CHICO — In the month since the Park Fire began in Bidwell Park, a noticeable amount of sediment and turbidity has invaded Big Chico Creek which runs through the park and Chico.
Chico State’s Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve issued a press release on Wednesday calling for action to prevent further sediment from entering the creek before the storm season.
“This sediment is but a glimpse of what is to come without immediate action,” the statement said. “Both the (Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve) and the North Valley Community Foundation are fundraising to support a collaborative effort that involves the Butte County Resource Conservation District, city of Chico, private landowners, state and federal agencies, and others to begin work in the next few weeks to address this as soon as possible. ”
The reserve’s executive director, Eli Goodsell, said this amount of turbidity, which could become much worse with storm conditions, can harm local wildlife.
“The sediment in the creek can affect fish directly by damaging their eyes, scales and gills,” Goodwell said. “It also reduces habitat for spawning and makes egg hatch difficult due to the reduction of exposed permeable gravel on the creek bed. Sediment can also fill in deeper pools reducing habitat for many aquatic species.”
Goodsell said the reserve is partnering with other agencies to promote the installation of sediment retention devices to prevent additional pollution down the line.
“We are actively working with the Big Chico Creek Emergency Action Collaboration which includes the Butte County Resource Conservation District, the city of Chico, the Mechoopda Tribe, Butte County Fire Safe Council and private landowners in the watershed to permit, site and install hundreds — if not thousands — of sediment retention devices throughout the Big Chico Creek watershed,” Goodsell said. “While final planning and engineering is underway, these devices could include but are not limited to, leaky weirs, one rock dams, beaver dam analogs and felled log barriers. We are trying to rearrange as much natural resources still left of site to help slow water and capture sediment before it reaches Big Chico Creek.”
The city of Chico responded to the incident via a press release on Wednesday that said the rainfall over the weekend likely caused a landslide of materials to enter the water east of the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve and that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be monitoring the impacts.
Chico Parks and Natural Resources Manager Linda Herman said the city plans to work with the Butte County Resource Conservation District as well as the ecological reserve to reduce erosion and sediment falling into the creek in the future.
Raquel Borrayo, a spokesperson for the California Department of Water Resources said the sediment likely will not impact water quality in state facilities.
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