SPECIAL PLACES DESERVING RESTORATION

Note: within a few months of the posting of this page on the FOSH web site in late 2001, Sacramento International Airport maintenance personnel had destroyed the grove of trees shown here at Jacobs Slough, along with about 100 other trees in the area, including three documented Swainson's Hawk nesting trees. The Airport had also filled in part of Prichard's Lake, south of the view below. Regulatory agencies are requiring restoration and mitigation. However, it remains unclear whether the riparian forest at Jacob's Slough will be restored.

Pritchard's Lake. Pritchard's Lake doesn't look like a lake and its ecological values have been degraded over the years. But we saw a blue grosbeak here and thoroughly enjoyed the vistas and birds in the surrounding riceland area also. What would Pritchard look like restored? Sacramento County Department of Airports has engaged a consultant to prepare a plan. Pritchard's Lake is located in lands owned by Sacramento County north of the Sacramento International Airport as buffer lands. It is close to the Sutter County border. Surrounded by rice fields, the area has great scenic and wildlife values. The most recent and illegal filling took place south of the pictures below. Click here to learn more about the airport's destruction of Pritchard Lake.

Jacob's Slough. Jacob's Slough is also located north of the Sacramento International Airport runways, just north of Elverta Road, on land owned by the County of Sacramento as airport buffer lands. It was degraded over time, but still offered wildlife some refuge when all the trees were cut in 2002. Included was a known Swainson's Hawk nesting site. What would restoration look like at Jacob's Slough? What should FOSH's goals for this area be? Below are "before and after" pictures of the area destroyed by the Airport. The airport has not made a commitment to restore the forest here.