{"id":8260,"date":"2018-09-06T13:58:10","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T20:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/?p=8260"},"modified":"2025-12-19T13:59:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T21:59:17","slug":"agriculture-culture-is-dying-in-countys-heartland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/2018\/09\/06\/agriculture-culture-is-dying-in-countys-heartland\/","title":{"rendered":"Agriculture Culture is Dying in County’s Heartland?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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George Wheeldon, Guest Opinion]<\/em><\/p>\n

Favorite Quote:\u00a0\u201cLet him who thirsts for knowledge go out upon the broad face of the earth, and he will find that it is not out of books alone that he can get it; let him make use of the eyes that God has given him, and he will see more in the world\u2019s unwritten revelations than the mind of man hath conceived.\u201d<\/strong>J. Ross Browne \u2013 Washington D.C. February 1853.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve spent years studying and teaching geology and the history of the Mother Lode. \u00a0Today, however, I\u2019m switching to a different history, the history of agriculture in El Dorado County, and why our county agriculture may suffer a devastating setback, worse than the pear blight or prohibition.<\/p>\n

In 1904 our county grew 2,100 acres of wine grapes. Prohibition, however, killed the wine industry. \u00a0By 1966 only 11 acres of wine grapes were grown in our county. \u00a0The early 1970s began a rebirth of county grape growing. \u00a0Greg Boeger purchased Lombardo\/Fossatti Winery in 1973. \u00a0Our county has been adding grape acreage and wineries every year since, reaching nearly 100 wineries today.<\/p>\n

County farmers began growing pears around 1900, with production growing to 52,000 tons in 1958. \u00a0Then pear blight killed that industry, reducing county pear production to just 8,435 tons in 1965. \u00a0The death of the pear industry started the next chapter in El Dorado County\u2019s agricultural history, the birth of \u201cApple Hill.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 1964 Gene Bolster, Dick Bethell, Ed Delfino and Bob Tuck formed an apple growers association, naming it \u201cApple Hill\u201d and marketed it aggressively. \u00a0Today visitors come to Apple Hill from all over northern California to sample apples and all things made from apples and to have a fun family outing. \u00a0Christmas trees and other farm operations add to the mix. \u00a0Today Apple Hill farmers are a major economic force, generating $255 million in 2015 from all sources.<\/p>\n

A new development now threatens to virtually wipe out Apple Hill farmers. \u00a0This time, though, it\u2019s not blight or prohibition. It\u2019s a lawsuit. \u00a0If successful the lawsuit will make irrigation water so expensive that only a very few well established farmers might survive. \u00a0Local farmers will pay thousands more for their water, some paying more than $100,000 extra each year, while the average residential ratepayer will save only $36 annually. \u00a0Over time that $36 savings will diminish as farmers go out of business and sell their land. Eventually developers will swoop in to buy the empty land for pennies on the dollar, replacing our beautiful vineyards, orchards and Christmas tree farms with housing developments. \u00a0It\u2019s hard to fathom why anyone would willingly destroy a profitable industry, a way of life and scenic open spaces which our farms and ranches provide \u2014 all to save residential ratepayers as little as $6 on their EID bill.<\/p>\n

In a misguided effort Darwin Throne, of El Dorado Hills, is suing to force El Dorado Irrigation District to charge the same rates to all classes of water customer, residential, schools, parks, farmers and ranchers. \u00a0EID Director, Greg Prada, has been arguing to increase farm water rates since before he joined the EID board. He even pestered Howard Jarvis Taxpayers to sue EID until they ordered him to stop asking.<\/p>\n

On Aug. 28, 2017 Prada put on a presentation at an EID board meeting, which included some very doubtful legal reasoning, claiming that EID\u2019s rates violate Prop. 218. \u00a0A few weeks later Darwin Throne, a Prada supporter, filed a claim and then a lawsuit against EID for violating Prop. 218. \u00a0Amazingly, the lawsuit used the very same legal arguments Greg Prada had just presented. \u00a0Coincidence?<\/p>\n

To date EID has spent 40,000 ratepayer dollars fighting the lawsuit and expects to spend another $200,000 to $300,000, with Prada refusing to vote to authorize even the $40,000. \u00a0EID feels confident about its chances of winning in court, although it\u2019s not guaranteed. \u00a0Losing the lawsuit could cost EID ratepayers millions, paying EID\u2019s legal costs as well as \u00a0Throne\u2019s. \u00a0How ironic, that a board member who masquerades as a ratepayer\u2019s advocate is costing EID\u2019s ratepayers so much.<\/p>\n

Throne\u2019s lawsuit, supported by Director Prada, presents a clear and present danger to the county\u2019s agricultural industry and way of life. \u00a0Failure to fight the lawsuit would have the same effect as losing. \u00a0EID directors hold the fate of Apple Hill in their hands, deciding whether or not to fight the lawsuit. \u00a0It\u2019s critical to elect EID board candidates who guarantee that they will fight the lawsuit to preserve local farms and ranches. \u00a0Director Prada has made it clear that he will not fight the lawsuit and supports ruinous water rates for our local farmers.<\/p>\n

If you live in EID Division 2, please vote for Pat Dwyer, Greg Prada\u2019s opponent. Pat is extremely well qualified and promises to fight the lawsuit to save Apple Hill. \u00a0If you live in EID Division 4, please re-elect Director Dale Coco. Director Coco has done a great job as an EID director and guarantees that he will continue his fight to save agriculture in El Dorado County.<\/p>\n

EID\u2019s chances of winning the lawsuit are pretty good, but winning requires at least three EID board members to fight it. \u00a0Dwyer and Coco are two who will fight to save Apple Hill.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

George Wheeldon is an emeritus professor of Geology. \u00a0Wheeldon has his B.A. from San Jose State University and M.N.S. from University of South Dakota.
\n2007 \u2013 Award from the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies as the outstanding geology teacher in the state.
\n2008 \u2013 National Award from the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies as the outstanding Earth Science Educator in the Western Region of the United States.
\nA 12 year member of the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors.<\/p>\n