California | Casino Stalker | Land Acquisitions

Wilton Rancheria focuses on two sites for potential gaming facility

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Artist's rendering of a proposed Wilton Rancheria casino in Sacramento County, California. Image from Wilton EIS

The Wilton Rancheria is moving forward with plans for a casino in northern California but tribal leaders haven't settled on a preferred site.

The draft environmental impact statement identifies a site in Galt as the main alternative for the project. But Chairman Raymond Hitchcock said a location in Elk Grove holds just as much potential.

Hitchcock told The Sacramento Bee that "the Elk Grove alternative is an A-minus or maybe even an A-plus."

The comment is unusual because tribes almost always focus on just one site for a casino. While an EIS might list alternatives, the preferred option is typically the one that gets chosen at the end of the lengthy land-into-trust process.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs held a public meeting last month and the Galt site drew concerns from residents who are worried about the rural character of the area. Elk Grove is much larger city and the casino is being taken seriously by officials there, the Bee reported.

Both sites are attractive to the tribe because they lie along a major highway outside of Sacramento, the state capital.

Get the Story:
Casino proposed for southern Sacramento County prompts hopes, concerns (The Sacramento Bee 2/17)
Tribal staff: Casino would provide multiple benefits (The Galt Herald 2/17)

Federal Register Notices:
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Wilton Rancheria Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, Sacramento County, California (December 29, 2015)
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Wilton Rancheria Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, Sacramento County, California (December 4, 2013)