"While many other regions permanently paved over their agricultural land, Napa County did something truly unique and doubled down on agriculture. The result was nothing short of visionary." 
​- Garrett Buckland, Past NVG President | Owner, Premiere Viticultural Services​

Quick Facts About the Napa Valley Ag Preserve

Photo by Emma K. Morris

• This landmark set of zoning laws, which encompasses Ag Preserve and Ag Watershed lands, established agriculture as the highest and best use of the land in Napa County
• The Ag Preserve was established as AP and AW zoning in 1968 to protect agriculture for future generations; this was the first zoning ordinance of its kind in the country
• Planted vineyard land makes up 9 percent of Napa County land totaling around 45,000 acres
• 37,100 acres of land (7.3% of the County) are protected in perpetuity through Conservation Agreements between landowners and the Land Trust of Napa County
• Nationally, we lose nearly 40 acres of farmland every hour due to urban sprawl; however, not one acre of Ag Preserve zoned land has been lost to urban use since its adoption
• According to the American Farmland Trust, an acre of agricultural land on average produces 58 times fewer GHG emissions than an acre of urban use.

---

History

Preserving the Vineyards of Napa Valley
By: Jon Ruel, past NVG President
Description: The Ag Preserve as it pertains to local regulations and the commitment of a community

AG Preservation History 
By: The Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Agricultural Land Preservation Fund 
Description: Timeline of historical events

Supporting Legislation

• Winery Definition Ordinance (WDO)
• Napa County General Plan
• Napa County Williamson Act & Agricultural Preserve Contracts
• Measure J

​Ag Preserve Zoning

Articles

Your Turn: Remembering James Hickey, the mysticby Wakoh Shannon Hickey, Napa Valley Register, March 15, 2018
Will Napa's 50-year-old agricultural preserve continue to protect the Napa Valley? by Barry Eberling, Napa Valley Register, February 4, 2018
Napa Valley Grapegrowers Report: Meet the up-and-coming grapegrowersby the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Napa Valley Register, January 4, 2018
Renewing a commitment to the Ag Preserveby Garrett Buckland, NVG President, Napa Valley Register, November 16, 2017
L. Pierce Carson, Eyes of Napa Valley, Dies at 76by James Laube, Wine Spectator, May 22, 2017
The Economics of Ag Landby Garrett Buckland, NVG President, Napa Valley Register, April 26, 2017
Oral histories tell the story of the Ag Preserveby Sasha Paulsen, Napa Valley Register, February 27, 2012
Honoring the Ag Preserve founders, looking to the futureby L. Pierce Carson, Napa Valley Register, May 23, 2008
How Napa's Ag Preserve beat the odds, and saved the valleyby L. Pierce Carson, Napa Valley Register, April 20, 2008
Help county preserve ag industryby Andy Beckstoffer, Napa Valley Register, December 9, 2003
Shocking idea from Grapegrowersby Libby Lane, Napa Valley Register, November 19, 1987

Photography

Photo sourced from the Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Agricultural Land Preservation Fun

Photos of KPIX CBS San Francisco Bay Area news 
sourced from Napa Valley ROOTS

Video Archives 

Learn More

​Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Agricultural Land Preservation Fund
​Napa County - The Preservation Celebration