Big Chico Creek

Chico Creek^[1]
Chico Creek
	Big Chico Creek in Upper Bidwell Park
Location
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Butte County, Tehama County
Cities	Chico
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Near Colby Mountain, in Lassen National Park
• coordinates	40°07′25″N 121°30′32″W / 40.12361°N 121.50889°W
• elevation	5,000 ft (1,500 m)
Mouth
• location	Confluence with Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley
• coordinates	39°41′48″N 121°56′29″W / 39.6966°N 121.9414°WCoordinates: 39°41′48″N 121°56′29″W / 39.6966°N 121.9414°W
• elevation	120 ft (37 m)
Length	46 mi (74 km)
Basin features
River system	Sacramento River Basin
Tributaries
• left	Little Chico Creek

Big Chico Creek is a creek in northeastern California that originates near Colby Mountain in Lassen National Park. It flows 46 miles (74 km)^[2] to its confluence with the Sacramento River in Butte County. The creek's elevation declines from 5,000 feet (1,500 m) above sea level at its head to 120 feet (37 m) where it joins the Sacramento River, as shown on the Ord Ferry USGS quadrangle. Big Chico Creek forms part of the demarcation between the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range.^[3]

A portion of Big Chico Creek flows through the city of Chico's Bidwell Park and California State University, Chico.

Natural history[]

There are numerous plant and animal species in the riparian zone and entire watershed of Big Chico Creek. A threatened species of Chinook 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.^[4]

References[]

C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Yellow Mariposa Lily: Calochortus luteus, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
United States Geological Survey. 1981. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: USGS Survey Detail Report: Big Chico Creek

Notes[]

^ "Chico Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-04-05 at WebCite, accessed March 10, 2011
^ "Local Watersheds: Watersheds of Butte County". Butte Environmental Council. Retrieved July 21, 2021. Big Chico Creek begins its 45 mile journey from a series of springs on Colby Mountain, at the interface between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Cascade Mountains.
^ C. Michael Hogan. 2009

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[GNIS-1] "Chico Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2011-02-08.

[NHD-2] U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-04-05 at WebCite, accessed March 10, 2011

[3] "Local Watersheds: Watersheds of Butte County". Butte Environmental Council. Retrieved July 21, 2021. Big Chico Creek begins its 45 mile journey from a series of springs on Colby Mountain, at the interface between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Cascade Mountains.

[4] C. Michael Hogan. 2009

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t Rivers of California's Central Valley watershed (north-to-south)
Sacramento River watershed	Pit River McCloud River Cow Creek Cottonwood Creek Battle Creek Mill Creek Deer Creek Thomes Creek Big Chico Creek Stony Creek Butte Creek Feather River North Fork East Branch West Branch Middle Fork South Fork Yuba River Bear River American River North Fork Middle Fork South Fork Cache Creek Putah Creek
San Joaquin River watershed	Mokelumne River Cosumnes River Calaveras River Stanislaus River Tuolumne River Clavey River Cherry Creek Merced River Mariposa Creek Chowchilla River Fresno River
Tulare Basin	Kings River Kaweah River Tule River White River Poso Creek Kern River

Big Chico Creek

Contents

Natural history[]

See also[]

References[]

Notes[]