conservation

Help Secure the Future of the Former Kassis Property!

From the Save the American River Association:

The time is now! A rare opportunity has emerged to protect the former Kassis property, located adjacent to the American River Parkway. The land is now for sale. Opportunities like this are becoming increasingly rare, and once land along the Parkway is developed, it is lost forever.

Protecting this 41-acre property would preserve critical riparian habitat, safeguard wildlife movement corridors, and ensure that future generations can experience the same sense of openness and natural beauty that Parkway visitors cherish today.

The Challenge We Face

Protecting this land will take more than just a willing buyer. Public conservation funding can often help cover the purchase price, but these funds typically cannot cover the many real-world costs required to complete a land acquisition. To move quickly and meet potential closing deadlines, we’re in the process of raising funds to cover essential costs and ensure its protection.

How You Can Help

In the next two weeks, we aim to raise $2 million for this cause. For example, if we had 800 supporters each contributing $2,500, we would reach our goal. However, every donation, no matter the size, can make a significant impact.

Your tax-deductible donation to Save the American River Association's Kassis fund will help cover essential non-grant-eligible costs such as:

  • Transaction and closing costs (title/escrow/recording)

  • Appraisals and other valuation needs

  • Environmental and due diligence work (as required)

  • Short-term bridge financing and carrying costs (if needed to close on time)

  • Interim management, stewardship planning, and baseline documentation needed to secure permanent protection

Flexible private donations are what allow projects like this to move forward.

Contribute Now

Join Us in This Vital Effort

The American River Parkway is often called the “crown jewel” of our region, a continuous greenbelt of wildlife habitat, trails, and scenic river views that defines the quality of life in the Sacramento area.

Your contribution can make a significant difference. With your help, we can protect one of the last sizable areas of open space along the American River Parkway. Learn more about this effort. Please reach out to us with any questions at info@sarariverwatch.org or preservetheamericariver@gmail.com.

Thank you for standing with us to protect the Parkway.

With gratitude,

Save the American River Association

Preserve the American River Team

Green Tech Education and Employment Grant

In the Fall of 2025, the Sacramento Audubon Board received a grant request from Green Tech Education and Employment ( https://www.greentechedu.org/ ) a nonprofit that offers innovate workforce skills to youth and young adults of frontline communities (i.e., communities of color, Indigenous peoples, and people with lower incomes who are impacted first and worst by environmental hazards and climate change) with an emphasis on environmental protection, justice, and economic development.

Green Tech students are learning workforce and entrepreneurial techniques that teach them a work ethic while focusing on reducing greenhouse gases, reducing pollution and improving living conditions in low income communities. Programs include Urban Farming, Urban Forestry, Aquaponics, Solar Technology, Weatherization, Energy Efficiency, Computer Programming, 3-D Printing, Arduino, Construction Trades, Landscaping, and General Labor. At the Green Tech Teaching Urban Farming, Forestry, and Aquaponics Urban Farm located at 4309 38th Street in Sacramento there was a desire to partner with Sacramento Audubon to attract birds to the garden site and develop a program around environmental/fish and wildlife employment opportunities and awareness.

Sacramento Audubon funded the purchase of bird feeders, birdseed, binoculars, and bird identification books. After a recent visit to the Urban Farm, by Green Tech Board President Simeon Gant, I got a text from him with the pictures below that said, “When I came to the garden yesterday, this is what I saw.

As the students are getting familiar with birds and birding, the next step will be to take them on field trips locally to see birds in our local parks and areas of conserved habitat while discussing career options and conservation.

Photo by Simeon Grant

Photo by Simeon Grant

SMUD Cancels Coyote Creek PPA

From Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD):

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In 2021, SMUD signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) to be an off taker of solar power from the Coyote Creek Agrivoltaic Ranch project. Due to project uncertainties, SMUD announced today that they will not be purchasing power from the Coyote Creek project. Some of the uncertainties include: supply chain constraints, rising prices, tariffs, schedule delays, environmental impacts and pending litigation.

SMUD CEO & General Manager Paul Lau issued the following statement about SMUD’s decision to terminate the PPA for the project:

“Over the years, SMUD and DESRI have delivered multiple important clean energy projects that benefit our community, and we look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come. We’d like to thank Sacramento County for all their work throughout the process and our SMUD Board of Directors for their leadership. We remain committed to following a flexible pathway to eliminate all carbon from our power supply by 2030.”

More information on the fight to stop the Coyote Creek Agrivoltaic Ranch Project.

Help Protect the American River Parkway

From SARA (Save the American River Association)

Help Protect the American River Parkway and Critical Wildlife Habitat Adjacent to Rio Americano High School

Rio Americano High School sits immediately adjacent to the American River Parkway, home to the only federally and state-designated Wild and Scenic River flowing through a major U.S. metropolitan area. The San Juan Unified School District’s proposed large capacity sports and event stadium at Rio Americano would introduce permanent lighting, sound systems, visible structures, and increased traffic just steps from the Parkway.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

1) Attend the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Scoping meeting:

Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Rio Americano’s Performing Arts Center
4540 American River Drive, Sac., CA 95864 [MAP]

2) Sign the petition: 

Protect the American River Parkway from a Proposed Outdoor Sport/Event Stadium

WHY THIS MEETING MATTERS

Help protect the American River Parkway and the natural habitat adjacent to Rio Americano High School. This area is a critical ecological resource and an essential wildlife corridor supporting endangered and threatened species that depend on the health of the river and surrounding land. The habitat supports eagles, river otters, deer, bobcats, foxes, beavers, salmon, steelhead, American shad, herons, egrets, owls, hawks, turtles, frogs, and hundreds of bird species.

Immediately adjacent to Rio Americano High School is a protected restoration area for the federally threatened Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle. The diverse wildlife and fishery that live in this area further confirms the area’s importance as an intact, functioning habitat.

Any loss or degradation of this land would cause irreversible harm to wildlife, water quality, and public recreational and educational values. The American River Parkway is not only a recreational asset, but an irreplaceable ecological refuge that deserves the highest level of stewardship and respect. This irreplaceable natural resource must be preserved and protected now.

ADDITIONAL INFO

Coyote Creek - Update

On December 19, the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) and the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) filed suit against the County of Sacramento for its recent approval of the Coyote Creek Agrivoltaic Ranch Project. Sacramento Audubon Society Board of Directors approved a $5,000 donation to support this lawsuit. If you’d like to contribute to this fund and this fight visit: https://www.ecosacramento.net/home/stop-coyote/

Background:
On November 18th, 2025 the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved the Coyote Creek Agrivoltaic Ranch project, sited in eastern Sacramento County between Prairie City SVRA and the Deer Creek Hills Preserve. If this solar farm goes ahead, it will remove 1,357 acres of native habitat, and it will fragment and disturb vernal pool and grassland habitats.

For more information and additional ways to help, visit: https://www.savecoyotecreek.com/ & https://linktr.ee/savecoyotecreek

Injunction Granted

From American River Trees:

Our injunction was granted!

On Thursday, Nov 20, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted American River Tree’s request for a Preliminary Injunction to enjoin any ground or vegetation disturbing activity on the American River Parkway authorized under Contract 3B until the Court reaches a decision on our case.

This means that tree clearing and other vegetation removal cannot start this Fall. This work cannot occur until our lawsuit is resolved on the merits by the Court. 

In its ruling, the Court stated:
"The court understands the importance of the Project, and Contract 3B specifically, in reducing the overall flood risk in the Sacramento metropolitan area. However, the Ninth Circuit has recognized the well-established “public interest in preserving nature and avoiding irreparable environmental injury.” The public interest in preserving the natural landscape along the Lower American River for recreational purposes is especially strong, where, as here, the river is designated for protection under both the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act."

"The court also recognizes the potential economic hardship to Defendants now that Contract 3B has been awarded. Although Defendants’ economic hardship and the overall flood risk in Sacramento are of serious concern, in balancing the equities, the scale tips sharply in favor of preserving the natural landscape along the Lower American River and the at least 675 trees, some of which are heritage trees, while this case is resolved on the merits."

Read the full document HERE

This is a GIANT step in the right direction!

Thank you all for continuing to step up and stand up for the Parkway in a grand display of “well-established public interest”. We could not have achieved this important step without you!

Over the next few months we will be continuing to pursue our legal action, increasing awareness among the public and elected and appointed officials, and raising funds to cover our legal and consulting expenses. 

Thanks again for your financial support! If you would like to donate to support our ongoing legal efforts, please donate here. 

Donations are made through the Save the American River Association (SARA) to the American River Trees (ART) Fund. SARA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and your donation is tax-deductible. 

What’s the lawsuit all about? 

"The goal of the lawsuit is not to stop the project," said Patrick Soluri, who is representing the Sacramento nonprofits [ART and SARA]. "The goal of the lawsuit is instead for the Army (Corps) to give meaningful consideration to the bioengineering alternative - which has been recommended by other federal agencies and even promised by the Army Corps in the past - so that the project does not destroy the natural resources of the American River."

-SacBee News Article, August 28, 2025

Read (or skim) the request for a Preliminary Injunction filed by ART on October 3rd to legally prohibit the Army Corps of Engineers, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and the National Park Service, and their contractors and assigns from “undertaking any ground or vegetation disturbing activities—including site preparation, vegetation removal and tree felling—within the Project area” as part of the unnecessarily destructive American River Contract 3B Erosion Control project.

Read (or skim) the legally filed Complaint to see all the components of the Contract 3B Erosion project that ART is challenging. These include violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 

You can also visit our website at AmericanRiverTrees.org for additional project information and details of our concerns. 

 

OTHER WAYS TO AID THE EFFORT

Connect with American River Trees on Facebook
Save the American River Parkway Group
Save the American River Parkway Page

Visit the ART YouTube channel youtube.com/@AmericanRiverTrees

Visit the ART website AmericanRiverTrees.org

Thank you for supporting efforts to preserve Sacramento’s Crown Jewel!

ACTION NEEDED Coyote Creek Solar

The Coyote Creek Solar Project will be before the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors tomorrow November 18th.

Solar is an important part of our energy future, however this project is being proposed in the wrong location. This approximately 1,200 acre industrial solar facility will be located in the eastern part of Sacramento County.  This is an unacceptable location to site such a facility because:

  • They are proposing to cut down as many as 4,787 native oak trees, many of which are older mature oak trees that take decades to grow that large;

  • It will destroy habitat for numerous local and protected wildlife species;

  • It will disrupt an important wildlife corridor in an area where there is very little Oak Woodland Grassland habitat remaining;

  • There are many far more appropriate sites in the county;

  • SMUD does not need this project to be able to close local fossil fuel plants or meet its 2030 net zero carbon goals;

  • It disrupts the ability of the South Sacramento Habitat Conservation plan to achieve its conservation goals;

  • It runs counter to Sacramento County general plan directives for the use of this area;

  • It will destroy sacred ground and the associated cultural resources for local tribes;

  • It will be a visual blight in a very scenic part of the county;

  • It will negatively impact operations and events in the Prairie Creek state vehicular recreation area, immediately adjacent to the proposed facility. These events generate 57 million dollars for the local economy and that revenue would be at risk with the degradation of a massive industrial solar facility being installed immediately adjacent to their facility.

It is important the Supervisors know the level of opposition to this project.

Please let the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors know that this is the wrong location for solar development! Action needed prior to the meeting on November 18, 2025.

Call, write, or visit in person to let your supervisor know that you are opposed to this project. The district map is available here, or search by address here.

If you can, please join us at the November 18th Board of Supervisors meeting to voice your opposition to this project. This project will be discussed at 2 PM at 700 H Street, Suite 1450. Even if you are not comfortable speaking, it is important that we pack the room with opposition to this development!

To learn more you can visit:
https://www.ecosacramento.net/2025/11/day-of-action-november-18-2025/

I hope you are all getting the opportunity to get out and see the wintering and migrating birds.  The White-fronted and Snow Geese have arrived at places like Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and the Sandhill Cranes are in good numbers in the Delta.  Thank you for your ongoing commitment to conserving our natural resources!

Cliff Feldheim
Conservation Chair, Sacramento Audubon
sacaudubonconservation@gmail.com

Support American River Trees

Please see this important message from American River Trees:

Come support American River Trees (ART) at the court hearing!

On Friday, November 7th, attorneys for American River Trees (ART), Save the American River Association (SARA) and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) will be presenting our case to secure a court ordered injunction to prevent the defendants, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Central Valley Flood Control Board, and or any of their assigns from removing vegetation or trees on the American River Parkway for Contracts 3B and 4B, until the complaint is settled.

This is not a public hearing, only attorneys will be speaking. However, a full courtroom will demonstrate the public's opposition to the proposed design plans and show support for designs and construction techniques that are less destructive to the habitat. The courtroom gallery seats approximately 40 people.

Please dress professionally and be courteous (no signs, shouting, or chanting). We expect that some US Army Corps staff will attend in military attire.

WHEN:
Friday, November 7, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Plan to arrive by 1 pm so you can clear security. We expect that the hearing will last 1-3 hours but is up to the court’s discretion. There is a small café on the 2nd floor where you can purchase drinks and snacks.

WHERE:
Robert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse*
501 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Courtroom 10, 13th Floor
Judge Dena Coggins

*Be prepared for security screening similar to airports. You will need to show identification.

Parking options:
Metered street parking
Sac County Garage, 725 7th St, 95814
City Hall Garage, 1000 I St, 95814
AMTRAK Station Parking, 401 I Street, 95814

What’s the lawsuit all about?

Read (or skim) the request for a Preliminary Injunction filed by ART on October 3rd to legally prohibit the Army Corps of Engineers, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and the National Park Service, and their contractors and assigns from “undertaking any ground or vegetation disturbing activities—including site preparation, vegetation removal and tree felling—within the Project area” as part of the unnecessarily destructive American River Contract 3B Erosion Control project.

Read (or skim) the legally filed Complaint to see all the components of the Contract 3B Erosion project that ART is challenging. These include violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

You can also visit AmericanRiverTrees.org for additional project information.

Please continue to help us keep an eye out for any signs of tree removal or construction activity on the Parkway, especially on the north side of the river, east of Howe Ave and on the south side of the river, east of the Watt Ave bridge. Look out for signs such as tree marking, ground marking, fence installation, equipment presence, contractors, etc.

If you spot any potential activity, please an email to americanrivertreesupdates@gmail.com. Include a description of the location, what you observed, and pictures, if possible.

 Thank you to all who have donated to help get the lawsuit started! Additional funds are still needed to support our ongoing legal efforts.

If you haven’t donated yet, or would like to donate again, please donate here. Donations are made to the Save the American River Association (SARA) for the ART Fund. SARA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and your donation is tax-deductible.

UPDATE - Coyote Creek Solar Project

The Coyote Creek Solar Project will be before the Sacramento County Planning Commission on October 6th. The commission will decide whether or not they should recommend the project to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.

Solar is an important part of our energy future, however this project is being proposed in the wrong location. This approximately 1,200 acre industrial solar facility will be located in the eastern part of Sacramento County.  This is an unacceptable location to site such a facility because:

  • They are proposing to cut down as many as 4,787 native oak trees, many of which are older mature oak trees that take decades to grow that large;

  • It will destroy habitat for numerous local and protected wildlife species;

  • It will disrupt an important wildlife corridor in an area where there is very little Oak Woodland Grassland habitat remaining;

  • There are many far more appropriate sites in the county;

  • SMUD does not need this project to be able to close local fossil fuel plants or meet its 2030 net zero carbon goals;

  • It disrupts the ability of the South Sacramento Habitat Conservation plan to achieve its conservation goals;

  • It runs counter to Sacramento County general plan directives for the use of this area;

  • It will destroy sacred ground and the associated cultural resources for local tribes;

  • It will be a visual blight in a very scenic part of the county;

  • It will negatively impact operations and events in the Prairie Creek state vehicular recreation area, immediately adjacent to the proposed facility. These events generate 57 million dollars for the local economy and that revenue would be at risk with the degradation of a massive industrial solar facility being installed immediately adjacent to their facility.

It is important the planning commissioners know the level of opposition to this project.

Please join us at the upcoming October 6th, 2025, Sacramento County Planning Commission meeting to tell them that you oppose destroying thousands of oak trees, native wetlands, native grasslands, and numerous local and rare wildlife species.

The meeting will be held at 700 H street, Suite 1450, Sacramento, CA at 5:30 pm.

Public comment is not necessary if that makes you uncomfortable. We need to fill that chamber!

If you cannot attend in person, please email the Commission. You can contact Sacramento County Planning Commission members by emailing comments to BoardClerk@saccounty.gov or reach out to your District Commissioner directly, contact information can be found at https://sccob.saccounty.gov/Pages/CCPCPublicMeetings.aspx

Thank you for your commitment to conserving our natural resources! I hope you are finding time to get out and enjoy the fall bird migration, northern pintail, white-fronted geese, and sandhill cranes are all arriving, and the weather is cooling down, such a great time of year!

- Cliff Feldheim, Sacramento Audubon Conservation Chair, sacaudubonconservation@gmail.com

Help Stop the Proposed Airport South Industrial Project

The proposed Airport South Industrial Project, 6 million square feet of warehouses, is a monster that will affect the entire Natomas area by bringing in more huge trucks. 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. 

TAKE ACTION!

  • Attend the August 12 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.

Send your email or make your phone call no later than August 10, 2025.

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.

  • Flyer - Share this flyer to let others know about the August 12 meeting. 

In the News

  •  Here is a July 16 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.

Sacramento Audubon and ECOS are very concerned about this proposal’s plan to approve paving over farmland for megawarehouses next to residences and a school in the City. The project has impacts on air pollution that can harm children in the adjacent school yard and homes next door. Truck traffic to the warehouses will also have an impact on traffic congestion on I-5 next to the Airport. Paving over farmland for more warehouses isn’t a smart move. Farmland and habitat are disappearing while there is plenty of land already zoned for warehouses. The City needs to focus on quality of life in our neighborhoods, not building next to the airport. 

Please take a moment to contact your City Council Member and Mayor, and tell them to vote to protect our quality of life and wildlife habitat!

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Cliff Feldheim
Conservation Chair, Sacramento Audubon Society

2025-26 Duck Stamp Now Available

More than 98% of the money raised from the sale of Duck Stamps goes directly to help acquire wetlands and conservation easements for the National Wildlife Refuge System. These wetlands and easements benefit a countless number of species and are important for people too. Wetlands acquired with Duck Stamp dollars help purify water, aid in flood control, reduce soil erosion, and provide outdoor recreational opportunities. The National Wildlife Refuge System has at least one refuge in every state and territory, providing many opportunities for people to enjoy these outdoor spaces.

Physical Federal Duck Stamps are available at:

  • Most U.S. Post Offices

  • Participating sporting goods and outdoor retailers

  • Select national wildlife refuges

  • Online at DuckStamp.com, operated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s licensed distributor, Amplex Corporation