California Northstate halts 400-bed Elk Grove hospital project to ‘consider all options’

By Michael Finch II | February 26, 2021 | The Sacramento Bee

Many nearby residents and environmental groups, including the Sacramento Sierra Club [and the Environmental Council of Sacramento], were opposed to the planned hospital’s location which would have neighbored the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

A consultant from Ascent Environmental, which conducted the environmental impact review for the hospital project, suggested the school could consider at least three alternatives during the planning commission meeting last week.

To read the article in full, click here.

To learn more about this project, click here.

California Northstate presses pause on medical center project

By Felicia Alvarez | February 25, 2021 | Sacramento Business Journal

…the Elk Grove Planning Commission unanimously rejected the project plans, citing concerns about the location of the proposed medical center.
…the proposed hospital is still eligible to go before the Elk Grove City Council, which would have a final say on the project.

To read the article in full, click here.

To learn more about this project, click here.

California Northstate’s hospital rejected by Elk Grove Planning Commission

By Felicia Alvarez | February 19, 2021 | Sacramento Business Journal

“This is a poorly located project to serve Elk Grove proper, being located at the furthest southwest corner of this city,” Wieser said. “I’m not against a high-rise. There are places in our city for a building of this size, but this is not the right location.”

To read the article in full, click here.

To learn more about this project, click here.

Bird Alert: Stop Feeding Birds (for now)

We are sorry to ask folks to give up a source of great joy during our long shutdown. However, due to an outbreak of salmonella poison that is killing pine siskins and other small finches, authorities including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have advised taking down bird feeders, probably until spring. Oregon and Washington have similar alerts.

You will find many news articles with an internet search.

Information with detailed instructions from the Sonoma Bird Rescue Center is here: https://birdrescuecenter.org/salmonellosis/

The request from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is here: https://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2021/02/08/salmonellosis-outbreak-causing-songbird-deaths/

Please pass this on.

See where apartment rent is rising fastest in the Sacramento region, as demand surges

Sacramento’s housing crisis continues to worsen, recent evidence confirms. Our region will not reach our greenhouse emission reduction targets as long as there is a jobs-housing imbalance in our urban core.

By Phillip Reese and Tony Bizjak | February 10, 2021 | The Sacramento Bee

Apartment rents jumped faster around Sacramento than in almost any other metro nationwide last year, adding to a long-simmering housing crunch, new data show.

Click here to read the article in full.

Photo by Maria Orlova from Pexels

Groundwater Sustainability Plans – Guiding Principles

On Tuesday, February 16, 2021, the Environmental Council of Sacramento sent to the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies in the American and Cosumnes Groundwater Subbasins our suggestions for guiding principles for our local Groundwater Sustainability Plans.

Our letter presents suggested Principles we believe should be part of each subbasin’s Plan. These Principles draw upon both state guidance for Groundwater Sustainability Plans and the spirit and intent of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

Click here to read the letter.