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Plans are being put in place that tackle the threat of fire, from prescribed burns to decreasing the amount of burnable material in the park.

Last weekend, branches and limbs were cut and hauled to shredders during the Butte Environmental Council park cleanup. That’s the start.

Not only do the clumps of vegetation and fallen wood represent fuel sources, but they are also hiding places for transients, Lowe said, noting the Fire Department has responded to several campfire problems in those situations.

From an acorn-planting program to a new fee, urban forest manager Richie Bamlet is moving forward with ideas on how to help Chico’s urban forest, which has suffered because of its age and lack of replacement trees, not to mention the city’s budget issues.

For several years, the Butte Environmental Council has been conducting a oak regeneration program in upper Bidwell Park, he noted.

The group started small in hopes of eventually making a large impact, initially choosing two areas of focus—Teichert Ponds, between Highway 32 and East 20th Street along Highway 99; and the area behind the CARD Center. The plan is to clear out invasive plants and replace them with native species. The group is working toward its goal with the backing of a city program called Adopt a Spot, which encourages community involvement in the park by providing resources such as tools, volunteer help and a management plan.

Water Warriors relies mostly on volunteers, donations and partnerships like the one with the city.

In its short existence, the group is already making strides. The work behind the CARD Center in particular is visible and already paying off.

Lifetime achievement

Organizations participating in the Community Grant Program raised more than $174,000 in August, and the city of Chico will contribute about $53,000 more to that total.

Block Party with a Purpose

Each year the Butte Environmental Council teams up with the city of Chico and county to collect trash in the city's creeks and parks.

"This year we have received a huge amount of support not only from our community but the businesses, "said Butte Environmental Watershed Coordinator, Angel Gomez, "We have received more sponsorships this year than we have in years past. People are really starting to take ownership of the creeks in Chico." 

Robert Dresden of Chico explains planting techniques Tuesday as Chico Tree Advocates, the Butte Environmental Council, the city and several volunteers prepare to plant valley oak acorns around the One-Mile Recreation Area in Bidwell Park.

Here in our backyard, Butte Environmental Council volunteers pulled 6.8 tons of trash out of our parks and waterways during a recent one-day cleanup.

Dozens of the old oak trees have fallen at One-Mile Recreation Area in recent years, due to drought, heavy winds and rains, or just the fact that they were old and vulnerable to the elements. The rest of the park has seen its fair share of oaks crashing to the ground, too. City of Chico staff, Butte Environmental Council (BEC) and Chico Tree Advocates have joined forces to identify areas where the forest canopy needs a hand. (BEC organizes a similar project that focuses on oak restoration in Upper Park.)

Bryce Goldstein, Butte Environmental Council energy conservation program coordinator, said it’s important to recycle old lights to keep valuable materials out of landfills.

The plan’s overall goal is to reduce pollutants and trash in Chico’s creeks and waterways, and improve upon the use of storm water as a resource.

Top projects will be decided upon by the Storm Water Resources Plan’s Technical Advisory Committee at its next public meeting, 1:30 p.m. Jan. 4 in the City Council Chambers.

The plan’s public meetings haven’t brought out crowds, but there has been a good representation of the organizations that have traditionally held an interest, like The Stream Team, Butte Environmental Council and Friends of Comanche Creek.

So, when the Butte Environmental Council honored her Oct. 21 with its Lifetime Achievement Award (named after founding member and former Chico Mayor Michael McGinnis), the tribute recognized someone continuing to contribute, albeit less conspicuously. Executive Director Natalie Carter, in explaining how BEC’s board selected Dolan, said that “she’s been a champion for environmental issues for decades and has had a very powerful and strong voice in our community standing up for values that our members hold dear. We really couldn’t think of anybody better to recognize this year.”

The proposed oak woodland mitigation ordinance, created by the county, made its way through the first workshop of the Butte County Planning Commission last week.

Natalie Carter of Butte Environmental Council attended the workshop.