Santa Barbara County supervisors rejected the North Fork Ranch Frost Ponds Project on Tuesday, following the lead of the Planning Commission that denied the proposal in May.

Applicants want to install three large water reservoirs south of Highway 166 for land owned by a Harvard University endowment fund, to prevent frost damage to vineyards on the property.

After being denied by the Planning Commission, the applicant, Brodiaea Inc., appealed to the Board of Supervisors.

Supervisors Das Williams, Laura Capps and Joan Hartmann voted to deny the appeal and deny the project, finding that it is not compatible with the surrounding area. Supervisors Steve Lavagnino and Bob Nelson said they were worried about the precedent and did not vote to deny the project.  

North Fork Ranch applied for a conditional use permit to build the reservoirs and pump up to 103 acre-feet of water to fill them from its groundwater wells. On cold nights, water from the ponds would be sprayed on the grape vines to freeze and form some protection against frost.

Most concerns about the project are related to water use in the Cuyama Valley, which has critically over-drafted groundwater basins.

Williams said deferring to agriculture’s needs in agriculture zones would normally be his default, “but I think in Cuyama it is different because it’s uncertain how much these moves could threaten the viability of other farmers to be able to continue to live and thrive in the Cuyama Valley.”

Nelson said that if the supervisors deny the project, “it’s going to be a sad day in Santa Barbara County for agriculture.” He said the project is not located in the central area of the valley where groundwater overdraft issues are, and that “geology matters here.”  

“We know there’s an ample supply of water because they’re using it,” he said. “The project is for 100 acre-feet, and they’re using 800 to 900 acre-feet a year right now.”