[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6574537,"mediaKeyId","3071322-e8d72aea2ab10d0ac9867968e016ee51","parentId",3071322,"title","Residents urge SAFCA to pause Contract 3B; call for bioengineering alternatives to riprap","audioSeconds",1510,"startMs",132000,"endMs",1642000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071322-e8d72aea2ab10d0ac9867968e016ee51&start=132&end=1642","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071322-e8d72aea2ab10d0ac9867968e016ee51/thumbnail_132000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6574537/Sacramento-County/California/Residents-urge-SAFCA-to-pause-Contract-3B-call-for-bioengineering-alternatives-to-riprap","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574537-39cfe48e28c140d6f70be69861f4e2ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164448&Signature=k4PJUJbZlN0CsSx62SZAC8Flre7pzIp59aRLe-kItDtpgYdqOpkHY~wO5qz3WHr1C7tzsM5Cvx0TgWga8vJFwIiFwHoCnlJX58~HKmI7MvVHMGXpvAyMMf-cLUF-5SN5yPH3ZU306rqRnkSD9EXehG4t2pdp3kzdSPkF2Df3ZQhLKdTY-MzgsymOG4jhCS~vhPEZF7BLfu0uKYzDfJ1CRO8X9nbd2dbdzpmVkvgaCYbOHu5M2J3N7ZjTC6fWKOmbJ28aSJ2Ghwu7ntbyNnCtzPJgBdxO~~fLec50X0~WfB4LFPNqyfR3M4KS02bP54sXQggI5~XNon3s5SiyZuv8rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sacramento County","date","2025-04-21T21:06:45.46Z","article","Dozens of residents, environmental scientists and local advocates told the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) on April 17 that the Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed erosion-control plan for the Lower American River (Contract 3B) would devastate parkway habitat and fail to consider feasible nature-based alternatives.

Bill Bratton, a retired California water-resource control engineer who lives near the Contract 3B area, said the environmental analyses for the project lack a reasonable range of alternatives required under NEPA and CEQA. “CEQA and NEPA require multiple alternatives,” Bratton said, and he told the board he had asked the Army Corps to remove Contract 3B from the current environmental document so other, uncontested projects could move forward.

The commentary continued with specific concerns about the extent of proposed vegetation removal. Nancy Niskern said the Army Corps’ final environmental document included only a riprap alternative and omitted bioengineering approaches that, she said, earlier Corps reports identified for analysis. “We want the Corps and concerned agencies to do more than ask for environmental review, but take a proactive role for biodiversity and more environmentally sound solutions,” Niskern said.

Julie Gabel, a Sacramento resident and homeowner, described the Contract 3B reach as “in the heart of the parkway” and told the board the Corps’ design would “remove over 700 trees, including mature oaks and heritage trees” and stretch from near Howe Avenue up past Watt Avenue and on the south side toward Mayhew Drain and Rio Americano High School. She also cited a Corps “performance assurance” figure she said showed only a modest increase in protection for a 200-year flood from the proposed work and said the documents left local governments responsible for additional work to reach the 200-year standard.

Other speakers raised overlapping concerns: long-term habitat loss, soil compaction from heavy equipment that would hamper revegetation, impacts on recreation and property values, and inadequate public outreach. Annette Ferreault, a nearby property owner, said she paid a premium to live next to the river and pleaded with the board to “rethink this” to avoid losing trees and public access. Pete Spalding of American River Trees said his group and about 2,800 petition signers are not seeking to stop flood protection but want a “targeted surgical approach to minimize tree removal” and more community engagement.

Board members repeatedly told speakers they heard the comments but noted state law limits what the board can discuss about non-agendized matters during the meeting. Several board members later asked staff to coordinate outreach with the Corps and local elected officials for planned construction that may affect public access — for example, work near Sand Cove and adjacent parking — and to clarify detour routes and outreach to impacted neighborhoods.

No formal board action was taken on Contract 3B at the meeting. The public comments were recorded during the public comment period for items not on the agenda. Speakers urged SAFCA and the Corps to analyze bioengineering and other nature-based alternatives in the environmental record and to pause or revise Contract 3B to reduce tree removal and limit staging impacts.

Why it matters: Contract 3B is part of the larger American River Common Features program, a multi-decade set of Corps projects intended to reduce flood risk. Residents and environmental groups say the Corps’ riprap approach would permanently alter the Lower American River Parkway’s scenic and ecological character, and that alternative bank-protection designs could offer flood protection with less vegetation loss. SAFCA board members acknowledged the tension between flood safety and environmental protection and indicated they would seek clearer outreach and coordination between the Corps, local jurisdictions and community stakeholders.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SAFCA - 4/17/2024","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of residents asked SAFCA on April 17 to press the Army Corps to pause Contract 3B of the American River Common Features Project and to analyze bioengineering alternatives rather than the Corps’ proposed riprap work.","taxTitle","Sacramento County, California","taxId",2889,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574528,"SAFCA previews $104 million FY 2025–26 proposed budget; projects remain top expense",767,2677000,3444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071322-e8d72aea2ab10d0ac9867968e016ee51&start=2677&end=3444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071322-e8d72aea2ab10d0ac9867968e016ee51/thumbnail_2677000.jpg","/articles/6574528/Sacramento-County/California/SAFCA-previews-104-million-FY-202526-proposed-budget-projects-remain-top-expense","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574528-d1d28f51227143429babc16c26b03793/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164448&Signature=Dodbn3mXnyJJzq4GbAkPwiMHcwa2Az4CAhm6em471jaOIwuy7ee3fQnS1mn5LkmSllcOyMEaRZ8fHwb5Eb-i6wHy6Ors6TOjr2uhz6pJfIs56x2Q1bVYzIKsTHZpwqDU3rW7JOEx4ZXVdZHalv1JSm~TUUTxbJwa8Kl3UWqGuWT93i508B3lXSTPXuEqfY~1C-omilaL7RptZFClYx235pOPhzX7o~NNlq8dzGe-Y-c27gR1y60YFyPPvShvUtB8gcxPJjggGjziRQY5hroBSWB6r7wkxFyMg97aQPnuVbCdavmDGpnLduqjKC4RYwlp1R-fByndHrMUrcQP4MirNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jason Campbell, SAFCA deputy executive director, presented the agency’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget during the April 17 meeting and said staff will return next month with the final budget for board approval.

Campbell said the draft shows about $71 million in projected revenue, an anticipated fund balance across SAFCA funds of roughly $16.1 million, and proposed appropriations totaling about $104 million. He described project expenditures as the largest portion of appropriations: at one point the presentation referenced roughly $85 million in project spending and, in a detailed breakdown, listed $75.1 million in project expense line items.

Campbell summarized SAFCA’s four principal operating funds: the operations and maintenance assessment district (O&M), the development impact fee (DIF), the Natomas Basin local assessment district, and the consolidated capital assessment district (CCAD). He said the CCAD supplies the lion’s share of project funding (noting approximately $30 million in related revenue on the slide) and that state reimbursements and development-driven fees supplement federal project funding.

Board members asked clarifying questions about near-term schedule impacts, access and detours for construction related to American River projects (for example, potential temporary lane reductions near Garden Highway and Sand Cove), and outreach coordination with city and county officials. Campbell said the proposed budget reflects continuing project activity on American River Common Features (Natomas and 2016 components), Folsom-related items (including Folsom Dam proof-of-concept work), Natomas Basin work and other regional studies.

The presentation was informational; Campbell said SAFCA would present the final budget for adoption at the board’s next regular meeting because the June meeting date conflicted with Juneteenth. No final appropriation or vote occurred at the April 17 session.

Why it matters: The draft budget shows that SAFCA’s principal spending continues to be capital projects tied to federal and state flood protection programs. The proposed figures frame near-term priorities and will inform negotiations with state and federal partners and upcoming project schedules.","SAFCA staff presented a proposed FY 2025–26 budget on April 17 that shows roughly $71 million in projected revenue, $104 million in proposed appropriations and project spending as the largest expense item; the final budget will return for board approval next month.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574533,"SAFCA board unanimously approves Jason D. Campbell as executive director, 3-year contract",153,1743000,1896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071322-e8d72aea2ab10d0ac9867968e016ee51&start=1743&end=1896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071322-e8d72aea2ab10d0ac9867968e016ee51/thumbnail_1743000.jpg","/articles/6574533/Sacramento-County/California/SAFCA-board-unanimously-approves-Jason-D-Campbell-as-executive-director-3-year-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574533-10c3847fe3e45036f1c1f530532b2204/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164448&Signature=FpaQW3U4hwWYr2NHr8k79nMaxyeZ7DvQl7wU-Zg-wMEBgQFmbW2Rtub2N0BjvPoRHApUqxtHk1DUOaLn5tb8fOK-FdHJr-aGOoFG~pWpE5roUrrdUKDxsRPftqrHMtLF3aJWNt4N~KbwDfURN33HE~OnkACYOZE3exdGKyfzUZzuZwWHyPVJnrsXuGExWSm1kdcvADIMDC-lbLFNEFaU7oWT8l1gCMqh0zaxIygMXy-BT7hBH7ZClXPdpiISGxDSTAI2~kaXYJOLgHC2IAEMyKupM1QeX9qSrUgGsKAD4Uf7lWUxGqYWbfnRnQNI~pRT-ufGdLQJaCfX8swoeJfuiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) board voted on April 17 to appoint Jason D. Campbell as SAFCA’s executive director and authorized the board chair to execute the recommended employment contract.

Chair Sean Kennedy told the board the selection followed multiple closed-session interviews. The board “unanimously has shown support for Mr. Campbell to take this organization forward,” Kennedy said while reading the material terms of the contract into the public record.

The contract terms read into the record call for a three-year term beginning July 7, 2025, an annual salary of $247,000, health and retirement benefits consistent with other management staff under SAFCA’s employment handbook, $500 per month for job-related expenses, $550 per month automobile allowance, and vacation accrual of 10.15 hours per pay period. The board also delegated authority to the chair to finalize and execute the employment agreement.

There was no public comment on the item. A board member moved and another seconded the resolution; the board then conducted a voice vote. The chair announced the ayes and, with no recorded oppositions or abstentions, congratulated Campbell. Counsel later noted that Directors Kaplan and Pluckettbaum had recused themselves from closed-session discussions related to specific APNs.

Why it matters: The appointment fills SAFCA’s top executive post during an active period of construction and project closeouts tied to federal and state flood projects. The contract’s start date and compensation terms were read into the record and approved by the board.","The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency board on April 17 approved a resolution appointing Jason D. Campbell as executive director, delegating authority to the chair to execute a three-year employment contract beginning July 7, 2025, with a $247,000 annual salary and specified fringe and allowances.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge SAFCA to pause Contract 3B; call for bioengineering alternatives to riprap

SAFCA previews $104 million FY 2025–26 proposed budget; projects remain top expense

SAFCA board unanimously approves Jason D. Campbell as executive director, 3-year contract