Castello di Amorosa and Water Audit California reached a deal to monitor Nash Creek and step up well metering, prompting Napa County to pause a planning hearing. The study will collect creek data and require reporting to county planners.

Napa’s one-night tally jumped 14% to 428 while Sonoma’s official count held near 1,951 — but a big youth spike and a larger by-name list have providers warning the picture is still fragile.

St. Helena’s City Council voted to put a half-cent sales tax on the Nov. 3 ballot to shore up services amid rising costs. Polling shows wide support even as some officials object to the speed of the move.