If even a portion of that land is converted, biologists warn, the impacts could be immense. In addition to the worry about the loss of individual natural parcels to grapes, experts say spot development can have impacts far beyond vineyard borders. Isolated vineyards scattered throughout a large natural area can cause fragmentation of habitat, confining more and more animals to smaller and smaller areas. Animals can find themselves separated from food sources and water if key parcels along streams and creeks are developed and cordoned off by fences. If there remains much debate over how and where the wine industry will plant its future vineyards, there is little argument that once a wild area is selected for development the environmental changes imposed on the land are dramatic.
First loggers come and harvest the trees and burn out the vegetation.
Next, huge bulldozers drag sword-like shanks through the earth, ripping the land free of roots and rocks as much as five feet down. Then earthmovers are used to recontour the land, filling in depressions and lopping off slopes. Sometimes the topsoil itself is removed while the process of reshaping is completed, and then the soil is returned. Owner Ron Block of Santa Rosa said he had discussed the conversion with residents of the rural neighborhood and had encountered little resistance. Carefully engineered watercourses are built.