Update June 2021: Thank you for your help in opposing the building of the CNU hospital in Elk Grove. In February 2021, CNU withdrew its proposal to build its teaching hospital across from the Stone Lakes Wildlife Refuge in Elk Grove. CNU currently plans to build the 13-story hospital in on the Sleep Train Arena site. You can read more about the current plans here.

California Northstate University (CNU) is proposing to build a hospital with helicopter pad next to the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Elk Grove.  Sand-hill Cranes, Swainson’s Hawks, and Burrowing Owls are just a few of the over 200 bird species that inhabit the refuge.  The proposed 11-story building creates a collision risk for many of the birds. Additionally, the proposed helicopter fights pose a collision threat and create noise disturbance for the birds of the refuge. Light pollution from the 24-hour facility would be another negative consequence to both roosting and migrating birds.

Sacramento Audubon has sent a letter to the City of Elk Grove detailing our concerns with the project and recommending the City Council reject CNU’s proposal.  If the city council feels that the project must go forward then SAS is urging them to consider the Environmentally Superior Alternative which limits the building to six stories and eliminates the helicopter pad and flights. You can read the entire letter authored by Sacramento Audubon here.  Additional information on the project is available from Habitat 2020.   

There is still time to make your voice heard. The public comment period for this project has been extended to 5pm on Tuesday, October 13. You can leave feedback on the CNU hospital project for the City of Elk Grove.   You may also email the City of Elk Grove directly at cnuproject@elkgrovecity.org.

Image of Burrowing Owl by Daniel Brown.