Big Chico Creek

This article is about the creek in California. For the river in Colorado, see Chico Creek.

See also: 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]

Chico Creek[1]
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
• 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
• elevation	120 ft (37 m)
Length	46 mi (74 km)
Basin features
River system	Sacramento River Basin
Tributaries
• left	Little Chico Creek

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]

See also

• Little Chico Creek

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