When Annie Bidwell conveyed the land now called Bidwell Park to the City of Chico it came with a couple of stipulations in her deed. She required the City to:
… preserve, as far as reasonably possible, for the beauty of said Park as well as for the preservation and protection of the waters of Chico Creek, all of the trees, shrubs and vines therein, and it shall sacredly guard the same and only remove such thereof as it may find absolutely necessary.
and
… not to permit the hunting therein of wild animals or birds; but this shall not be construed to prevent second party from destroying or removing any of such animals or birds as may be of noxious nature or habits.
While her deed no longer has no legal authority to compel the City of Chico to follow these admonitions, Annie’s wishes have supposedly been the driving force guiding development and activities in the Park; however, a lot of development has occurred in the Park since Annie’s deed was enacted that neither preserves or protects the land she gave to the City of Chico.
Plants in the Lives of Northern California Native Americans by Wes Dempsey
Chico’s Lost Arboretum by Wes Dempsey
Weeds In Bidwell Park by John Dittes
Bidwell Park is a bird lover’s paradise.
Big Chico Creek contains a number of fish species many of which are actively sought by the sport fishing community. Fish spawn, rear, live year round, and/or use Big Chico Creek for migratory habitat
Native species can be separated into anadromous (i.e., species that spawn in fresh water after migrating as adults from marine habitat) and resident species. Native anadromous species that occur in Big Chico Creek include four runs of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata). Native resident species include Sacramento pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus grandis), Sacramento splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus), Sacramento sucker (Catostomus occidentalis), hardhead (Mylopharodon conocephalus), California roach (Lavinia symmetricus), riffle sculpin (Cottus gulosus), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
Introduced species are all resident and include smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), white catfish (Ameiurus catus), green sunfish (Lepomois cyanellus), brown trout (Salmo trutta), and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis).
Most of the native anadromous species that occur in Big Chico Creek are listed endangered, threatened, or species of special concern by the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the California ESA. These include four runs of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Sacramento splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus), and the hardhead (Mylopharodon conocephalus). For this reason habitat protection is critical in Bidwell Park and the Big Chico Creek watershed.
There are three distinct runs of salmon in the Sacramento River watershed that are known to spawn in Big Chico Creek and Bidwell Park. The Central Valley spring-run chinook salmon, Central Valley fall-/late-fall-run chinook salmon, and the Sacramento River winter-run chinook salmon. All three runs are considered to be threatened “special status” species under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the California ESA. Big Chico Creek considered to be critical habitat for salmon.
The Pacific lamprey, another anadromous species, can be found in the Big Chico Creek in Upper Park in late spring and early summer when they spawn. These fish are rarely noticed but can be a surprise find if one takes the time to don a mask and snorkel and explore the rocks and crevices around Salmon Hole.
Fishing is allowed in Bidwell Park on Big Chico Creek and Horseshoe Lake.
Fishing on Big Chico Creek is not allowed by the City of Chico at swimming holes in Upper Park or anywhere on the Creek in Middle and Lower Park. The California Department of Fish and Game has special regulations on a number of waterways in California and Big Chico Creek is one of them.
2024-2025 DFG Fishing Regulations on Big Chico Creek
Fishing is allowed on Horseshoe Lake; however, it is catch and release for people 14 and older, and catch and keep for people under 14 years of age.
The headwaters of Big Chico Creek originate from the southwest slope of Colby Mountain at an elevation of approximately 6,000 ft and encompass a watershed area of approximately 28 acres. The creek is approximately 45 miles in length, entering the Sacramento River west of the City of Chico at an elevation of approximately 120 ft.
Mean precipitation in the watershed ranges from approximately 25 inches in the valley to 80 inches in the headwater region. The unimpaired average annual yield is approximately 54,000 acre-feet. Because of the precipitation gradient, the majority of the flow of Big Chico Creek enters in the upper third of the drainage, making stream size relatively constant thereafter.
Big Chico Creek flow graphs from the California Department of Water Resources, data from automatic sensors near the golf course, for the past:
Altacal Audubon Society, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society, focuses on birds and includes a page on Upper Bidwell Park.
Butte Environmental Council sponsors a September Bidwell Park and creeks of Chico cleanup. Also, BEC holds the Endangered Species Faire every year at One Mile Recreation Area on the first Saturday in May.
California Department of Fish & Game — Fishing Licenses and Regulations
California Conservation Corps offers training and work experience to recent high school graduates. Their Chico-based workers frequently work in Bidwell Park. For more information, call 894-0495 or visit their office at 2725 Hwy 32 Suite F, Chico.
California Native Plant Society (CNPS) — the Mt. Lassen Chapter is the local group — is a statewide non-profit organization of amateurs and professionals with a common interest in California’s native plants. Volunteers from the local chapter provide maintenance of Upper Park’s creekside Yahi Trail.
Neighborhood Cat Advocates responds to reports of cats abandoned in the park or elsewhere in Chico.
Herbarium at CSUC provides information about plants in workshops, books, CD-ROMs, and a searchable database.
Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria,125 Mission Ranch Blvd. Chico, CA 95926 Ph. (530) 343-6614
Northern California Regional Land Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the conservation and preservation of northern California’s open spaces.
Yahi Group of the Sierra Club promotes conservation, parklands, and leads hikes in the park and throughout the area.
“Understanding Blue Oak Regeneration,” a paper from Phytosphere Research, Vacaville.
A collection of links regarding Oaks Woodland Ecology and Monitoringand Oak Regeneration/Restoration from the University of California Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program.
The California Oak Foundation “a non-profit educational organization committed to preserving the state’s oak forest ecosystem and its rural landscapes.”
Exclosure size affects young blue oak seedling growth[pdf] “Blue oak, a tree native only to California, is notoriously slow-growing, and its low regeneration rate has prompted concern about the species’ future survival in some areas of the state…”
Blue oak seedling age influences growth and mortality[pdf] “In some California locations, the natural regeneration of blue oak is limited by the ability of small seedlings to survive long enough to become larger saplings. This study evaluated the growth and survival of different age classes of seedlings…”
Information about dragonflies found in the park is available at the Biggs family website.
State site explaining the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
CNPS article How to Comment on a CEQA Document from their periodical Fremontia V 29 # 3/4 July/Oct 2001 Back issues of Fremontia available for $5-10 from CNPS Publications.
A page about the park from California Watchable Wildlife
A site by Professor Paul Maslin has reports on various aspects of the Chico Creek watershed.