American River Natural History Association

Should three government agencies build a 200,000 square foot flood and water joint operations center (JOC) next to the American River Parkway just west of Lake Natoma?  Sacramento County Supervisors, Save the American River Association (SARA), and  residents of nearby Rancho Cordova, Gold River,  and Fair Oaks say no.

The Federal Bureau of Reclamation, the National Weather Service and the state Department of  Water  Resources say  this is the preferred site of  among three alternatives for a replacement of the  overcrowded existing  center on El Camino Avenue in Sacramento. The new center's 600 employees would manage  weather and water emergencies.

But the Sacramento County Supervisors passed a resolution  opposing the  site as "adverse" to the "policies and purposes embodied  in the American River Parkway Plan."  The supervisors support other proposed sites. The draft environmental impact statement lists alternatives at Mather Field and at Kilgore Road and Sunrise Boulevard. 

Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan, who represents the area,  said locating the center at  the Natoma site  would result in noise and other  impacts, and that it would conflict with  the parkway's master plan, which was endorsed by  the county and city of Sacramento and the state.

One reason the agencies prefer this site is because  the Bureau of Reclamation  owns the land for what would be a $140 million to $165 million campus.  However, Save the American River Association marshals several reasons for urging it to be located elsewhere.

"This proposed facility, spread over 25 acres, and including a main building the size of a Walmart Super Center plus an 800-space parking lot, would severely detract from the visual beauty of the Parkway and violate the Parkway Plan in the process," SARA President Warren V.Truitt said. "In addition, why would the JOC, responsible for all northern California state and federal dam operations, locate their central operations center in a flood zone immediately  below a major dam?"

SARA also  raises concerns over increased traffic congestion on Highway 50 and Hazel Avenue;  the effect of extensive night lighting on adjacent neighborhoods and wildlife,  and the loss of   wildlife habitat to parking lots and roads.

SARA urged concerned citizens to write letters objecting to the Natoma site to:
Attention: Douglas Kleinsmith
Bureau of Reclamation
Office of Environmental Affairs
2800 Cottage Way
Sacramento, CA 95825

 Or email to dkleinsmith@usbr.gov

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