There has been some unusual weather on the reserve this season, and despite traditional views on drought, this is good news for the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. Fire is a natural process, and Native Americans used it to enhance and protect their environment. In fact, fire was utilized so often that the native grasses began to adapt and depend on the flames for their survival.
Native Americans used fire for a variety of reasons including game management and hunting. The European settlers also used fire, but largely for livestock forage management, and not to the extent that Native Americans had. The European settlers began to occupy the foothills that were so accustomed to flames and developed a fear for the fire that they had little idea how to control.
The government did everything possible to eliminate the risk of fire, but the oaks, the grasses, and the native flowers began to suffer. The land changed dramatically due to the ability for non-native species to survive. The land failed to prosper in a way it once had.
Although fire is not something to be feared, it is not something to be taken lightly either. Our fire usage is a controlled process that is coordinated with the weather and conducted following state safety regulations. We want to replicate Native American fire usage, not to start a forest fire.
It is impossible to know the exact extent of Native American fire use within the BCCER. It is certain that fire was used frequently in some areas and less frequently in others (e.g., grasslands versus chaparral). By following appropriate seasonal management with fire, native species can once again flourish. Simply stated, fire management at the BCCER is used for habitat enhancement and asset protection.
Our goal is to replicate Native American fire use by applying fire to the landscape at a variety of scales as appropriate for the systems we are managing. Fire management today involves coordination among various entities including the Butte County Air Quality Management District, Calfire and the Butte County Fire Safe Council. The application of fire is not haphazard, and requires knowledge of soils, vegetation types, weather and other parameters. Through planning and coordination we apply fire to safely achieve our objectives.
