Sonoma County Farm Bureau Fights PG&E Dam Removal as Water Squeeze Tightens

Pacific Gas and Electric is pursuing decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project's hydroelectric infrastructure, and the Sonoma County Farm Bureau is pushing back. Executive Director Dayna Ghirardelli told the AgNet News Hour that her organization opposes removing dams at a time when California needs more water storage, not less.

At stake are the water diversions into the Russian River. Those diversions, Ghirardelli said, support agricultural operations and surrounding communities across Sonoma County. Losing them would tighten an already strained supply picture for growers who depend on the river's flows.

What's squeezing wine grape growers?

Declining demand, rising production costs and uncertain future markets are pressuring Sonoma County's wine grape industry from three directions at once. Some producers are already pulling out vineyards as they weigh whether to keep growing grapes or transition to other agricultural commodities.

That's a capital decision, not a sentiment. Vineyard removal follows years of soft demand, and Ghirardelli framed the choice facing growers as a hard evaluation of what commodity actually pencils going forward.

Can family farms survive Proposition 19?

Ghirardelli pointed directly at California's Proposition 19, arguing that changes to property tax rules have created additional financial obstacles for families hoping to pass agricultural land from one generation to the next. The worry is concrete: higher tax exposure at transfer could force heirs to sell ground that families have farmed for decades.

The inheritance question compounds the industry-side pressure. When margins tighten and the tax bill for handing down land rises, the arithmetic for keeping a multigenerational operation intact gets harder.

Where does technology fit?

Artificial intelligence and automation are expanding in Sonoma County agriculture, Ghirardelli said, naming robotic milking systems, poultry operations and potential applications in vineyards. She sees opportunities for improved efficiency. But she drew a firm line: technology must make financial sense for individual farming operations. Efficiency gains don't help if the payback doesn't work on a specific balance sheet.

What's ahead this winter?

Preparation for potential flooding is already underway, particularly along the Russian River. Farmers are evaluating roads, drainage systems and other infrastructure to reduce damage from heavy rainfall — work that follows the county's history of destructive winter floods on that river.

The interview also revisited Sonoma County's Measure J debate, which drew significant attention to local dairy and poultry operations. Ghirardelli said the experience reinforced the importance of educating consumers about agriculture and keeping relationships between farmers and their communities strong.

Despite the challenges, Ghirardelli remains optimistic about Sonoma County agriculture. She encouraged consumers to visit local farms, wineries and agricultural events, and highlighted the Farm Bureau's annual Crab Feed, scheduled for February 6, 2027, at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

Throughout the conversation, she returned to one theme: cooperation among farmers, policymakers and consumers will determine whether California's agricultural future holds. With PG&E's decommissioning plans, Prop 19's tax structure and a contracting wine grape market all moving at once, that cooperation faces a demanding test in the seasons ahead.