California State University, Chico
OP-T2-20: Wildlife Habitat

Big Chico Creek Riparian Corridor

With a riparian corridor running through our campus, we are very sensitive to its uniqueness compared to the rest of the landscaped areas on campus. Special restrictions regarding fertilizing, planting, spraying, trimming while eliminating nonnative plant species are practices we abide by in an effort to protect wildlife habitat.

http://www.csuchico.edu/sustainablefuture/practices/landscapingGrounds.shtml

Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve

The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserves is under the direction of the Institute for Sustainable Development. Our mission is to work together with the CSU Research Foundation's Ecological Reserve System to preserve critical habitat and to provide a natural area for environmental research and education.

The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve contains 3,950 acres of diverse canyon and ridge habitats, including 4.5 miles of Big Chico Creek, and is home to many species of plants and animals. BCCER was created with the purchase of the Simmons Ranch in 1999 and the Henning Ranch in 2001. It is owned by the California State University, Chico, Research Foundation.

The Reserve ranges in elevation from 700 feet to 2,044 feet and contains a wide variety of habitats, including creek riffles and pools, riparian areas, oak woodlands, chaparral, pine forest, rock cliffs, and springs. These diverse habitats support more than 140 different wildlife species, including a number of listed species and species requiring large tracts of undisturbed habitat. BCCER contributes to the understanding and wise management of the earth and its natural systems by preserving critical habitat, and providing a natural area for environmental research and education.

Butte Creek Ecological Preserve

The Butte Creek Ecological Preserve is a 93-acre site along the middle section of Butte Creek. The site was formerly used for gold, sand and gravel mining, and is recovering from those activities. The property contains more than a mile of creek frontage, which is critical salmon habitat and spawning grounds, as well as habitat for many species of special status, including Chinook salmon and bald eagle. In December 1998 the University Research Foundation purchased this site with grants from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Federation, CALFED, and the Wildlife Conservation Board. The goal of the preserve is to work in conjunction with other programs towards achieving a reasonable balance among the diverse demands on the resource base of the Butte Creek watershed. The research foundation will provide an adaptive management approach to managing the property. Program areas at the preserve include habitat management and conservation, outreach and education, and research. The reserve is open to the public year round.

http://www.csuchico.edu/bcep/