Big Chico Creek flows dark brown through the Scorched Canyon of the Big Chico Creek watershed. (Photo courtesy of FishBio)
When the clear waters of Big Chico Creek turned milky brown this week from sediment carried downstream from the Park Fire burn scar, officials at the university’s Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) saw it as a wake-up call for urgent action to protect the health of this popular watershed.
An early rainfall event this weekend likely caused a landslide or mudflow upstream of the BCCER, pushing large amounts of sediment into Big Chico Creek that are now being carried downstream and have reached the Chico State University campus.
“The turbidity we are seeing is a warning shot. It is a warning of what to expect this winter as we experience more regular and heavier precipitation,” said Eli Goodsell, executive director of BCCER. “We and our partners are deeply concerned about the resulting impacts on native fish and other species that rely on Big Chico Creek, its riparian zone and its ecosystem.”
BCCER is a partner in the Big Chico Creek Emergency Action Collaboration, which was formed during the Park Fire and is working to quickly secure and deploy resources to protect the waters and ecosystems of Big Chico Creek. Other collaborative partners include the Resource Conservation District, City of Chico, Mechoopda Tribe, Butte County Fire Safe Council, and private landowners in the watershed. The group’s priorities include slowing water flow and reducing sediment flow from tributaries that feed into the creek.
Individuals who wish to support this emergency work can donate directly to the Big Chico Creek Emergency Fund or to the North Valley Community Foundation through a fundraising campaign launched this week.
This week, the group is meeting with a technical advisory committee that includes the U.S. Geological Survey and other federal and state agencies to develop the technical components of the project and coordinate with permitting agencies. The goal is to receive the environmental impact assessment by the end of September so that work on the cleanup projects can continue through October and November before the rains return.
“Big Chico Creek is a fish-rich stream that is now at risk from significant post-fire sedimentation and upland erosion,” said Thad Walker, district manager of the Butte County Resource Conservation District. “We look forward to working with BCCER, other landowners in the watershed, agencies and our community to implement a cross-border project that rapidly deploys process-based restoration techniques to protect downstream users, water quality and the Big Chico Creek ecosystem we all love so much. The urgency of this need can only be met through a shared vision and collaboration with partners like BCCER.”
Big Chico Creek rises at Colby Mountain in the Lassen Nation Forest and flows 45 miles to its confluence with the Sacramento River. Much of its watershed lies within the burn scar of the Park Fire, including the communities of Cohasset, Forest Ranch, and Richardson Springs, as well as all of Bidwell Park and the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve.
Like the surrounding landscape, BCCER was severely impacted by the park fire, with the majority of its 7,835 acres burned. BCCER is an established partner in watershed protection and restoration, not only because of its environmental protection and conservation mission, but also because it has the expertise, infrastructure and connections to support fundraising and overall work, Goodsell said.
“Given the size of the watershed, we will not be able to treat every tributary affected by the Park Fire. However, this project provides an opportunity to mitigate the significant habitat loss to Big Chico Creek between now and the winter rains,” Goodsell said. “We will also raise greater funding to continue this work long-term, knowing there could be a second wave in the winter of 2025-26.”
Ashley Gebb (Journalism, ’08; MA, Interdisciplinary Studies, ’23) is a proud graduate and executive director of University Communications. She leads the exceptional communications team, manages the Chico State brand, and oversees marketing, storytelling, and crisis communications.
