California Surveyors Forums

Without more details about the project location, size and requirements, it's a little hard to make solid recommendations. However, if it's in an area adequately covered by the CSDS network, I'd use the network to hit as many NAVD88 bench marks in and around the job as I could to see if the network is adequately modeling the geoid across the project. If the results of that look promising, I'd make sure I touched down on each point at least twice (three times is better) and on different days, and run with that if everything fits together. If reliable vertical control is too sparse within the project area I'd probably run some levels to supplement, but in general RTK vertical is accurate enough for aerial topo if the geoid modeling is good. (And horizontal shouldn't be a problem.)

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Have you considered tying to stations in the California Spatial Reference Network?

Looking at the Map browser, it looks like station TMSB is just west of Sacramento and there are others maybe 20 miles out surrounding the City. You will likely have to do some static GPS for several hours each session on long lines, however it is an option.