, Kelseyville Lumber, and Kelseyville Appliance as shown in Appendix Exhibit 10, at&t The Real Yellow Pages for Lake and Mendocino Counties, November, 2010 edition. It is also part of the name for local governmental units including the Kelseyville Unified School District and Kelseyville Fire Protection District. Appendix Exhibits 11 contain prints from the websites for both of these entities.

The term “bench” was selected to describe the topography of the proposed AVA area. The use of this term is well defined in a number of references, particularly as it relates to agriculture and viticulture. Merriam Webster dictionary defines the word bench as a “terrace, shelf”, and further explains this meaning as “a: a former wave-cut shore of a sea or lake or floodplain of a river.”10 The topography of the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County area is made up of alluvial fans and terraces that rise above the Big Valley and extend south and east towards the higher elevations of the Mayacamas Mountains and the mountains of the Clear Lake Volcanics. Geological evidence suggests that the Big Valley was covered by the waters of Clear Lake about 450,000 years ago. Over time, the shoreline of Clear Lake continued to change with volcanic activity raising the Big Valley and the surrounding hills above lake level. Appendix Exhibit 12 contains a copy of 2 maps showing the boundaries of Clear Lake taken from the book Images of America Lake County by Maureen Bishop Sanderson and Maureen Carpenter.

10 Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary, www.merriam-webster.com, bench, #5

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Both historical and modern day references further support using this term in the name of the proposed AVA. In the book Terroir, The Role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wine by James E Wilson, the term terrace is defined as “a long narrow, relatively level, shelf-like surface or bench bordering a stream or body of water.”11 This definition fits the Kelsey Bench area based on the geological changes of the lakebed of Clear Lake and rise of the Big Valley and surrounding terraces. The term “bench” was used in historical writings about Lake County. In the book History of Napa and Lake Counties – Lake, a discussion on Soils stated that “there is a peculiar “half and half” kind of soil which predominates on the “second bottom” or benches of land lying at the foot of the mountains.”12 A related example referring to similar topography using the term bench can be found in the book Soils for Fine Wines by Robert E. White. In the discussion of the location, climate, and geology of the Napa Valley, Mr. White states, “Alluvial and colluvial fans (locally called “benches”) occupy parts of the lower foot slopes.” He goes on to say, “The most favored areas of Napa are the benches in the foot slope regions, where the soils are shallower, less fertile, very stony in places, and well drained.”13

The name Kelsey or Kelseyville Bench has been widely adopted by the wine industry and more recently by the real estate industry in the last decade. Examples of use of the name Kelsey Bench or its variation, Kelseyville Bench can be found in numerous websites. Exhibits 13 through 17 in the Appendix include prints from the Lake County Winegrape Commission website, several winery sites, articles from the Napa Valley Register and Wine Business Monthly, and pages printed from the Northcoast Winegrape Brokers website. It also appears in real estate advertisements such as the flyers for 6215 Gold Dust Drive and 2150 Bell Hill Road in Kelseyville (Appendix Exhibit 18).

Distinguishing Features

Soils

The proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County area is a crescent shaped land mass with Big Valley to the north, the Clear Lake Volcanics and Red Hills to the east, and surrounded by the Mayacamas Mountains to the southeast, south and west. Dr. Erica Lundquist, Ph.D. in Soil Science was consulted on the characteristics of the soils and suitability for viticulture in determining the boundaries of the proposed area. In addition to considering her input in this process, we also worked with the grower community to be inclusive in the area, particularly along the southern boundary. Many different soil series make up the soils of this area. The soils were shaped over time by the forces of geology, water, and weather, with the soils in the

11 James E Wilson, Terroir The Role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wines, (Reed Consumer Books Limited, 1998) page 62 12 History of Napa and Lake Counties, (Slocum, Bowen, & Co., Publishers 1881) page 20

13 Robert E. White, Soils for Fine Wines, (Oxford University Press, 2003) page 239 - 240

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

northern half of the area being of a more developed structure than those that lie in the southern half and far eastern section. “The soils of the Kelsey Bench can be broadly characterized by the three general soil map units found extensively in the proposed AVA. To the north is Manzanita- Wappo-Forbesville (MWF), in the center lies Phipps-Bally (PB), and to the south lies Millsholm- Skyhigh-Bressa (MSB). MWF soils are very deep, well drained soils on terraces, formed in alluvium from mixed sources. PB soils are found on uplifted, dissected hills, and they are also very deep, well drained, and formed in alluvium from mixed sources. MSB soils are shallow to moderately deep soils on hills and mountains. They formed in sandstone, shale, and siltstone.”14 These General Soil Map Units make up over 72% of the total acreage in the proposed area. “Smaller areas of general soil map unit Still Lupoyoma (SL) are found in isolated, level valleys of the proposed AVA. Areas of general soil map unit Talmage-Xerofluvents-Riverwash (TXR) are found within and adjacent to stream channels. Also included are small areas of volcanic soils.”15

The Forbesville soil series 132 and 133 are of particular significance in this area. Soils in the Manzanita – Wappo – Forbesville map unit make up 31% of the total acreage in the proposed area with Forbesville soil series 132 comprising 6% of the total acreage and Forbesville soil series 133 comprising 15% of the total acreage. These Forbesville soil series make up very small percentages of the total soils in Lake County with only 700 total acres of series 132 and 1820 acres of series 133 found in the entire County. The proposed Kelsey Bench area contains 79% of soil series 132 and 75% of soil series 133 found in Lake County. Appendix Exhibit 19 contains a print of the webpage on Forbesville Soils from the Lake County Winegrape Growers website.

Forbesville soil series 132 is included in the list of prime farm lands by the California Department of Conservation.16 This soil series is also included in the Class 1 – IV prime agricultural soils identified in the Kelseyville Area Plan. The Soil Survey of Lake County California contains the following comment about the suitability of the Forbesville, Wappo, and Manzanita soils “These terrace soils are well suited to wine grapes because of good soil drainage and favorable air drainage, which reduces the risk of frost.”17 The Lake County Soil Survey lists the average yield per acre at 4.5 tons for winegrapes grown on Forbesville soils. This compares well with other soils in the county with average yields between 3 and 6 tons per acre.18

15 I wish to acknowledge Dr. Erica Lundquist for her advice and expertise as a soils expert on this project. Her comments were received by email on July 6, 2011 16 California Department of Conservation, Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, Soil Candidate Listing for Prime Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance, Lake County, updated 6/29/2010

17 National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989) page 136 18 National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989) pages 243 - 245

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Appendix Exhibit 20 contains a map showing the prime agricultural soils from the Kelseyville Area Plan and Exhibit 2l has a copy of Table 6, Yields per Acre of Crops and Pasture from the Lake County Soil Survey.

Soil survey maps for the Lakeport Quadrangle, Highland Springs Quadrangle, and Kelseyville Quadrangle were examined to identify the predominant soils found in the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County appellation area. Appendix Exhibit 22 shows the general soils map for Lake County. The following discussion on each soil type was taken from the 1989 Lake County Soil Survey by U S Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. Soils that comprise 4% or more of the total acres are included in this discussion.

103 - Asbill clay loam, 5 to 8 percent slopes – This moderately deep, well drained soil is on hills. It formed in material weathered from shale and siltstone. Typically, the surface layer is olive gray clay loam 13 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 39 inches is olive gray and light olive gray clay. Permeability is slow.19 Soil reaction is moderately to mildly alkaline. The texture of this soil is clay loam. Percent of organic matter in this soil is between 1% and 3%, an indicator of marginal to best fertility for winegrapes.20 The Storie Index rating as an indicator of fertility for this soil is fair based on a nutrient level as a limitation.21

104 - Asbill clay loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes – This moderately deep, well drained soil is on hills. It formed in material weathered from shale or siltstone. The surface layer and underlying material is the same as Asbill clay loam, soil series 103. Permeability is slow and soil reaction is moderately to mildly alkaline.22 The texture of this soil is clay loam. Percent of organic matter in this soil is between 1% and 3%, an indicator of marginal to best fertility for winegrapes.23 The Storie Index rating as an indicator of fertility for this soil is fair based on a nutrient level as a limitation.24

107 - Bally-Phipps Complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes – Both Bally and Phipps soils are very deep and well drained. These soils are formed in alluvium from mixed rock sources. This unit is about 40 percent Bally gravelly sandy clay loam and 35 percent Phipps loam. Permeability of these soils is slow. Soil reaction is slightly acid to neutral.25 The texture of this soil is sandy clay loam. Percent of organic matter in this soil is between 1% and 2%, an indicator of marginal

19 Ibid, pages 19 - 20 20 Dr. Robert Pool, Cornell University, The Basics of Vineyard Site Evaluation and Selection, www.acerserver2.iagt.org/vll/learnmore.aspx 21 National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989), page 246 22 Ibid, page 20 23 Dr. Robert Pool, Cornell University, The Basics of Vineyard Site Evaluation and Selection, www.acerserver2.iagt.org/vll/learnmore.aspx 24 National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989), page 246 25 Ibid, page 22

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

fertility for winegrapes.26 The Storie Index rating as an indicator of fertility for this soil is fair based on a nutrient level as a limitation for both soil types that make up this complex.27

132 – Forbesville Loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes - This very deep well drained soil is on terraces. It formed in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources. Typically, the surface layer is brown loam 6 inches thick. The upper 10 inches of the subsoil is yellowish red loam, and the lower 14 inches is red clay. Below this to a depth of 70 inches is red very gravelly clay and reddish yellow very gravely clay loam. Permeability of this soil is slow.28 Soil reaction is strongly acid to slightly acid. The texture of this soil is loam. Percent of organic matter in this soil is less than 1%, unacceptably low fertility without addition of amendments for winegrapes.29 The Storie Index rating as an indicator of fertility for this soil is poor based on a drainage and nutrient level as limitations.30

133 – Forbesville Loam, 5 to 15 percent slopes - This very deep, well drained soil is on terraces. It formed in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources. Typically, the surface layer is brown loam 6 inches thick. The upper 10 inches of the subsoil is yellowish red loam, and the lower 14 inches is red clay. Below this to a depth of 70 inches is red very gravelly clay and reddish yellow very gravely clay loam. Permeability of this soil is slow. Soil reaction is strongly acid to slightly acid. The texture of this soil is loam. Percent of organic matter in this soil is less than 1%, unacceptably low fertility without addition of amendments for winegrapes.31 The Storie Index rating as an indicator of fertility for this soil is poor based on a drainage and nutrient level as limitations.32

207 - Skyhill-Asbill complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes - This map unit is on hills. The unit is about 55 percent Skyhigh loam and 25 percent Asbill clay loam. Both Skyhigh and Asbill soils are moderately deep and well drained. Asbill soil was formed in material weathered from shale or siltstone. Typically, the surface layer is olive gray clay loam 13 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 39 inches is olive gray and light olive gray clay. Soft siltstone is at a depth of 39 inches. Skyhigh soil was formed in material weathered from sandstone or shale. Typically, the surface layer is brown loam 2 inches thick. The upper 6 inches of subsoil is brown clay loam, and the lower 30 inches is brown, yellowish-brown, and strong brown clay. Hard,

26 Dr. Robert Pool, Cornell University, The Basics of Vineyard Site Evaluation and Selection, www.acerserver2.iagt.org/vll/learnmore.aspx 27 National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989), page 246 28 Ibid, page 41 29 Dr. Robert Pool, Cornell University, The Basics of Vineyard Site Evaluation and Selection, www.acerserver2.iagt.org/vll/learnmore.aspx 30 National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989), page 248 31 Dr. Robert Pool, Cornell University, The Basics of Vineyard Site Evaluation and Selection, www.acerserver2.iagt.org/vll/learnmore.aspx 32 National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989), page 248

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

fractured sandstone is at a depth of 38 inches. Permeability of both soils is slow.33 Soil reaction for this soil unit is slightly acid to neutral. The textural class of the upper horizon of this soil is loam / clay loam. Percent of organic matter in this soil is 2% to 4% for Skyhigh and 1% to 3% for Asbill, the best range for soil fertility for winegrapes.34 The Storie Index rating as an indicator of fertility for this soil is fair based on a nutrient level as a limitation for both soils that make up this complex.35

208 Skyhigh – Asbill complex, 15 to 50 percent slopes - This map unit is on hills. The unit is about 50 percent Skyhigh loam and 30 percent Asbill clay loam. Both Skyhigh and Asbill soils are moderately deep and well drained. Asbill soil was formed in material weathered from shale or siltstone. Typically, the surface layer is olive gray clay loam 13 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 39 inches is olive gray and light olive gray clay. Soft siltstone is at a depth of 39 inches. Skyhigh soil was formed in material weathered from sandstone or shale. Typically, the surface layer is brown loam 2 inches thick. The upper 6 inches of subsoil is brown clay loam, and the lower 30 inches is brown, yellowish-brown, and strong brown clay. Hard, fractured sandstone is at a depth of 38 inches. Permeability of this soil is slow.36 Soil reaction for this soil unit is slightly acid to neutral. The textural class of the upper horizon of this soil is loam / clay loam. Percent of organic matter in this soil is 2% to 4% for Skyhigh and 1% to 3% for Asbill, the best range for soil fertility for winegrapes.37The Storie Index rating as an indicator of fertility for this soil is fair based on a nutrient level as a limitation for both soils that make up this complex.38

233 Still loam, stratified substratum - This very deep well drained soil is on alluvial plains. It formed in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources, dominantly sandstone or shale. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. Permeability is slow to moderately slow. Soil reaction for Still loam is slightly acid to neutral. Typically, the upper part of the surface layer is brown loam 6 inches thick and the lower part is brown clay loam 30 inches thick. The upper 16 inches of the underlying material is stratified, brown clay loam and loam, and the lower part to a depth of 70 inches is extremely gravelly loamy course sand. The textural class of this soil is loam. Percent of organic matter in this soil is 1% to 4% ranging from marginal to the best range for soil fertility for

33 Ibid, page 96 34 Dr. Robert Pool, Cornell University, The Basics of Vineyard Site Evaluation and Selection, www.acerserver2.iagt.org/vll/learnmore.aspx 35National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989), page 256 36 Ibid, page 97 37 Dr. Robert Pool, Cornell University, The Basics of Vineyard Site Evaluation and Selection, www.acerserver2.iagt.org/vll/learnmore.aspx 38 Ibid, page 256

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

winegrapes.39 The Storie Index rating as an indicator of fertility for this soil is excellent with a limitation of flooding noted.40

Importance to Viticulture

Soil is the medium in which plants develop and grow. The soil composition, depth, availability of nutrients to vines, water retention, and drainage are key components of vine and fruit development.

“Most of the vineyards currently found in the proposed AVA are on the Forbesville Series (Manzanita-Wappo-Forbesville general soil map unit). Presence of vineyards in this area is probably due to the gentler terrain relative to Phipps-Bally and Millsholm-Skyhigh-Bressa general map units. Forbesville has a deep and significantly weathered soil profile indicated by its red color, clay accumulation from approximately 16 to 70 inches depth, and acidic pH (5.0- 6.5). These limiting conditions respond to nutrient and organic matter additions, but also provide lean conditions for excellent winegrape quality.

The Phipps-Bally general soil map unit is represented by map unit 107, Bally-Phipps Complex, 15-30% slopes, in the proposed AVA. Both the Bally and Phipps Series are very deep and well drained, with subsoil clay accumulation. Where topography and slope permit, these soils are well-suited to viticulture.

Numerous soil taxonomic units make up the Millsholm-Skyhigh-Bressa general map unit in the proposed AVA. Of these, a large proportion is Asbill clay loam, 5-15% slopes. This soil is calcareous throughout the profile. Skyhigh and Sleeper are two other soil series found in this general map unit, and all three of these soils are limited by slow permeability and erosion hazard.

Soils of the Still-Lupoyoma general map unit are found in areas of level topography. They are deep and moderately well to well-drained soils well suited to viticulture. Talmadge - Xerofluvents-Riverwash soils are located near active stream channels. They are deep, level, and somewhat excessively drained. With proper irrigation management, some of these soils produce excellent winegrapes.”41

Scholarly and scientific studies of viticulture further support the importance of soil as an integral component in the production of quality winegrapes. In the book Viticulture and Environment, John Gladstones notes, “Despite a lack of rigorous scientific proof, and an acknowledged dominant control over winegrape qualities by climate, soil type remains very important in the choice of vine-growing sites within a region.”42 Soil depth and fertility are important

39 Dr. Robert Pool, Cornell University, The Basics of Vineyard Site Evaluation and Selection, www.acerserver2.iagt.org/vll/learnmore.aspx 40 Ibid, page 259 41 Email from Dr. Erica Lundquist to Terry Dereniuk, July 6, 2011 42 John Gladstones, Viticulture and Environment, Winetitles, 1992, page 41

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

considerations in viticulture. The depth of soils in the Manzanita – Wappo – Forbesville general map unit and the Phipps – Bally general map unit support deep root growth although the soil requires amendments for good fertility. According to the book General Viticulture, “Varieties of Vitis Vinifera are deep-rooted plants that fully explore the soil to 6 to 10 feet or more if root penetration is not obstructed by hardpan, impervious clay substratum, toxic concentration of salts, or a free water table43”. While deep soil is important, this same book goes on to note, “The quality of fruit is better, although yields are usually lower, on soils of lower fertility or soils limited in depth by hardpan, rocks, or clay substrata44 Soils in the Millsholm – Skyhigh – Bressa general map unit fit this description since they have limited depth to support root growth although the Asbill soil series scores high on organic matter and fertility.

Boundary Discussion – Soils

The soils of the proposed Kelsey Bench were compared with soils in the Red Hills AVA, the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County AVA, and the mountainous areas that form the borders on the southeast, south, and west. The proposed Big Valley District– Lake County forms the north boundary line. This decision is based on both soils and elevation. To the east, a portion of the Red Hills AVA forms the boundary line, chosen based on the desire to maintain a contiguous area from one AVA to the next where it made sense. This decision was also based on elevation and topography. The boundary lines along the southern two thirds of the proposed area were based on three factors: the desire of growers to be included in this petition; soils; and topography. The charts below provide a graphic representation of the soils found in each area and will serve as an introduction to the discussion of each boundary line. The chart in Figure 7 compares the percentage of soils from general soil map units in Kelsey Bench with the percentage found in the Red Hills AVA and the percentage found in the proposed Big Valley. Figure 8 provides data on the soil series that fall outside the boundary line as it travels south from the edge of the Red Hills area and across the bottom the proposed area and up the western edge, and the acres of each soil series found in the proposed Kelsey Bench area.

43 A J Winkler, James A Cook, W M Kliewer, Lloyd A Lider, General Viticulture University of California Press, 1962, p 71 44 .Ibid, p 71

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 7 - Soils to East, North, & Northwest of Kelsey Bench Boundaries

Comparison of Percentage of Soil Map Units for Kelsey Bench, Red Hills & Big Valley Percent of Percent of this Kelsey Bench this Soil Percent of Soil Unit in Big Total Acres Unit in this Soil Valley per General Kelsey Unit in Red District(North & General Soil Map Units Soil Map Unit Bench Hills (East) Northwest) Cole - Clear Lake Variant - Clear Lake 245.9 3% 56% Collayomi-Aiken-Whispering 231 3% 33% Glenview-Bottlerock-Arrowhead 74.1 0% 23% Henneke-Okiota-Montara 133.9 1% Konocti-Benridge 171 2% 41% Manzanita-Wappo-Forbesville 2814.7 31% Maymen-Etsel 173.4 1% Millsholm-Skyhigh-Bressa 2490.7 26% Phipps - Bally 1281.3 14% Still-Lupoyoma 706.1 7% 19% Talmadge - Xerofluvents-Riverwash 787.7 9% 15%

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 8 - Soils to West, South, & Southeast of Kelsey Bench Boundaries

Soils Outside of Kelsey Bench Boundaries Lying to the West, South, and Southeast Acres of this Soil Boundary Series in Series Direction Series Name Slope Kelsey Bench General Map Unit Bressa-Millsholm 8% - Millsholm-Skyhigh- 119 West loams 15% 26 Bressa Bressa-Millsholm 15% - Millsholm-Skyhigh- 120 West loams 30% 24.1 Bressa Maymen-Etsel- 30% - 167 West Mayacama complex 75% 26.1 Maymen-Etsel Maymen-Hopland- 15% - 171 West Etsel association 50% 115.5 Maymen-Etsel Maymen-Hopland- Mayacama 30% - 173 West association 50% 15.5 Maymen-Etsel Maymen-Hopland- Mayacama 50% - 174 West association 75% 0.6 Maymen-Etsel 30%- Millsholm-Skyhigh- 177 West Millsholm-Bressa 50% 0 Bressa Skyhill-Millsholm 15% - Millsholm-Skyhigh- 209 West loams 50% 213.7 Bressa Maymen-Etsel- 30% - 167 South Mayacama complex 75% 26.1 Maymen-Etsel Maymen-Hopland- Mayacama 30% - 173 South association 50% 15.5 Maymen-Etsel Okiota-Henneke- 15% - Henneke-Okiota- 193 South Dubakella association 50% 3 Montara Bendridge-Konocti 30% - 113 Southeast association 50% 102.9 Konocti-Benridge Bottlerock-Glenview- 5% - Glenview-Bottlerock- 117 Southeast Arrowhead complex 30% 43.1 Arrowhead Henneke-Montara- Rock outcrop 15% - Henneke-Okiota- 142 Southeast complex 50% 130.3 Montara

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

North

The northern boundary for this area follows the proposed boundary line for the Big Valley District– Lake County AVA. The soils in the Big Valley District area are comprised of 75% Cole clay loam, Clear Lake clay, and Still Loam. These soils make up about 3% of the total acreage of the proposed area. “Kelsey Bench soils are distinct from the soils of Big Valley District to the north because they are located on uplifted and sloping ground in contrast to the level ground of Big Valley. The upland soils of Kelsey Bench have improved drainage compared to most Big Valley District soils. Most soils in the Kelsey Bench are classified as Alfisols, which have a subsoil accumulation of clay, in contrast to most soils in the proposed Big Valley District AVA, which are Mollisols, dark-colored grassland soils.”45

East

The eastern boundary of the Kelsey Bench area flows south from Mt. Konocti Road along the base of Mount Konocti, picking up the boundary line for the Red Hills AVA on Wilkerson Road, and following it south to the intersection of Cole Creek Road and Bottle Rock Road. The area outside of this section of the Kelsey Bench boundary line is part of the Clear Lake Volcanics. The soils are volcanic soils of the Konocti – Benridge and other series that are found in the Red Hills – Lake County AVA. The parent material of these soils formed in material derived mainly from andesite, basalt, dacite, and pyroclastic tuff whereas most of the Kelsey Bench soils are derived from mixed rock sources or weather material from shale and sandstone.46

From the intersection of Cole Creek Road and Bottle Rock Road, the boundary line for the proposed Kelsey Bench proceeds in a westerly direction to pick up Gross Road south and then follows the 1600 foot elevation line. Camel Back Ridge rises to the east of the boundary line in this section. The soils on the east side of this boundary line as it proceeds south are soils of the Konocti –Benridge, Glenview – Bottlerock-Arrowhead, and Henneke – Okiota – Montara general soil map units. The first two soil units are also characteristic of the Red Hills area. These soils share the characteristic red color, were formed from different parent materials from the soils of Kelsey Bench and contain significantly more rocks and cobbles. The soils in the Henneke – Okiota – Montara (HOM) unit are “shallow, moderately sloping to steep, well drained and somewhat excessively well drained very gravelly loam and clay loam; on hills and mountains.”47 These soils also were formed in material derived mainly from serpentinite and peridotite, again different from the parent materials from of most of the soils of the Kelsey Bench.

45 Email from Dr. Erica Lundquist to Terry Dereniuk, July 6, 2011 46 National Cooperative Soil Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Lake County, California, (May, 1989) page 14 47 Ibid, page 11

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

“HOM soils are distinguished from the soils of the proposed AVA because they are formed in serpentinitic rock and therefore have a calcium:magnesium ratio less than one. The low Ca:Mg ratio makes them generally unsuitable for viticulture or other horticultural and agronomic crops.”48

South

The southern boundary line continues along the 1600 foot elevation line turning north to meet Kelsey Creek Drive, following it west as it becomes Adobe Creek Drive. The Mayacamas Mountains sit to the south of this boundary line. The soils in this area are in the Maymen – Etsel and Henneke – Okiota – Montara general soil map units. As previously noted, soils in the Henneke – Okiota – Montara unit are shallow with moderate to steep slopes with parent materials that include material weathered from serpentine rock. The soils in the general map unit Maymen-Etsel are also shallow, are derived from different parent materials, and have outcroppings of large stones including graywackes and sandstone. The Kelseyville Area Plan noted the following about the soils in the Mayacamas Mountains: “Some of the planning area is characterized by relatively steep to very steep slope conditions with a moderate to severe erosion potential. The Franciscan formation is generally associated with the planning area's steeper and most erosive soil areas. Slopes of 30 percent to 60 percent predominate in the Mayacamas Mountains, and are associated with moderate to severe erosion potential, particularly when disturbed.”49

West

The western boundary line for the proposed area is Adobe Creek Road, then west along the edge of the Highland Springs Reservoir to the 1600 foot elevation line that lies west of Highland Springs Road as far north as Fritch Road. This boundary line was chosen after consulting with a representative of Lake County on the Highland Springs Reservoir property. Although soils in the Highland Springs Reservoir area are similar to the soils of the proposed area, this is public land that are owned by the Lake County Watershed Protection District, and managed by the Lake County Water Resources Department. Appendix Exhibit 23 contains a flyer with a map showing the Highland Springs Reservoir boundaries and a second map further defining the parcels in and around the Reservoir area. The decision to extend the proposed Bench area north along Highland Springs Road as far as Fritch Road was made to accommodate the owners of Silva Vineyards who wish to be included in the proposed Kelsey Bench. Soils along this strip of land are consistent with the soils in other parts of the proposed area.

Soils to the west of the boundary line are part of the Millsholm-Skyhigh-Bressa and Maymen – Etsel general soil map units along the lower two thirds of the proposed Kelsey Creek area. Soils

48 Email from Dr. Erica Lundquist to Terry Dereniuk, July 6, 2011 49 Kelseyville Area Plan, Prepared by the Lake County Community Development Department, 1989

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

in the Millsholm-Skyhigh-Bressa map unit comprise 26% of the total acreage of the proposed area. However, as noted in the chart in Figure 8 above, the soil series that makes up the soils outside of the western boundary total only 263.8 which is less than 3% of the total acreage in the proposed area. These soils are shallow and located on moderately sloping to steep terrain. The soil series that makes up the greater portions of the Millsholm-Skyhigh-Bressa map units in the proposed area in contrast, area moderately deep soils. The soils in the general map unit Maymen-Etsel are also shallow, are derived mainly from sandstone parent materials, and have outcroppings of large stones including graywackes and sandstone.

Geology

Geology is a significant distinguishing feature of the proposed Kelsey Bench. Lake County was covered by ocean in the Jurrasic period, about 135 million years ago. During that period, the ocean floor crashed into the North American plate, thrusting the ocean floor deep into the earth under the continent of North America in a process called subduction. This activity, which continued until about 3 million years ago, resulted in the formation of the Franciscan Complex, a jumble of rocks made up of rocks found on the deep ocean floor and ocean crust. The Franciscan Complex makes up roughly 80% of Lake and Mendocino Counties.50 The cessation of subduction and the passage of the leading edge of the San Andreas Fault, the boundary between the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate, brought about many changes. The plates are moving past each other in a right lateral transform motion instead of colliding. This caused the rise of the Coast Ranges, formation of structural basins such as Clear Lake, and the beginnings of volcanic activity in the Clear Lake Volcanic fields.

The Geological Map of California (Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, compilation of Charles W. Jennings, 1977, updated by Carlos Gutierrez, William Bryant, George Saucedo, and Chris Wills, 2010) shows that the Kelsey Bench is covered by deposits of older alluvium lake, playa, and terrace deposits. These deposits are from the Cenozoic era, Quaternary period, and Pleistocene epoch roughly 2.6 million years ago.

The Kelseyville Formation is an important geological feature of the proposed Kelsey Bench area. It was first defined by M. J. Rhymer in his 1978 thesis and later writings. He identified it as a separate formation from the Lower Lake Formation and the Cache Formation. The Kelseyville Formation is middle Pleistocene in age and contains stratified deposits laid down in an environment referred to as representing lacustrine and flood plain environments (Lake County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, 1967). The Formation is sandwiched between the rocks of the Franciscan assemblage, serpentine, and flows of the Clear Lake volcanic field below and the Quaternary terrace deposits above. Mega-fossil plants and mollusks identified in studies of the Formation indicate growth during cold glacial intervals and warm interglacial

50 Dana Eker, Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist? Dana Lee Eker, 2005, page 1

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition intervals of deposition. This formation had previously been thought to be part of the existing Cache Formation.

The diagram in Figure 9 below was taken from the U S Geological Survey Bulletin 1502 and shows the general location of the Kelseyville Formation as well as the Lower Lake Formation and the Cache Formation.

Figure 9 - Diagram taken from the U S Geological Survey Bulletin 1502

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

The Kelseyville Formation is visible in several places, including along Highway 29 along road cuts. The road cuts such as the one in the photograph below show old layers of lake sediment with a smooth, light yellow surface. (Wannabe a Clear Lake Geologist, Dana Eker). In his 1981 study of the Formation, M J Rhymer described the ridges as “local wavy parallel lamination”.

FIGURE 10.—Lacustrine sandstone and siltstone in the Kelseyville Formation. View is northwest along Kelsey Creek Drive in sec. 23, T. 13 N., R. 9 W. Note encircled hammer for scale.

Three faults that are part of the San Andreas fault system underlay the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County landscape. The Big Valley fault lies on the north side of the area. The Wight Way fault runs southwest to northeast through the middle section of the area and the Adobe Creek fault runs along the western border. The California Geological Survey – 2010 Fault Activity Map of California shows that the section of the Big Valley fault that lies under the Kelsey Bench area is considered to be an area where displacement has occurred in the last 200 years.51 Evidence of recent displacement is noted in the book Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist by Dana Eker. She states that the 1906 earthquake altered the Kelseyville Formation by dissecting and uplifting areas along the Collayomi Fault.52 Appendix Exhibit 25 has a diagram take from Ms. Eker’s book depicting the location of the Kelseyville Formation that was uplifted and dissected by the 1906 earthquake. The impact of fault activity in the proposed area is also noted in the

51 State of California, Department of Conservation, 2010 Fault Activity Map of California, www.quake.ca.gov/maps/FAM/faultactivtymap.htm. 52 Dana Eker, Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist, (2005, revised 2007), Events in Geologic Time in Relation to Lake County, Recent History

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

discussion of the Big Valley and surrounding areas contained in the Lake County Water Inventory and Analysis document. “There are uplands on the west side of the valley, and separate uplands in the south central portion of the valley that have been uplifted approximately 400 feet by a fault (Christensen 2003).”53 The uplands in the south central portion referred to in this quote are the area of the proposed Kelsey Bench.

The Kelseyville Formation contains two volcanic ash aquifers which contribute to the overall Big Valley water resources. The Big Valley Groundwater Basin section of the Lake County Water Inventory and Analysis describes them as follows, “The Kelseyville Formation also includes two aquifers, designated “A3”, and “volcanic ash”. The “A3” aquifer and “volcanic ash” aquifers are separated by a clay layer designated “C3”.”54 The figure below, taken from this report, depicts the location of these aquifers in relation to the topography and other aquifers in the Big Valley. This report further comments on these aquifers in the following statement, “Confined groundwater occurs in a thin bed of "volcanic ash" (lithic tuff) present within the older lake deposits underlying the upland areas (and the upper portion of the Adobe Creek- Manning Creek basin). The "ash" consists of angular fragments of volcanic rock, of coarse sand to pea gravel size, and it is quite permeable. Recharge to this aquifer is believed to occur by infiltration in areas where the "ash" crops out in stream courses and by leakage into the aquifer from saturated confining strata.”55 The “volcanic ash” layer is also described in the Kelseyville Area Plan, “This is sometimes called the "aquifer ash" because it often contains groundwater in large volumes under artesian pressure.”56 The upland referred to in this quote and the diagram below is also the area of the proposed Kelsey Bench.

53 Lake County Water Inventory and Analysis, Section 2a, page 17, www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/WaterResources 54 Ibid, page 17 55 Ibid, page 13 56 Kelseyville Area Plan, (Prepared by the Lake County Community Development Department, 1989), page 12

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 11 - Diagram showing location of Kelseyville Formation Aquifers57

Importance to Viticulture

The geology of the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County is important to viticulture because it impacted the nutrients and composition of the soils, provides an important source of groundwater and helped to create the topography of the area. The soils of the Kelsey Bench are comprised of older alluvium and terrace deposits with underlying rocks of the Franciscan assemblage and serpentine were formed of both residual and transported parent materials. Over millions of years, these materials were disintegrated and decomposed by the erosive properties of water, wind, gravity, and other physical forces. This weathering process influenced important soil factors such as nutrient content and soil ph, both important for vine growth. Numerous articles have been written about the role of geology in viticulture including the often quoted Terroir,The Role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wines by James E. Wilson. In a more recent article on Geology and Wine in South Africa, the following comment articulates a similar connection between geology and its impact on viticulture: “The role of soils and the geology of the underlying bedrocks is an important component of terroir, the French term describing the natural environment influencing the grape vine and ultimately the taste and quality of the resultant wine.”58

57 Lake County Water Inventory and Analysis, Section 2a, page 17, www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/WaterResources 58 Christopher J Bargmann, Geology and Wine in South Africa, Geoscientist, Vol. 15, No. 4, April 2005, www.wosa.co.za

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Water for irrigation is critical for winegrape production. The ash aquifers in the Kelseyville Formation provide groundwater resources for this area and the Big Valley that is used for irrigation for winegrapes and other crops. The Kelseyville Area Plan notes, “Most groundwater in the southern uplands of the valley is withdrawn from the "aquifer ash".”59

Geology also created the topography of the proposed area. The terrain is made up of uplifted dissected terraces, plateaus, and gently rolling hills that rise to steeper terrain in the mid and south section of the Bench. Elevations range from 1400 feet to 1600 feet. This terrain produces good air drainage which limits frost damage to the vineyards. The combination of air movement and greater UV sunlight produced by the higher elevation of this area also contributes to reduced pest pressures and translates to a reduction in control measures in the vineyard. .

Boundary Discussion – Geology

North

The Big Valley District lies outside of the northern boundary. The Geological Map of California (Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, compilation of Charles W. Jennings, 1977, updated by Carlos Gutierrez, William Bryant, George Saucedo, and Chris Wills, 2010) shows that the Big Valley District area which lies to the north of the Kelsey Bench is covered by alluvium, lake, playa, and terrace deposits of unconsolidated and semi-consolidated mostly non-marine deposits. These deposits are younger than the deposits on the Kelsey Bench.

East

The Clear Lake Volcanics which includes Mount Konocti and Camel Back Ridge lies outside of the eastern boundary of the proposed area. The geology of these volcanic mountains is substantially different from the proposed Bench area. The Big Valley Groundwater Management Plan describes the geology of Mount Konocti and Camel Back Ridge in the following excerpts: “The Volcanic Ridge (Camelback Ridge) is an elongate composite volcano, composed of fine to coarse grained pyroclastic deposits with intercalated thin lava flows and masses of intrusive lava. The surface of the higher part of the ridge is covered by a well-preserved flow of obsidian breccia. Most of these materials are highly permeable, either through intergranular permeability or through jointing and fracturing in the flow and intrusive lava rock. Mount Konocti, like the Volcanic Ridge, is a composite volcano, made up of alternating layers, or series of layers, of pyroclastic and flow rock.”60 These mountains are also described in the Kelseyville Area Plan. “Several volcanic features in addition to Mt. Konocti can be seen on the southeast skyline. Benson Ridge and Camel Back Ridge are flows from the vents associated with Mt. Konocti and Mt. Hannah. Rocks of the Great Valley sequence form the western and northwestern skyline as well as the western edge of the planning area.61

59 Ibid, page 13 60 Big Valley Groundwater Management Plan, Big Valley Groundwater Management Zone Commission, adopted May 18, 1999, pages 32 & 33

61 Kelseyville Area Plan, Prepared by the Lake County Community Development Department, adopted August 15, 1995, page 3-1

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

South and West

The Mayacamas Mountains are outside of the southern and western boundaries for the proposed area. These mountains are comprised of rocks from the Mesozoic era and are much older than the Kelseyville Formation. The following quote describes the geology of this mountain range. “The Mayacamas Mountains west of Big Valley District are composed of this complex which also underlie the basin at depth. The age of the rocks range from 70 to 180 million years old and they consist of deformed and metamorphosed sandstone, conglomerate and argillite with lesser amounts of greenstone and chert. Small amounts of limestone, blueschist, and amphibolite also occur. These varying rocks occur together in a mélange matrix. This matrix contains a variety of sizes of fragments in a sheared and folded manner resulting from the tectonic activity discussed earlier. West and southwest of the valleys, these rocks have a general northwest structural trend which is shown by a large band of greenstone west of the West Margin fault, and by a northwest trending zone of serpentinite, approximately centered between the Big Valley fault and the West 62 Margin fault. The serpentinite rocks occur in different sized outcrops.”

Topography

The proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County covers just over 9100 acres. Looking at the outline of the area on a map, one sees a landmass that resembles the silhouette of a cow’s head, with the head running north – south and with ears located along the northern portion on the east and west sides . The terrain is made up of uplifted dissected terraces or benches, plateaus, and gently rolling hills that rise to steeper terrain in the mid and south section of the Bench. Elevations range from 1400 feet to 1600 feet, with the higher elevations being confined to the interior of the southern third of the Bench. Appendix Exhibit 26 contains an aerial map of the proposed area. The area is bounded by Highway 29 and the Big Valley District to the north, Mount Konocti and the Clear Lake Volcanics to the east, the Mayacamas Mountains to the south and southwest, and the Highland Springs Reservoir and Mayacamas Mountains to the west.

Highway 29, Bell Hill Road, a small section of Highland Springs Road, Adobe Creek Drive, and Kelsey Creek Drive encircle the Bench and provide access. Paved roads run through the portion of the area between Highway 29 to the north and Wight Way to the south, while the lands that lies south of Wight Way can be reached by only unpaved roads from Adobe Creek Drive and Kelsey Creek Road going into interior parcels.

62 Ibid, page 3-1

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Kelsey Creek, Adobe Creek, and Hill Creek run through sections of the Bench. Both Kelsey Creek and Adobe Creek are major sources of groundwater recharge for the Big Valley aquifer. The Big Valley Groundwater Management Plan identifies the proposed Kelsey Bench area as the Central Upland in the following excerpt taken from the plan: “The Central Upland-Upper Big Valley District area is geologically similar to the Western Upland but is separated from it topographically by the Adobe Creek flood plain, and structurally by the Adobe Creek Fault system. The Big Valley Fault forms the northern boundary of the area, separating it from the Kelseyville Basin. The east and southeast margin of the Central Upland abuts against Mt. Konocti and the Volcanic Ridge, or grades to the higher Cole Creek Upland. The area is characterized at its northern end by broad, gently sloping surfaces that give way to hills and ravines to the south.”63 Appendix Exhibit 27 contains a figure depicting the location of the Central Uplands.

The northern half of the area bounded by Highway 29, Hill Creek, and Bell Hill Road on the west, running east to Kelsey Creek and south to Wight Way has many sections of nearly level or gently sloping land. Henry Maudlin, local historian wrote about a portion of this area which was called Gold Dust Flat in his historical account of Lake County. “Gold Dust Flat is a raised plateau southwest of Kelseyville and west of Kelsey Creek. Plunkett Hill is to the southwest of Plunkett Creek to the west, Big Valley to the north, and Kelsey Creek with its lowlands to the east. Elevations run from 1400 to 1500 feet. It’s flat to very gentle rolling and is around 1 mile east and west by 1 ½ miles north and west.” 64

This area in the northern half of the Bench including the acreage to the west of Highland Springs Road is developed with small to mid-sized agricultural operations and home sites. The Kelseyville Area Plan addressed the desire to ensure agricultural activity in the Plan Area with the land use designation of Rural which provided for parcels that are generally 40 acres or more. However, some of the area has been split into smaller parcels that were developed into single family homes and ranchettes. Most of the vineyards planted on Kelsey Bench are located within this geographic area due to the ease of development of land with gentle to moderate slopes, alluvial soils, abundant sun exposure, and favorable air drainage. Business operations other than farms in this area are largely related to agriculture and include the Rosa d‘ Oro winery, a tractor repair operation, the Lauenroth Walnut Dryer, and a now closed fruit drying plant. Photographs shown in the figures below capture some of the vineyard locations in the northern half of the proposed area.

63 Big Valley Groundwater Management Plan, Big Valley Groundwater Management Zone Commission, adopted May 18, 1999, pages 28 & 29 64 Henry Maudlin, History of Lake County, page

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 12 - Larry Rogers’s vineyard at Bell Hill Road and Plunkett Creek Road on a relatively level parcel with a west - northwest orientation.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 13 – Arkley Vineyards located on Bell Hill Road is planted on a west facing uphill slope.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 14 Eutenier vineyard located on Wight Way and Adobe Creek Road, facing west.

South of Wight Way, the land is largely undeveloped in the interior portions due to the topography and steeper terrain. Elevations in this area range from 1500 to 1600 feet with steep hillsides in the higher areas. The area has two perimeter roads in addition to Wight Way, with Adobe Creek running down the west side and along the south edge of the area before it turns into Kelsey Creek Drive which continues on up the eastern edge. Vineyards and other farming operations are located adjacent to Wight Way, Adobe Creek Drive, and Kelsey Creek Drive. Unpaved roads provide access into the interior parcels with most of these being home sites and horse properties. At the southern tip of this area, there are two vineyard operations located on either side of Kelsey Creek Drive. Both vineyards sit on gently sloping to moderately sloping lands. The photograph in Figure 15 shows one of these vineyards.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 15 Oakie Slopes Zinfandel vineyard located on the southern tip of the proposed area

The area that forms the eastern “ear” of the cow’s head includes a small portion of the town of Kelseyville, an area that skirts the base of Mount Konocti, and the land along Cole Creek Way that forms part of the Red Hills boundary. The section in Kelseyville and on either side of Highway 29 is developed with home sites, a mobile home park, and some commercial operations. To the east of Kelseyville, and south along the Red Hills AVA boundary line, the land is largely undeveloped agricultural lands. Topography in this area is similar to the southern portion of the proposed Kelsey Bench with rolling hills and elevations up to 1600 feet. This area was included in the proposed area to provide continuity to the Red Hills AVA and ensure that the lands with potential for vineyard development were not left as an open pocket between the proposed Kelsey Bench, the proposed Big Valley, and the Red Hills AVA. To the south of Highway 29, there are mostly small agricultural operations or open land. Live Oak Drive, which runs south from Highway 29 sits on the east side of Kelsey Creek. The topography of this section is gently rolling hills with some plateau areas and elevations of that range from 1400 to 1600 feet.

Importance to Viticulture

The topography and location of this area between the surrounding higher elevations of the mountains and the lower elevations of the Big Valley District translate into a beneficial

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition environment for viticulture due to cold air drainage and warmer temperatures. The proposed Kelsey Bench has one weather station located at Silva Vineyards on the west side of Highland Springs Road. This weather station has been collecting data since February of 2010. Although some of the data is incomplete, it provides valuable information on the climate of the proposed Kelsey Bench. Average high and low temperatures by month were compared with similar data from the three weather stations located in the proposed Big Valley District area and the weather station located at the Lake County Air Quality Management District office in Lakeport. Both the high and low temperatures recorded at the Silva station for 11 months of 2010 and the first 8 months of 2011 were consistently warmer than temperatures recorded at Big Valley District weather stations. This is most important in terms of frost events in the spring and fall. The low temperatures recorded at the Silva weather station were not as low as those recorded by the weather stations located in the adjacent Big Valley District area, translating to a lower potential for frost damage. The average high temperatures at the Silva weather station were higher than the temperatures recorded at the Lakeport weather station although daytime lows are within a degree or two of the lows for Lakeport.

The proposed Kelsey Bench area also has excellent cold air drainage due to the location and topography. Cold air drainage is considered an important factor in selecting sites for vineyard development. Sites with good air drainage have fewer issues with frost damage during the spring growing season and to a lesser degree, during the fall ripening period. In an on-line article called Vineyard Site Selection in New York State, the authors’ note, “Air drainage is a critical factor for good vineyard sites, as it allows cold air to move down slope and be replaced by warmer air from above. Topography has a major influence on air drainage. Slopes help to remove cold air but closed valleys and hollows increase the risk of cold injury (Dry and Smart 1988).”65 The figure below depicts this principle.

65 Roger D. Magarey, Robert C. Seem Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, NYSAES, Stephen D. DeGloria. Department of Soil Crop and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Vineyard Site Selection in New York State, web.pppmb.cals.cornell.edu/seem/magarey/Vinesite/Elevation.htm

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure 16 – Topography and Air Drainage 66

John Gladstones also found that air drainage was a key factor in vineyards. According to Gladstone, “if their topographies are carefully examined, (see, for instance, Johnson 1971), the very best vineyards will usually be found to have two or more of the following features (Gladstone 1976, 1977)…

1. They are on slopes with excellent air drainage and situated above the fog level. (Figure 4).

2. The very best are usually on the slopes of projecting or isolated hills. These have outstanding air drainage characteristics (Figure 5).

3. Even in hot areas they directly face the sun during at least some part of the day (Figure 6). Part –easterly aspects are common.

4. If inland, they tend to be close to substantial rivers or lakes (Figure 7).”67

Appendix Exhibit 28 contains copies of the figures referenced above. Most of the vineyards planted on the proposed Kelsey Bench have 2 or more of these features.

Slope also plays an important role in air drainage. Over 48% of the total acreage in the proposed Kelsey Bench sits on slopes between 2% and 15%. The chart in Figure l7 describes the relative benefits and challenges for vineyards planted on various slope categories.68

66 The North Carolina Winegrape Grower’s Guide, Chapter 4, Vineyard Site Selection, AG-535, published January, 2007, www.cals.ncsu.edu/hort_sci/fruit//wine_grapes/winegrapes4.pdf, page 46 67 John Gladstones, Viticulture and Environment, Winetitles, 1992 , page 41 68 Dr. Robert Pool, Cornell University, The Basics of Vineyard Site Evaluation and Selection, www.acerserver2.iagt.org/vll/learnmore.aspx

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Figure l7 Benefits and Challenges for Vineyards by Slope Category

Slope Category Comments Easy to manage, little soil erosion, may be prone to cold Flat to 2.5% air inversions in places with frost problems Allows for adequate air drainage; may have some erosion 2.5 to 5% concerns Allows for good air drainage; increasing erosion concerns; 5 to 7.5% concerns for row orientation and equipment on slope Allows for excellent air drainage; serious erosion and nutrient loss concerns; concerns for row orientation and 7.5 to 10% equipment usage

Allows for excellent air drainage but with serious erosion and nutrient loss concerns; likely unsafe for equipment usage without some form of terracing or self-leveling equipment, diversion ditches to control runoff, and rows 10 to 15% oriented perpendicular to slope Not recommended; serious erosion and equipment rollover >15% concerns

Although a number of the vineyards on the Bench have overhead sprinklers for frost protection this is not true for all of them. According to UCCE Vineyard Advisor Glenn McGourty, frost protection is not as likely in this area as it is in the nearby Big Valley. Cold air drains from the higher elevations in the proposed Kelsey Bench and settles into the lower areas of the adjacent Big Valley. Harry Dereniuk, owner of Cat’s Paw Vineyard on Bell Hill Road does not have frost protection for his vineyard. He states that he has had minimal frost issues in the six years that he has been farming this vineyard due to the favorable cold air drainage patterns on his property. Long time grower Myron Holdenried has had similar experiences. According to Myron, “we have two vineyards on the bench - 10 Acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 10 Acres of Merlot at the upper end of Plunkett Lane. Also, we farm 19 Acres of Cabernet Sauvignon on Merritt Road bordered by Kelseyville Lumber and Hwy 29. We do not have frost protection for either Vineyard. Both are relatively frost free because of their elevation. We have experienced frost damage in a very hard cold snap. This occurs with low dew points. The Cabernet Sauvignon has always been late enough to miss all frost occurrences in the past 15 years. The Plunkett Lane Vineyard usually has a nice afternoon breeze during the summer that is different from Big Valley. The breeze can start by three P M whereas in the Valley it may be 6 P M. So, I would say it is cooler than Big Valley.”

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Boundary Discussion – Topography

North

The northern boundary line is shared with the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County AVA along portions of Highway 29, Kelsey Creek, North Main Street, Merritt Road, the 1400 foot elevation line, and Bell Hill Road. Elevation and topography, and change in soils were the primary reasons for selection of this line. The Big Valley is a structural basin with topography that is nearly level and elevations of about 1350 feet above sea level.

East

The land to the east of the proposed area is part of the Clear Lake Volcanics. This area is comprised of a string of volcanic mountains with steep terrain and significantly higher elevation. Mount Konocti rises to elevations of 2900 feet in the northeast corner. Bensen Ridge, at 2400 feet elevation and Camel Back Ridge at 2800 foot elevation, sit further south.

South

The Mayacamas Mountains lie to the south of the proposed Kelsey Bench area. The terrain is steep with higher elevations than the proposed area.

West

The Mayacamas Mountains border the western boundary at the southern end. Further north, there are two reservoirs, Highland Creek Reservoir, and Adobe Reservoir. Although the topography along the Reservoirs is similar to the proposed Bench area, Highland Springs Reservoir is a publically owned park land. (Appendix Exhibit 23 contains a map of the Reservoir property.) For this reason, it was not included in the proposed area. The western “ear” is comprised of land that sits west of Highland Springs Road as far north as Fritch Road. The western boundary line follows the 1600 foot elevation line. Lands to the west of this boundary line are again part of the Mayacamas Mountains, with steeper elevations.

AVA within an AVA: Discussion of the Clear Lake AVA Petition Evidence

This petition seeks to establish the Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA within the larger existing Clear Lake AVA. The Clear Lake AVA was established in final regulations published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Volume 49, Number 90 of the Federal Register on May 8, 1984. This was the second viticultural area in Lake County, with the Guenoc Valley AVA being the first. At the time that this AVA was requested, the area that it represented included over 3000 acres planted to vines and 3 commercial wineries, two of which were located in Big Valley. The petition was submitted by 3 of the grape growers and winery owners.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Since the approval of the Clear Lake AVA, the wine industry in Lake County has grown substantially. Today, there are over 8000 acres planted to wine grapes, over 150 growers in the County, and 32 wineries. AVAs have been approved for Red Hills – Lake County, High Valley, and Benmore Valley with all of the Red Hills area and most of the High Valley area encompassed within the Clear Lake AVA. Appendix Exhibit 29 contains a map of Lake County showing the currently approved AVAs and the placement of the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County AVA and the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA.

This petition seeks to continue the process of breaking down the larger macro area of the Clear Lake AVA and delineating the specifics of growing areas within it. Prior to the revision of the American Viticultural Area Regulations on January 20, 2011, many AVAs within AVAs were approved. The proposal to establish 7 new viticultural areas within the existing boundaries of the Lodi viticultural area is an example of this practice. Like the widely accepted and internationally understood practice of “nesting” wine appellations, this delineation of the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA within the existing Clear Lake AVA would provide substantial consumer information on this growing region and the impact of its terroir on the wine produced from grapes grown here.

The following discussion demonstrates the similarities and differences between the larger Clear Lake AVA and the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA. While the distinctions are easily defined, we believe that the Clear Lake AVA continues to be a significant growing area that encompasses many different microclimates suitable to viticulture. Many of these growing areas are not part of another established or proposed separate AVA and would be damaged by the elimination of the Clear Lake AVA. In addition, the Clear Lake AVA is used by wineries including Steele Wines on its labels.

Similarities

The Clear Lake AVA petition cited elevation, climate and watershed as distinguishing features. The features cited as distinguishing for the Kelsey Bench are different than those cited for the Clear Lake AVA. However, since the Kelsey Bench area lies wholly within the Clear Lake AVA, they share similarities. According to the proposed rule making for the Clear Lake AVA, it was noted that vineyards in the proposed area were planted at elevations between 1300 and 1800 feet. This was in sharp contrast with neighboring wine regions in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino. The elevation of the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County vineyards fall within this elevation range, although vineyards in the area are planted between 1400 and 1600 feet, rather than the broader elevation range of the greater Clear Lake AVA.

The Clear Lake AVA cited the Clear Lake watershed as a second distinguishing feature, noting that the area encompassed by the Clear Lake AVA lies within the Clear Lake watershed. The proposed viticultural area lies within this watershed. A map of the Clear Lake watershed in included in Appendix Exhibit 30.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Finally, the petition for the Clear Lake AVA claimed that the area enjoyed a unique climate pattern due to the influence of the Clear Lake watershed. The proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County area is similarly affected by several of these factors including little fog compared to the coastal area and warmer temperatures than neighboring viticulture areas in Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.

Differences

In looking at the differences between the approved Clear Lake AVA and the proposed area, it is important to keep in mind the effect of going from the general to the specific. As noted above, the area shares the more general features that were cited in the Clear Lake AVA petition. However, there are some distinct differences between the larger Clear Lake AVA area and the proposed Kelsey Bench area.

The proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County has a significantly shorter growing season than the larger Clear Lake AVA. The Clear Lake AVA petition stated “According to the publication entitled “Climatography of the United States No. 81-4, Decennial Census of U.S. Climate,” the growing season in Clear Lake is 223 days which is shorter than the surrounding areas.” The growing season in the proposed Kelsey Bench area varies from as short as 135 days to as long as 205 days depending on the soil and location within the area according to the Soils Survey of Lake County California. Based on the percentage of soils present in the proposed area, the average growing season is 160 to 200 days. The Silva Vineyard weather station is the only one located on the proposed Kelsey Bench. Although this station has been collecting data since February, 2010, data was incomplete. However, the growing season at the nearest weather station, Bell Hill West, also provides an indication of growing season for the Kelsey Bench area. Looking at the number of days between the last frost in the spring to the first frost in the fall, the growing season as recorded at this weather station was 161 days for 2008, 157 days for 2009, and 156 days for 2010. The growing season for the Kelsey Bench area was similar to this weather station, and considerably shorter than the growing season for the larger Clear Lake AVA.

The geology of the Kelsey Bench area is also different from the geology of the larger Clear Lake AVA. As cited earlier in this petition, the Kelseyville Formation is a unique and important geological feature of this area. The larger Clear Lake AVA encompasses not only the Kelseyville Formation, but the Lower Lake Formation, the Clear Lake Volcanics, Mount Konocti, the rocks of the Franciscan Complex, multiple earthquake faults, and numerous valley basins similar to the Big Valley. The vast differences in the geology of this area have been written about in geological studies, reference books, field trip guides, and government reports. Examples include U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1502, The Quaternary Climate, Tectonism, and Sedimentation in Clear Lake, Northern California Coast Ranges edited by John D. Sims, Wannabe A Clear Lake Geologist by Dana Eker, Clear Lake Geology Field Trip Guide for Teachers by Dean A. Enderlin, P.G. , and Big Valley Ground Water Management Plan, Adopted

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

by Board of Directors, Lake County Flood Control and Water Conservation District: May 18, 1999, Big Valley Groundwater Management Zone Commission. Soil was also presented in this petition as a distinguishing feature of the proposed Kelsey Bench area. Soil also defines another difference of the Kelsey Bench from the larger Clear Lake AVA. The Clear Lake AVA includes the areas of Big Valley, Scotts Valley, Upper Lake, Clear Lake Oaks, and Lower Lake.69 The General Soil Map contained in Appendix 22 depicts the general soil units of all of these areas, showing the wide variation in soils that are included in the Clear Lake AVA. The soils of the Big Valley District are in the Cole – Clear Lake Variant – Clear Lake general map unit. The soils of Scotts Valley fall into the Maymen-Etsel, Still-Lupoyoma, and Millsholm–Skyhigh–Bressa map units. The soils of Upper Lake include Still – Lupoyoma, Maymen-Etsel, and Sanhedrin–Speaker–Kekawaka soils. The soils of Clear Lake Oaks include Manzanita-Wappo-Forbesville, Konocti-Benridge, and Millsholm-Skyhigh-Bressa soils. The soils of Lower Lake include large areas of Still–Lupoyoma. As previously discussed, the soils in the proposed Kelsey Bench area are a combination of Manzanita-Wappo-Forbesville, Phipps- Bally, and Millsholm-Skyhigh-Bressa. While there is certainly overlap in the general soil map units from one place to the other, it is hard to deny that the larger Clear Lake AVA has much more diverse soils covering these areas that are generally different than the soils of the proposed Kelsey Bench area.

Conclusions

The above discussion clearly demonstrates the distinct differences between the smaller Kelsey Bench – Lake County area and the larger Clear Lake AVA and supports this request to create the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County area as a sub-appellation of the Clear Lake AVA.

69 Clear Lake Viticultural Area, Federal Register / Vol. 49, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 8, 1984 / Rules and Regulations

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Boundaries

The proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County Viticulture Area is located entirely within the Clear Lake Viticulture Area in Lake County, California. The area is bounded by the proposed Big Valley District– Lake County AVA on the north, the Highland Springs Reservoir, and the 1600 foot elevation line along the eastern edge of the Mayacmas Mountains on the west, the Mayacmas Mountains on the south, and the Mayacmas Mountains and Red Hills AVA east.

Boundaries plotted in a clockwise direction are found on four USGS 7.5 minute series topographic maps, the Kelseyville Quadrangle, and the Highland Springs Quadrangle.

The beginning point is the point where Konocti Road intersects with the unpaved road known locally as Konocti Road in Section 13, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Proceed on the unimproved road in a southerly direction to its intersection with the Red Hills AVA boundary line which is the line running east to west drawn between the 2493 elevation mark, Section 19, T13N, R09W, and the intersection of Wilkerson Road and the 1600 foot elevation line, Section 24, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Follow the Red Hills AVA boundary line east to the point of intersection with Wilkerson Road.

Proceed south on Wilkerson Road to its end point and continue south along the map line between Sections 23 and 24, T13N, R09W to the meeting point of the line between Sections 24 and 25, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Proceed east along the map line between Sections 24 and 25, T13N, R09W to the 1760 elevation line.

Follow the 1760 foot elevation line in a south easterly direction to the point of intersection with the unimproved road, Section 25, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Follow the unimproved road south and then east to its intersection with the 1720 foot elevation line, Section 25, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Pick up the 1720 foot elevation line and follow it south and then southeast until it reaches a point directly north of the intersection of Highway 29 with the unimproved road on the south side of Highway 29. From this point, follow a straight line directly south to the intersection Highway 29 with the unimproved road, Section 25, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Follow the unimproved road across Bottle Rock Road where it turns into Cole Creek Road.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Proceed west on Cole Creek Road, bearing left at the fork onto the unnamed road, Section 26, T13N, R09W. Follow the unnamed road in a northwesterly direction to its point of intersection with Live Oak Drive and Gross Road, Section 22, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Pick up Gross Road and proceed in a southerly direction to its intersection with the 1600 foot elevation line, Section 26, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Follow the 1600 foot elevation line as it meanders south, then west, then south again along Kelsey Creek.

Continue along the 1600 foot elevation line past the Gaging Station and along the valley to the west of the 1600 foot elevation line to the point of intersection with Sweetwater Creek.

Proceed due west approximately 3160’, across Kelsey Creek to the 1600 foot elevation line.

Continue to follow the 1600 foot elevation line northwest to its intersection with Kelsey Creek Drive, Section 4, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Pick up Kelsey Creek Drive and follow it in a westerly direction where it will be renamed Adobe Creek Drive, Section 4, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Follow Adobe Creek Drive to the 1439 foot elevation marker. Draw a straight line west from this point to the 1559 foot elevation marker, Section 30, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle.

From the 1559 foot elevation marker, draw a straight line southwest to the intersection of the unnamed road that runs southeast and the unnamed portion of the road known locally as Highland Springs Road, Section 30, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle.

Pick up the unnamed road known locally as Highland Springs Road and proceed north to the intersection of the unnamed road locally known as Clinton Way, Section 30, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle.

Follow the unnamed road locally known as Clinton Way in a northwesterly direction to its end. Continuing in a northwest direction, draw a straight line from the end of Clinton Way to the Section line between Sections 19 and 30, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle.

Proceed west along the Section line dividing Sections 19 and 30 to the point of intersection with the north-south section line for Sections 19 and 24, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Go north along the Section line between Sections 19 and 24, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle to the 7th point of intersection with the 1600 foot elevation line. This point is just east of the number 1600 in Section 24, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle.

Pick up the 1600 foot elevation line and follow it as it proceeds west, then northwest, then east, then northwest, then east, then north east towards the Water Tank.

Continue along the 1600 foot elevation line as it crosses the north-south Section line between Sections 13 and 18, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle just below the Water Tank. Then follow it as it runs roughly parallel to the east-west Section line between Sections 18 and 19, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle.

Continue to follow the 1600 foot elevation line as it turns south into Section 19, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle and then once again north to the point of intersection with the east- west Section line between Sections 18 and 19, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle.

Pick up the east-west Section line between Sections 18 and 19 and follow it in an easterly direction to point where it intersects with the unnamed road known locally as Fritch Road.

Follow the unnamed road known locally as Fritch Road to its intersection with Highland Springs Road.

Pick up Highland Springs Road and follow it south to the point of intersection with Bell Hill Road, Section 19, T13N, R09W, Highland Springs Quadrangle.

Follow Bell Hill as it runs east, then north, then east, then north, and then east to its point of intersection with the 1400 foot elevation line shown on the Highland Springs Quadrangle, Section 20, T13N, R09W.

Pick up the 1400 foot elevation line and follow it as it crosses Hummel Lane and runs in a south, southwesterly direction to its intersection with Bell Hill Road. Pick up Bell Hill Road and follow it northeast, then east to its intersection with Hill Creek, Kelseyville Quadrangle, Section 16, T13N, R09W.

Follow Hill Creek in a northerly direction to Merritt Road, Section 16, T13N, R09W, Kelseyville Quadrangle.

Proceed east on Merritt Road to its intersection with the 1380 foot elevation line.

Follow the 1380 foot elevation line to its point of intersection with Highway 29, Kelseyville

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Quadrangle, Section 9, T13N, R09W.

Draw a straight line from the 1380 foot elevation line’s point of intersection with Highway 29 to the intersection of the 1400 foot elevation line and Highway 29.

Follow the 1400 foot elevation line in a northeast then southeast direction to its point of intersection with Merritt Road, Kelseyville Quadrangle Map, on the border between Sections 10 and 15 T13N, R09W.

Proceed east on Merritt Road to its intersection with an unnamed road known locally as North Main Street and Finley Road East.

Follow the unnamed road known locally as North Main Street south and then east to its intersection with Kelsey Creek, Kelseyville Quadrangle, Section 15, T13N, R09W.

Follow Kelsey Creek south to Highway 29.

Proceed southeast on Highway 29 past Live Oak Drive to the intersection of Highway 29 with the next road, an unnamed road known locally as Main Street.

Go north and then northwest on Main Street to Konocti Road.

Pick up Konocti Road and follow it east to the point of beginning.

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Exhibits to Petition

To Establish Kelsey Bench – Lake County Viticultural Area

Exhibits that include the hand drawn diagrams of the proposed area’s boundary lines are included to provide the reader with a general frame of reference for the location of the proposed area. Please refer to the USGS maps of the proposed area for the actual boundary lines.

General Evidence

Exhibit 1 Kelseyville Area Plan Prime Agricultural Soils, Kelseyville Area Plan adopted August 15, 1995 (Exhibit page 1)

Exhibit 2 List of Grape Growers and Wineries located in the proposed area (Exhibit page 2)

Exhibit 3 2009 Lake County Farm Bureau Map showing location of vineyards and other agricultural activities participating in the Farm Bureau Watershed (Exhibit page 3)

History of Agriculture and Viticulture

Exhibit 4 Nova Wine and Grape Brokers web page for Zinfandel Vineyard (Exhibit pages 4 – 5)

Name Evidence Exhibits

Exhibit 5 Print of GNIS detail – Kelseyville, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kelseyville, California, http://geonames.usgs.gnispublic/ (Exhibit page 6)

Exhibit 6 Advertisements for Kelsey Creek Saloon and published in the Clear Lake Journal in September, 1865 (Exhibit pages 7 – 12)

Exhibit 7 California Lake County Farm Trails Discovery Map (Exhibit page 13)

Exhibit 8 2008 Clear Lake Communities City Series Map (Exhibit page 14)

Exhibit 9 Map of Clear Lake State Park showing location of Kelsey Slough (Exhibit page 15)

Exhibit 10 at&t The Real Yellow Pages for Lake and Mendocino Counties, November, 2010 Edition with listings for Kelseyville (Exhibit pages 16 – 17)

Exhibit 11 Home pages for websites for Kelseyville Unified School District, www.kelseyvilleunifiedschooldistrict.org and Kelseyville Fire Protection District, www.kelseyvillefireprotectiondistrict.org (Exhibit pages 18 – 20)

Exhibit 12 Maps showing Clear Lake boundaries taken from Images of America Lake County by Maureen Bishop Sanderson and Maureen Carpenter (Exhibit page 21)

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Exhibit 13 Talking Points, Big Valley & Kelsey Bench, Lake County Winegrape Commission, www.lakecountywinegrape.org (Exhibit page 22)

Exhibit 14 Prints of WebPages with examples of the use of the term “bench” in wine ads from Wine King advertisement for Dynamite Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Steele Wines, and Wildhurst Vineyard Plunkett Creek Series (Exhibit pages 23- 27)

Exhibit 15 Rosa d’Oro Vineyard Blog with comments on Kelsey Bench soils (Exhibit pages 28 – 29)

Exhibit 16 Winery owner plans build-up amid concerns article from the napavalleyregister.com and Spotlight on Lake County article, Wine Business Monthly, 03/15/2007 (Exhibit pages 30 – 36)

Exhibit 17 WebPages from Northcoast Wine Grape Broker for winegrapes and bulk wine for sale and webpage for Cat’s Paw vineyard (Exhibit pages 37 – 40)

Exhibit 18 Real estate advertisements for 6215 Gold Dust Drive, Kelseyville, California by Big Valley Properties, www.bigvalleyproperties.com and 2150 Bell Hill Road, Kelseyville, myreality.com (Exhibit pages 41 – 43)

Soils Evidence

Exhibit 19 Forbesville Soils, Lake County Winegrape Growers, lakecountywinegrape.org (Exhibit page 44)

Exhibit 20 Soil Candidate Listing for Prime Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance, Lake County, California Department of Conservation, updated 6/29/2010 (Exhibit pages 45 – 48)

Exhibit 21 Table 6, Yields per Acre for Crops and Pasture, California from Soil Survey of Lake County California, by the USDA Soil Conservation Service completed in 1989 (Exhibit pages 49 – 51)

Exhibit 22 General Soil Map of Lake County, California from Soil Survey of Lake County California, by the USDA Soil Conservation Service completed in 1989 (Exhibit pages 52 – 53)

Exhibit 23 Highland Spring Property Maps (Exhibit pages 54- 55)

Geology Evidence

Exhibit 24 Generalized geologic map of the Clear Lake Basin, John D Sims, Later Quaternary climate, tectonism, and sedimentation in Clear Lake, northern California Coast Ranges, Geologic Society of America, Special Paper 214, 1988, page 5 (Exhibit page 56)

Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA Petition

Exhibit 25 Diagram showing the faulting of Big Valley Fault that uplifted and dissected Kelseyville Formation, WANNABE a Clear Lake Geologist? Dana Eker, Revised 2007, page 60 (Exhibit page 57)

Topography Evidence

Exhibit 26 Aerial map of the proposed Kelsey Bench – Lake County showing topography of the proposed area and surrounding area outside of the proposed boundary lines (Exhibit page 58)

Exhibit 27 Geologic – Hydrologic Map taken from the Big Valley Groundwater Management Plan, showing the location of the Central Uplands taken from Big Valley Ground water Management Plan, Big Valley Groundwater Management Zone Commission, Adopted May 18, 1999, page 10 (Exhibit page 59)

Exhibit 28 Figures 4 – 7 showing air drainage, effect of aspect on soil heating, and influence of water bodies, printed from Viticulture and Environment by John Gladstones, Winetitles Adelaide, 1992 (Exhibit pages 60 – 63)

AVA within AVA Evidence

Exhibit 29 Maps showing current and proposed American Viticultural Areas (Exhibit pages 64, 65)

Exhibit 30 Clear Lake Watershed map (Exhibit page 66)

Boundary Evidence

Exhibit 31 Letter from Devoto Vineyards (Exhibit page 67)

Exhibit 32 Letter from Hanson Ranch Vineyards (Exhibit page 68)

Contact Information

Exhibit 33 – Contact information for petitioners (Exhibit page 69)