The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) is 3,950 acres of diverse canyon and ridge habitats, including 4.5 miles of Big Chico Creek. The primary focus of BCCER is to protect and restore the natural ecology of the area through the reintroduction of native plant species, the education of the public, and by conducting ongoing research. The organization works to foster education, understanding, sustainable land management, and ecosystem and water quality restoration and conservation.
Home to many species of plants and animals, BCCER was created with the purchase of the Simmons Ranch in 2000 and the Henning Ranch in 2001. It is owned and managed by the California State University, Chico, Research Foundation. The BCCER has been lucky, because the area has been fairly well preserved over time. The first Europeans moved into the area in 1860 and started to settle it, grazing cattle and other domestic animals and raising apples, pears, olives and figs. It wasn’t highly developed, and aside from some intense grazing, timber harvesting, road building and the introduction of invasive species it was fairly well protected. The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve has been working to mitigate the effects of the some of the unsustainable land practices of the past
The reserve is a special place; its 3,950 acres are incredibly diverse – more diverse than many places in the world. These diverse habitats support more than 140 different wildlife species, including a number of listed species and species requiring large tracts of undisturbed habitat. The area spans three different geological strata, and it is located at an elevation between the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevada/Cascade Mountain ranges, so it functions as a transition zone. A few of the habitats within this 4,000 acres include open, marshy meadows, streamside vegetation, chaparral, and pine forest. The land contains many different species of oaks, and each one of those creates a different habitat. Because it’s so diverse, the watershed attracts all kinds of wildlife, and it makes it very interesting for visitors.
The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve welcomes the general public for hiking, wildlife observation, and limited (lottery draw) hunting. There are special guidelines that must be followed, and signing in and out at the gate is required. There is a large conference center that can be reserved for public conferences and gatherings.
BCCER contributes to the understanding and wise management of the Earth and its natural systems by preserving critical habitat, and providing a natural area for environmental research and education. The goal of the BCCER blog will be to promote sustainability, share news about ongoing research efforts, and encourage balance between the social, cultural, and economic needs of the people with the natural environment. We hope of educate readers about the importance of ecological preservation and inspire people to respect the finite natural resources of this planet and live in harmony with other humans and species now and into the future.
