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 - Rob Thompson is a third generation dowser. He co-owned one of the largest drilling companies in Northern California until a few years ago. He is married with a family, licensed contractor and also holds an engineering contractor license and has own Building Company.
While there is some controversy over his profession, he has helped more than a 1,000 individuals and companies find water on their property in his 30 years work. “There are a million theories on how dowsing works”, Thompson said. “The practice of dowsing is not an exact science. It’s an art that has worked for mankind for thousands of years before the study of science began. Many are an inspiration to me” “My uncle Wayne Thompson, was a very well-known dowser back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. He went all over the United Sates and even to Hawaii using a willow stick for a divining rod, finding underground sources of water for wells.”
Investigation of the works of Albert Einstein reveal, “I know very well that many scientists consider dowsing as they do astrology, a type of ancient superstition. According to my conviction, this is, however, unjustified. The dowsing rod is a simple instrument which shows the reaction of the human nervous system to certain factors which are unknown at this time”. Another non-critic was Thomas Edison when asked of the practice was quoted as replying, “What is Electricity?” “I don’t’ know either – but its there – so lets use it”.
Rob comments, some day science will catch up with the dowsing practice and justify how it actually works. He feels a geologist can do a fine job of finding water when they can visionly see volcanic crevices and shifts on the surface of land.” Both can be crucial parts to determine water availability. It all depends on what the client wants, but dowsers have an ability to be more accurate”, quotes Rob.
Rob has been working successfully with wineries throughout northern California for years.
I’ve relied on him for many wells in many areas on the thousands of acres we farm.” Said Mark Neal, President of Jack Neal and Son, a vineyard management company based in Saint Helena. “We farm about 2,000 acres in Napa and Sonoma counties and Rob has always come through for us.
Neal said he thinks of dowsing more of an art form than a science, something that can be practiced only by people who have the gift.
“It’s a lot more cost-effective to have Rob do it”. Kendall-Jackson Wineries director of Real Estate, Tony Korman echoed Neal’s sentiments. “He’s been really successful for us, which is why we keep using him”, Korman said. “Rob has done many jobs for us. The two most recent are the vineyards out in Bennett Valley, and then there is Stonestreet in Alexander Valley. That one supplies not only the fields but the winery itself, so we get double use out of it”.
He said he spent three days walking 1,200 acres and found three potential water sources for a customer. “The people I worked for chose the location I wasn’t too happy with because of access. When drilled, the well produced 50 gallons per minute. The next locations drilled which I felt was better, produced 450 and 560 gallons per minute respectively”.
Recently Rob was hired to dowse property in Knights Valley for Delectus Winery. The property had 22 test holes chosen by a local Geologist Co. that uses oil well sounding equipment to find fractures in the volcanic formations. Out of the 22 wells they drilled, 3 produced 30 gpm and now 2 have almost dried up. After spending a tremendous amount of money on the geologist and drilling companies, only one well for 112 acres of potential grape vineyards was available. Rob was contacted to locate more wells. The first well drilled was a location Rob could feel from more than a quarter of a mile away on the toe of a very steep mountain. It would be a difficult access for large drilling equipment. The cost to cut a road into the mountain would be expensive. There was no doubt for Rob and insisted they go for it. They proceeded with Rob’s first choice and hit a gusher at 300 feet. The driller estimated it was producing well over 200 gpm. The second well drilled produced abound 30 gpm. Delectus winery now can plant their vineyard areas and proceed with plans for a future Winery.
Recently Rob dowsed another property of Jack Neal and Sons, on a 399 acre ranch they manage in the Sonoma County wine country. While drilling the well Rob received a call from Rick Neal, owner/manager, saying the driller thought they may want to stop and move to another location since they were in pure shale and a serpentine formation at 300 feet. Rob then spoke to the driller and said they should at least go to 400 to 425 feet deep since this is where he had felt the first water, despite the terrible formation they were now in. Rick Neal called the driller and said “Take the test hole down to 422”. Later the same day Rick called and said. Rob,” You showed us the water!” proclaiming “We hit 200 to 300 gallons a minute after 400 feet”. It was another successful adventure for the owner and dowser.
“One of the beauties of this profession is most of the people involved with it are characters” Rob said with a laugh. He recalled being 12 years old when his uncle first showed him the way to use willow sticks when surveying Rob’s father ranch east of Santa Rosa The old way of dowsing used to be a bow-shaped willow stick. But each dowser finds has own method that works for him. Some use methods like twine with a small bottle hanging as the pendulum. “These are my babies,” he said, referring to the stainless steel rods he uses today.
Thompson charges $250. per hour and also has a pay structure based on either a flat fee or a charge based on how many gallons per minute the well produces.
Reprinted in part from an article by Alex Horvarth
Special to the San Francisco Chronicle
Associations
Active 20-30- Club
American Society of Dowsers
Bennett Valley 4-H
Bennett Valley Grange #16
North Coast Builders Exchange
Sonoma County Farm Bureau
email robthomp@robthompsondowsing.com
On
right - Rob teaches youngest son Devon the
family dowsing touch.
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