CAUS members, and those concerned about the detrimental effects of a slaughterhouse on the Ukiah valley, cite these reasons for their concern:

Economic Impact

Based on a study by the Appraisal Institute, property values stand to be reduced by 6% to 100% depending on proximity to the slaughterhouse; the impact is likely to affect properties up to 3 miles away. (For more, click here.)

Poor quality, dangerous jobs with high turnover would increase demands on social services and emergency medical facilities. (For more, click here.)

Non-local investors with little stake in what happens to our community would pull money out of the area, and likely make operational decisions based on financial concerns over and above the long-term impact on the area.

Clean new industries that could support our community economically and culturally would be reluctant to locate here.


Environmental Impact

A slaughterhouse would place enormous demands on our overtaxed water supply already struggling to meet local needs.

The large volume of waste produced by a slaughterhouse would place a very large burden on already strained waste treatment operations.

Groundwater would be affected by standing herds of animals waiting to be slaughtered.

Odors and air pollution would be oppressive in a valley community, where inversion layers tend to hold contaminants known to cause respiratory illnesses.

The noise from animals confined or entering the slaughter facility would be heard throughout the valley, and up into the surrounding hillsides.

Traffic flow would be affected by trucks bringing animals into the facility and shipping packaged meats and by-products out.

(For more information about the above issues, click1and 2.)


Cultural Impact

The nature of our community would be changed in ways that would impact tourism, the wine industry, a host of other local businesses, and the image of Ukiah in general. (For more, click here)

This would no longer be an attractive destination site for new residents or clean, healthy businesses that could potentially enhance both our culture and community.