Official Puts Redwoods Ahead of New Vineyards

A Sonoma County supervisor wants to cut back on new vineyards to protect the county’s dwindling redwood acreage.

Mike Reilly, recently elected chairman of the state Coastal Commission, is proposing new regulations that would prohibit conversion of timberland to grapes in large tracts of the rural countryside. The proposal would include protections in the county’s general plan.

While oversight of timber harvests is largely a function of state government, officials say county supervisors have some authority to regulate converting timberland to other uses.