For the most part, the wine industry and grape growers are pretty clean. The only thing they use in any regularity are Roundup and dusting sulfur. Really though, they don't even use much of that. I do plan however to have the water tested at a local lab before starting. I have already determined that there are no septic fields or other sources of yucky stuff around the water.
However my greatest concern is that if I invest in building the pond something will occur to the source of the water an I will be left with a muddy pit. I have contacted the State Department of Water Resources for advice and they stated what my upstream neighbor is doing violates several state water laws. In short, water needs to be given an opportunity to absorb on the property on which it is used and produced.
However, my neighbor who just spent over $10,000 on this French drain so he can farm his field will likely not want to remove it. Without it, he will have a boggy vineyard which will ruin the quality of the wine. My solution that I propose to my neighbor is that because he is causing the problem, that he helps pay for the construction of a pond to catch the water or I will file a complaint with the state to cease the flow of the water. I feel that the cheaper way out for the neighbor will be to pay for a pond. Additionally, if I apply for state water rights to construct a habitat for wish and waterfowl, my local Resource Conservation District has grants available to help with construction costs and the neighbor will be required to provide the quantity of water forever to maintain the habitat.
I will keep you informed.
Cameron
