photo credit: Noah Abrams/KRCB
A vineyard in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley.

Long debated water quality rules for vineyards in California's North Coast region have been approved.

Last month, the North Coast Water Quality Control Board approved what's called the General Waste Discharge Requirements.

The rules affect some 65,000 acres of commercial vineyards, concentrated in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

They are meant to prevent runoff and erosion from vineyards that harms salmon, and other fish species in the north coast's rivers and streams.

The water board estimates some 80% of vineyard operators in the region already employ the necessary runoff precautions voluntarily.

The new requirements take effect in July 2028.