The Water Committee will be hosting a short presentation and discussion regarding a major regional water supply project for our region – RiverArc – at its August 12 meeting from 5:30 until 6:30.
Join us by Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155 to learn more about the project and then join in on a discussion of what important topics/issues we believe need to be addressed in the project’s environmental impact analysis. The Project proponents and consultants will be available to discuss both the project and our environmental concerns.
RIVER ARC PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The RiverArc partners (City of Sacramento, Placer County Water Agency [PCWA], City of Roseville, and Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) are proposing the RiverArc Project to support water supply and environmental benefits in the Sacramento Region.
The proposed project would shift a portion of existing and planned regional water demand from the Lower American River to the Sacramento River. To accomplish this shift, the proposed project would divert water through the existing NMWC Pritchard Lake Diversion intake facility at RM 75.15 on the Sacramento River, deliver the river water via a new raw water pipeline to a new regional Water Treatment Plant, and distribute the treated surface water east and south through new and existing pipelines to service areas of the RiverArc partners. See more details here: https://www.riverarcproject.com/
The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will include a project-level analysis for the initial construction and operation phase of the proposed project (Phase I) and a program-level analysis for later project expansion phases (Future Phases). This approach allows for the initial phase to proceed through the permitting process and to construction in the near future, whereas the program-level analysis will appropriately reflect the more preliminary level of design pertaining to the future expansion phases. See the Notice of Preparation (NOP) here: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/dou/utilities/projects/RiverArc_NOP_Final.pdf
Neighbors of the proposed Upper Westside Project speak out in opposition to the project. The project will pave 2000 acres of farmland and habitat for residential and commercial development. The project’s western boundary is Garden Highway and next to the Sacramento River. Learn more about this project, see maps and news articles and join us in opposing it – www.stopgardenhwymegadevelopment.com and https://tinyurl.com/SacOpenSpace.
UPDATE 8/19/2025 5:28pm – The vote for Upper Westside scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 2pm has been cancelled by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. The date of the vote is now uncertain; therefore, you do not need to attend the meeting tomorrow.
Let the Supervisors know you oppose the project.
August 19, 5:30 pm, Community Rally. Westlake Park, 4700 Westlake Pkwy. Gather with your neighbors, the media, and local elected officials to show the strength and unity of our opposition. Local resident, Supervisor Phil Serna, has been invited to hear your concerns. Come and be counted.
August 20, 2 pm, Supervisors Vote. 700 H St, Sacramento. The Board of Supervisors will vote on the Upper Westside project. The City of Sacramento has passed a resolution opposing the project. Come, speak and/or bring a sign.
Today. Write your supervisor and express your opposition. We need two supervisors to vote NO – your supervisor needs to know that constituents don’t want this development.
Today. Write an e-comment to the Board of Supervisors before they meet to express your opinion
Contact your supervisor – make a personal call or email directly to your supervisor to urge a NO vote on Upper Westside. To identify who your supervisor is and their contact information go here.
The Sacramento Bee has published a series of articles by Editor Tom Philp on the Upper Westside project. They expose the weaknesses, background and history of development in the Natomas Basin. Read his Opinion pieces here.
Friends, we need a big turn out at tomorrow’s Rally and the Supervisors’ vote. If you can’t make it to one, go to the other. You have a voice in local government. You have a voice in what Natomas looks like in the future. Use it. Thank you.
The Sacramento City Council will not vote on Airport South Industrial on August 12, 2025.
We do not know why the vote was cancelled. Another date has not been set.
At the August 12 City Council meeting, city staff will educate council members on agreements made about Natomas. We believe they will present on topics such as the City/County Joint Vision, the Urban Services Boundary and the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan.
If you are able to attend, please do. It is important for some of us to be there and hear the presentations. There may be an opportunity for the public to speak.
If you have put information out on social media or emailed others to attend the meeting, let them know the vote is delayed. Please continue to send letters to the City Council stating your opposition to this project. For information about writing and for some talking points, see our previous email.
Upper Westside Project – Board of Supervisors Vote on August 20 Put August 20, 2 pm on your calendar. The County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a vote to approve or deny this project which will pave over 2,000 acres of farmland for residential and commercial development.
The fundamental reason to oppose this project is that the County should not build an unincorporated city, the size of Galt, on land next to the Sacramento River which will destroy valuable farmland and wildlife habitat, and, without improving main transportation arteries, increase traffic and congestion by adding over 20,000 people to Natomas. This project also flouts long-standing agreements between the City and the County. We will provide more information, including talking points for letters to the Board of Supervisors, in the next week or so.
Please plan to attend on August 20 at 2 pm. Check the Board of Supervisors’ website on August 15 to be sure that a vote on the Upper Westside Project is on the agenda for August 20. Documents for the meeting will be here.
Thank you for your patience with the changing processes for these two projects. We are doing our best to keep you up to date.
On July 29, 2025, ECOS submitted our comments regarding the Airport South Industrial Project in a letter to the Mayor and City Council of the City of Sacramento.
We believe the approval of this project as presented by City Staff will cast a long shadow over the City’s and its elected leaders’ reputation for protecting citizens and the environment from harm.
7/30/2025 Please note: At this time, the City meeting on the Airport South Industrial Project has been POSTPONED to an undetermined date.
Needed: Four NO votes. Write the Mayor and City Council Members.
The proposed Airport South Industrial Project, for 6 million square feet of warehouses, is a monster that will affect the entire Natomas area by bringing in more huge trucks and their pollution unless it is stopped.
The lawsuits that have been filed may slow down the project, but the ONLY way to stop it is for four members of the City Council to vote NO. That critical vote is set for August 12.
We need your City Council Member (CCM), regardless of their district, to vote NO on this project.
Normally, there are nine votes on Council, but CCM Kaplan has recused herself from the vote due to the location of her residence near the project. Four “no” votes will block the project.
Everyone in the City of Sacramento can help build opposition to this project by writing to their CCM. Your CCM’s vote could be decisive.
View of semi-trucks parked at a warehouse in Sacramento
Contact the Mayor and your City Council Member and help us get to four “no” votes.
Call, email or speak in person to your CMM and ask them to vote NO on the Airport South Industrial Project.
Some possible points to include in your call or email. Fill in the blanks as appropriate. The two most important points to make are – you are a constituent, and you want your CCM to oppose the project.
Dear Mayor McCarty and City Council,
I am your constituent and I live at ______________________(address or at least zip code).
I vote and I am writing to ask you to vote no on the Airport South Industrial Project in Natomas.
I oppose this project because
(Choose one or two and put the idea in your own words)
This warehousing project is located next to a school, homes, and wildlife habitat. Impacts to neighbors include noise, lighting, air pollution, traffic, more trucks in the neighborhoods and more trucks on I-5.
The Plan is inconsistent with the Natomas Habitat Conservation Plan, City General Plan, County General Plan, SACOG Blueprint, Urban Services Boundary, Air Quality Plan, Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
The City should not develop farmland into warehouses, there are better, industrial-zoned locations for warehousing projects. It should pursue infill and renovation of aging facilities such as Blue Diamond and Arden Arcade.
More warehousing outside the urban core sucks jobs and business out of existing industrial areas.
I object to putting developer profits over sensible growth and community health. Only the property owner/developer benefits from this project; net revenue to the City has never been identified and $4 million estimated revenue hardly addresses the City’s budget problems.
The project will be bad for the health of Natomas residents, particularly the children at the next-door Paso Verde school and the neighboring community.
Sincerely, your constituent,
Your Name
Take Action:
Send your email or make your phone call no later than August 10, 2025.
Plan to attend the August 12, 2025 meeting at City Hall, 915 “I” St, Sacramento. Put the date on your calendar. Confirm the date, time and see both the Agenda and the staff report on about August 8 when it should be published on the City website.
Donate to oppose Airport South Industrial. Lawsuits are expensive.
Email the Mayor and the City Council today. Email addresses are here.
Please sign our petitions against this project and Upper Westside.
For Social Media
Social media really spreads the message – please use it! Share the two video links and the flyer.
Video 1 – Former Mayor Heather Fargo, shares her thoughts on the Airport South Industrial Project.
Video 2 – Natomas high school student and birder, MacKenzie Hollender, talks about the birds she has seen that use the excellent habitat that would be paved for Airport South Industrial.
In the News
Here is a July 16, 2025 Opinion Piece by the Sacramento Bee’s Editor, Tom Philp
Reach out to your City Council Member Today. Write Today.
They need to understand the depth and breadth of opposition. Thank you.
