Big Chico Creek originates on Colby Mountain, located in Tehama County, California

Tehama County, California

Tehama County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. It is bisected by the Sacramento River. As of 2010 its population was 63,463, up from 56,039 as of 2000. The county seat is Red Bluff.-History:...

. The creek flows 46 miles (74 km) to its confluence with the Sacramento River

Sacramento River

The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...

 in Butte County

Butte County, California

Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...

. The creek's elevation ranges from 120 feet (36.6 m) above sea level at the Sacramento River

Sacramento River

The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...

 to 6000 feet (1,828.8 m) at Colby Mountain, as shown on the Ord Ferry USGS quadrangle.

A portion of Big Chico Creek flows through the city of Chico's

Chico, California

Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...

 Bidwell Park

Bidwell Park

Bidwell Park is a municipal park located in Chico, California. The park was established July 10, 1905 through the donation by Annie Bidwell of approximately 2,500 acres of land to the City of Chico...

 and California State University, Chico

California State University, Chico

California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...

.

Natural history

There are numerous biotic species in the riparian zone and entire watershed of Big Chico Creek. A threatened species of Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...

 make annual spawning runs up Big Chico Creek to the area of Higgin's Hole. Among the wildflowers documented in the watershed is the Yellow Mariposa Lily, Calochortus luteus

Calochortus luteus

Calochortus luteus, or Yellow mariposa lily, is a mariposa lily endemic to California.-Description:The primarily a bright deep yellow flower is 3-5cm across and perianth Bulb-shaped, lined red-brown inside, often also with central red-brown blotch and sparse hair inside.-Distribution:This species...

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