Monthly Archives: April 2025

Urbanization in Natomas: NBC Letter, April 10, 2025

On April 10, we received a letter sent to the County Board of Supervisors from the Natomas Basin Conservancy. It clearly expresses their concerns about the future of the Natomas Habitat Conservation Plans, their implementation, and the very species that they are charged with protecting if significant development, as proposed in the county projects are approved outside the permitted areas.

The letter reminds the Board of the 1 mile buffer zone for Swainson’s Hawks (clearly harmed by the Upper West side Project); the 17,500 acres limit to permitted areas; and the need for new take permits and ESA compliance for the projects outside this limit.

They also remind the Board of the millions of dollars and the 25 years years that been invested in implementing these plans. They urge the County Supervisors to require the developers to answer the question “will this project in any way compromise the ability of the NBHCP and/or MAHCP to be implemented as approved the state of CA and the US government?”

Please read and ponder their thoughtful letter as you consider

Thank you,
Heather Fargo
President of ECOS Board of Directors

Big Day of Giving 2025

“The environment is where we all meet, where we all have a mutual interest. It is the one thing all of us share.”
-Lady Bird Johnson

Early Giving Period Begins Today, April 17th, 2025!

If you are itching to donate don’t fret! By giving early, you help us continue our mission of achieving regional sustainability, dismantling historic environmental injustices, livable communities, and engaging individual and organizational members aligned with our goals.

An early gift opens the canopy, clears the skies, and lays the path for a livable tomorrow.
Be the light that leads the way!

Give Now

ECOS Orientation 5/20/2025

Come learn what ECOS is all about! Attend our monthly orientation session on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 from 6:00 – 6:30pm via Zoom to get a broad overview of what ECOS does, why it matters and what you can do to help! This orientation can also help anyone wanting to learn more about environmental issues in the Sacramento region. We will cover our current goals that involve climate change prevention, promoting infill over sprawl development, transit, habitat protection and the wise use of water resources, among others.

Register

Airport South – What Happened at LAFCo and What’s Next

April 9, 2025

Here is an update on the Airport South Industrial Project!

The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) held the first hearing on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. The Community response during the nearly four hour hearing showed the depth of feeling and opposition to this project. About 80 written comments were submitted and more than forty people spoke against the project.

Some highlights of the hearing included expert testimony on the failure of the EIR to discuss truck ultrafine particulate emissions’ impacts on health of children and residents in the neighborhood. A retired planning commissioner and a retired school district board member spoke to the incompatibility of the project with the adjacent neighborhood. Other issues: I-5 corridor traffic and trucks already disrupting the neighborhood; the incompatibility of the 96 acres of detention basins with airport runway. The hearing is available on YouTube.com in the video below.

In the end, LAFCo continued the hearing (delayed their decision). Staff and lawyers appeared to be concerned about getting their paperwork in order, and because the City has not yet held a hearing on the project. The next LAFCo meeting is scheduled for May 7. Plan to be there and show your opposition.

Meanwhile, please help get more signatures on our petition. Over 1050 people have signed our petition against approving the project.

Click here to go to the petition.

ECOS Letter to LAFCo re Airport South, April 2, 2025

On April 2, 2025, ECOS submitted a letter to the the Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) regarding the acreage proposed for Airport South Industrial (ASIP) and including it in the City’s Sphere of Influence (SOI).

Click here for more info on this vote.

Click here to read the letter in full.