Butte
County Watershed Groups
Status/Activity
Report
Big
Chico Creek Watershed Alliance
08/06/08
The Big Chico Creek Watershed Alliance (BCCWA) is currently involved in 7 grant-funded projects. These include:
 | An
Arundo donax and tamarisk invasive plant eradication project in
Lindo Channel and Big Chico Creek above Five Mile Recreation Area |
| The
fifth year of a water quality citizen monitoring program at numerous
locations within the Big Chico Creek watershed |
| A
project to restore wetlands and increase flood capacity at a 20-acre former
gravel mining quarry site owned by the city of Chico |
| A
streambed excavation and streambank stabilization project on Big Chico Creek
west of Hwy 32 |
| Preparing
environmental review, obtaining environmental permits and developing grant
funding for the Iron Canyon Fish Ladder rehabilitation project in Upper
Bidwell Park |
| A
Spanish and French broom eradication project in the Big and Little Chico
Creeks upper watersheds |
| A
watershed and groundwater educational outreach project with the County of
Butte |
More information about these projects and and many other BCCWA activities is available on their web site www.bigchicocreek.org.
Little Chico Creek Watershed Group
Nani Teves (watershed coordinator)
379 E. 10th Ave.
Chico, CA 95926
(530) 892-1227
nanibay@hotmail.com
08/06/08
LCCWG is currently involved with:
| Working with the City of Chico and the S.W.
Neighborhood group to restore the 9th St. and Hazel greenway to a
native riparian plant learning garden, and build a great bus stop. |
| A watershed outreach and education project with Butte County |
| A Tuscan Headwaters Project through the
Northern California Regional Land Trust focusing on easement information as
well as capacity building for LCCWG. |
| Commenting on S.W. Chico Neighborhood Plan to
ensure the protection of the riparian buffer. |
| Supporting the Broom Education and Eradication
Program (BEEP) in Forest Ranch. |
| Participating in a watershed education booth
at fairs and festivals. |
Butte Creek Watershed Conservancy
The
Butte Creek Floodplain Management Plan is continuing its investigation of
potential storage sites for approximately 36,000 acre-feet of floodwater.
Current investigation is focused on lands east of Hwy 99, near Hamlin Slough. Currently discussions of changes in scale of study from Butte Creek
Watershed Floodplain Management Plan to Butte County Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan to Butte County Floodplain Management Plan are on going. This program is
primarily partnered with the Butte County Department of Public Works.
Cherokee Watershed Alliance
The Cherokee Water Quality Investigation is well underway. There are two
concurrent water quality-monitoring programs ongoing in the Cherokee watershed.
The first is a citizen water-monitoring program. 10-15 volunteer stakeholders
have been trained by Dr. Dave Brown of CSU Chico to take monthly samples of the
tributaries of the Cherokee. Monitoring sites are on the Cherokee Canal, Clear
Creek, Dry Creek, Gold Run Creek and Cottonwood Creek. In addition, Dr. Brown is
conducting a higher standard water quality-monitoring program focusing on trace
metals, nutrients and fecal coliform. Preliminary monitoring data do not show
any specific areas of raised concern. An additional monitoring site is being
suggested for the Paradise area, where stakeholder concerns over algae blooms
have been recently raised. The Paradise monitoring site has yet to be
determined.
The Cherokee Watershed Alliance is continuing its outreach efforts. The
Butte County Rice Growers Association and the Butte County RCD have become
signatures to the Cherokee Watershed Alliance’s Operating Statement. The
Mechoopda tribe is also supporting additional partnerships and program
education.
In partnership with the Butte County RCD and the NRCS, the Cherokee
Watershed Alliance is hoping to have a field workshop on the non-point source
water quality concerns for horse owners. Paddock and pasture management will be
highlighted. This program is tentatively scheduled for May 11, 2004.
April 13, 2004 the Cherokee Watershed Alliance is hosting Toccoy Dudley of Northern District, Department of Water Resources to give a presentation of groundwater issues and recharge areas in the Cherokee, April 13th, Butte College 6pm. This meeting is open to anyone interested.