The Park Fire was a devastating event that left lasting scars on the community, homes, and environment. In its aftermath, local land managers—including the City of Chico Parks Department, Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER), the Higgins Ridge neighborhood quickly mobilized to restore the Big Chico Creek watershed. Recognizing the heightened risk of severe erosion and sediment runoff, they prioritized erosion control to protect the creek and its aquatic life. 

To achieve these goals, the Butte County Resource Conservation District (BCRCD) helped  by coordinating the partners and securing environmental permits. Experts developed a strategy focused on increasing ground cover, stormproofing roads, and constructing rock-log hybrid leaky weirs to slow runoff and trap sediment. Thanks to swift collaboration, in-stream restoration structures were built just 67 days after the fire—an impressive feat given the regulatory challenges. 

While the creek is still expected to have days with higher turbidity levels, these restoration efforts will significantly improve watershed health over time, strengthening the resilience of Big Chico Creek’s ecosystem for years to come.