Butte Creek Ecological Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Butte Creek Ecological Reserve is a nature preserve of 378 acres (1.5 km²) located east of Chico
along Butte Creek in northern California. It consists of three semi-contiguous units: Honey Run Unit, Canyon Unit and Virgin Valley Unit. It is jointly managed by the California Department of Fish and Game
and California State University, Chico. The reserve's namesake, Butte Creek, has over 20 miles (32.2 km) of spawning habitat for the spring-run Chinook salmon
, fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout.
The California Department of Fish and Game considers the Butte Creek Ecological Reserve valuable in terms of providing wildlife habitat and protection of critical shaded riverine and aquatic resources.
The Butte Creek population of spring-run Chinook salmon is one of the few remaining self-sustaining populations in the Central Valley and is listed as threatened under both the state and federal endangered species act
s. The reserve protects habitat for other species such as bald eagle
, Swainson's hawk
, beaver and the western pond turtle
.
At the headwaters of Butte Creek is a separate nature reserve called the Butte Creek House Ecological Reserve managed by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG).
(Juglans hindsii) and shield-bracted monkey flower (Mimulus glaucescens).
(Quercus lobata) growing on streamside terraces and on the alluvial aggregate.
The area of Butte Creek had been used in dredge mining
in the 1800s, and mining for sand and gravel from the 1950s to the 1970s. In 1980, a cluster development project of 75 condominium
s was approved for the site by the Butte County Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. The project was stopped by concerned local citizens with a successful ballot initiative that overturned the Butte County decision.
The flood of 1986, which caused more than $13 million dollars damage in Butte County, washed out the two bridge crossings on Butte Creek and helped start the preservation sequence of events. The bridges connected to the haul road that went from the gravel mining sites to Baldwin Construction's plant. Soon after the historic flood, the mining company sold its properties, with some parcels being bought by the California Department of Fish and Game, and one parcel (the Honey Run unit) being bought by John McAmis.
McAmis contracted for a subdivision of single family homes, which was voted down by the Planning Commission, but a subsequent development plan was submitted and approved. After construction began on the property, local concerns were again raised which eventually led to McAmis willingly selling the property to Chico State University, Research Foundation.
In 1998, CSU, Chico Research Foundation bought the 93 acres (376,358 m²) parcel from McAmis with funds from CSU's Office of Watershed Projects, Butte Creek Conservancy, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Board and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
meadow and forest near the base of Snow Mountain. The site was purchased in 1986 to preserve and restore the area as a part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) Project 803, the De Sable-Centerville Hydroelectric Project. This reserve is located near montane
chaparral
, a type of plant community that includes greenleaf and pinemat manzanita
s (Arctostaphylos patula, A. nevadensis), bitter cherry
(Prunus emarginata) and bush chinquapin
(Chrysolepis sempervirens) that grow at elevations from 2000 feet (609.6 m) up to 9000 feet (2,743.2 m). Forested areas include pure stands of lodgepole pine
(Pinus contorta) and red fir
(Abies magnifica).
The fish count of Chinook salmon in 1987 was 14. The number counted in 1998 was 20,000.
During the period 1994 through 1997, several agricultural structures were removed, fish screens were installed and a new fish ladder was also installed. In addition, a minimum streamflow rate of 40 cuft/s is maintained during the summer months.
"The spring run in Butte Creek is doing exceptionally well. "For the fish, it's a success story...", according to the California Department of Fish and Game's Harry Morse.
Other restoration work has been the removal of invasive plant species including star thistle, scotch broom and Himalayan blackberry
. Non-native plants can displace the native species, which may decrease biodiversity
and cause a loss of habitat that provide nest sites and food sources. The riparian or streamside plant areas along Butte Creek are the most vulnerable to invasive non-native plants.
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...
along Butte Creek in northern California. It consists of three semi-contiguous units: Honey Run Unit, Canyon Unit and Virgin Valley Unit. It is jointly managed by the California Department of Fish and Game
California Department of Fish and Game
The California Department of Fish and Game is a department within the government of California, falling under its parent California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Fish and Game manages and protects the state's diverse fish, wildlife, plant resources, and native habitats...
and California State University, Chico. The reserve's namesake, Butte Creek, has over 20 miles (32.2 km) of spawning habitat for the spring-run 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...
, fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout.
The California Department of Fish and Game considers the Butte Creek Ecological Reserve valuable in terms of providing wildlife habitat and protection of critical shaded riverine and aquatic resources.
The Butte Creek population of spring-run Chinook salmon is one of the few remaining self-sustaining populations in the Central Valley and is listed as threatened under both the state and federal endangered species act
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
s. The reserve protects habitat for other species such as bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
, Swainson's hawk
Swainson's Hawk
The Swainson's Hawk , is a large buteo hawk of the Falconiformes, sometimes separated in the Accipitriformes like its relatives. This species was named after William Swainson, a British naturalist...
, beaver and the western pond turtle
Western pond turtle
The western pond turtle , or Pacific pond turtle is a small to medium-sized turtle growing to approximately 20 cm in carapace length. It is limited to the west coast of the United States of America and Mexico, ranging from western Washington state to northern Baja California...
.
At the headwaters of Butte Creek is a separate nature reserve called the Butte Creek House Ecological Reserve managed by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG).
Butte Creek Canyon Unit
This unit is located two miles (3 km) southeast of the City of Chico and is 255 acres (1 km²) in size. It is managed by CDFG. This unit has a high amount of non-native grasses (over 40 per cent) and several sensitive or rare plants, including California black walnutBlack Walnut
Juglans nigra, the Eastern Black walnut, is a species of flowering tree in the hickory family, Juglandaceae, that is native to eastern North America. It grows mostly in riparian zones, from southern Ontario, west to southeast South Dakota, south to Georgia, northern Florida and southwest to central...
(Juglans hindsii) and shield-bracted monkey flower (Mimulus glaucescens).
Virgin Valley Unit
This unit is 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) in size and is also managed by CDFG. It is one half mile downstream from the Butte Creek canyon mouth on an alluvial apron. This unit contains forests of valley oakValley Oak
Quercus lobata, commonly called the Valley oak, grows into the largest of North American oaks. It is endemic to California, growing in the interior valleys and foothills. Mature specimens may attain an age of up to 600 years. This deciduous oak requires year-round access to groundwater.Its thick,...
(Quercus lobata) growing on streamside terraces and on the alluvial aggregate.
Honey Run Unit
Managed by Chico State University in cooperation with other agencies and is located within the Butte Creek canyon proper. It is 93 acres (376,358 m²) in size.The area of Butte Creek had been used in dredge mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
in the 1800s, and mining for sand and gravel from the 1950s to the 1970s. In 1980, a cluster development project of 75 condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
s was approved for the site by the Butte County Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. The project was stopped by concerned local citizens with a successful ballot initiative that overturned the Butte County decision.
The flood of 1986, which caused more than $13 million dollars damage in Butte County, washed out the two bridge crossings on Butte Creek and helped start the preservation sequence of events. The bridges connected to the haul road that went from the gravel mining sites to Baldwin Construction's plant. Soon after the historic flood, the mining company sold its properties, with some parcels being bought by the California Department of Fish and Game, and one parcel (the Honey Run unit) being bought by John McAmis.
McAmis contracted for a subdivision of single family homes, which was voted down by the Planning Commission, but a subsequent development plan was submitted and approved. After construction began on the property, local concerns were again raised which eventually led to McAmis willingly selling the property to Chico State University, Research Foundation.
In 1998, CSU, Chico Research Foundation bought the 93 acres (376,358 m²) parcel from McAmis with funds from CSU's Office of Watershed Projects, Butte Creek Conservancy, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Board and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Butte Creek House Ecological Reserve
The Butte Creek House Ecological Reserve is located at the headwaters of Butte Creek. It is 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) of wetlandWetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
meadow and forest near the base of Snow Mountain. The site was purchased in 1986 to preserve and restore the area as a part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is the United States federal agency with jurisdiction over interstate electricity sales, wholesale electric rates, hydroelectric licensing, natural gas pricing, and oil pipeline rates...
(FERC) Project 803, the De Sable-Centerville Hydroelectric Project. This reserve is located near montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, a type of plant community that includes greenleaf and pinemat manzanita
Manzanita
Manzanita is a common name for many species of the genus Arctostaphylos. They are evergreen shrubs or small trees present in the chaparral biome of western North America, where they occur from southern British Columbia, Washington to California, Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, and...
s (Arctostaphylos patula, A. nevadensis), bitter cherry
Bitter Cherry
Oregon cherry or Bitter cherry is a species of Prunus native to western North America, from British Columbia south to California, and east to western Wyoming and Arizona...
(Prunus emarginata) and bush chinquapin
Chinquapin
-Plants:* Chinquapin or chinkapin, any of the shrubs in the genus Castanopsis* Chinquapin or chinkapin, any of the several trees and shrubs in the genus Chrysolepis* Chinquapin or chinkapin, some of the species in the chestnut genus Castanea...
(Chrysolepis sempervirens) that grow at elevations from 2000 feet (609.6 m) up to 9000 feet (2,743.2 m). Forested areas include pure stands of lodgepole pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
(Pinus contorta) and red fir
Red Fir
Abies magnifica, the Red Fir or Silvertip fir, is a western North American fir, native to the mountains of southwest Oregon and California in the United States. It is a high altitude tree, typically occurring at altitude, though only rarely reaching tree line...
(Abies magnifica).
Restoration
The restoration efforts of the Butte Creek watershed by environmental groups, together with private landowners and state and federal agencies is showing results. "The restoration there I think has clearly had a measurable response," said Rob Titus, a senior Department of Fish and Game environmental scientist.The fish count of Chinook salmon in 1987 was 14. The number counted in 1998 was 20,000.
During the period 1994 through 1997, several agricultural structures were removed, fish screens were installed and a new fish ladder was also installed. In addition, a minimum streamflow rate of 40 cuft/s is maintained during the summer months.
"The spring run in Butte Creek is doing exceptionally well. "For the fish, it's a success story...", according to the California Department of Fish and Game's Harry Morse.
Other restoration work has been the removal of invasive plant species including star thistle, scotch broom and Himalayan blackberry
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
. Non-native plants can displace the native species, which may decrease biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
and cause a loss of habitat that provide nest sites and food sources. The riparian or streamside plant areas along Butte Creek are the most vulnerable to invasive non-native plants.