Butte Creek supports the largest run of wild, naturally spawned Spring Run Chinook in California

Salmoncam is up!

The new HD camera, donated by Aercontvision, is in and working. Enjoy the arrival of the Spring Run Salmon and the most recent videos. Click here.

The Butte Creek Canyon Zoning Overlay is out for Review

See article to right >>>>>>>>>>>>

Click on the map for a larger version

The Salmoncam is online.........

Spawner Bar action is done unless some Fall run get through the blockage at Parrot/Phelan dam.

Mid-morning to early afternoon is best. Click here

The new HD camera donated by Aercontvision is online. The spring run salmon are spawning in large numbers. The camera is at the Spawners Bar. YOU CAN SPAWNSOR THE LIVE CAMERA FEED. Your name, your business or your dedication will be featured on the salmoncam web page.

Please contact us to find out how you can help keep the beauty of Butte Creek live on the internet and share with your friends this beautiful place we live! Thanks to Michael Smith for this incredible photo taken May 7.

8th Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival was better than ever. See you next year!

Friends of Butte Creek expanded the Wild and Scenic Film Festival to a full day event this year. FBC offered a full day of great enviromental, educational, and exciting adventure films including a Saturday morning Children's Program and an afternoon matinee at the Pageant Theater.

The evening program at the Sierra Nevada Big Room featured over 2.5 hours of wonderfully inspiring films. Special thanks to the Sierra Nevada Brewery, Klean Kanteen, The Nature Conservancy, Sacramento River Preservation Trust, Butte Environmental Council, our wonderful volunteers and many others. Click here to view the festival showings.

Spawn 2013 - 15,866 Spring Run Salmon

The 2014 Spring Run Salmon are back. Low water may have triggered an early return. And then came the rain! The creek is in remarkably good condition with good flows for the juveniles heading to the ocean and adults returning home to entertain the creatures of the Canyon. Otters are happy and enjoying wild salmon sashimi regularly. View the Salmoncam and check out the action. Sponsors needed!

2012 Fish Spawned in Record Numbers!!!

We had a spectacular run with a final estimate at just under 17,000 salmon. This is in the top 4 years of recent records. Spawning began earlier than usual. Contact us for a 2013 Spring Run Salmon Tour. More videos including underwater action are located on the video page.

Fish Counts

Final 2011 Carcass Count Estimate was 4500 fish. They are bouncing back!

Final 2010 Spring Run Salmon Count Estimate - 1,979

Butte County General Plan

Butte Creek Canyon residents are working on a Conservation Overlay to be included in General Plan.

Supporters

Please take time to thank the Butte County supervisors for supporting the protection of Butte Creek.

News

Stewardship Council ---Butte Creek Plan

The Stewardship Council is in charge of disposing of PG&E Lands in Butte Creek. The recommendations are out. Click here for the full report.

Butte Creek Canyon Zoning Overlay Moves Forward

Canyon groups have contributed to developing a zoning overlay for Butte Creek Canyon which will help protect the water, wildlife and the beauty of this incredilble scenic wonder. The DRAFT document and the map are online now. Stay tuned as we work with the County Supervisors to make this part of the General Plan. BCC Draft Overlay and map.

2013 Pre-Spawn Mortality and Population Evaluation

Read the new 2013 report from DFW.

Carcass Count Completed

The Department of Fish and Wildlife counted carcasses by the thousands. They chop the older carcasses and tag fresh ones with a round disc. Counting the # of tags left after a week helps determine how many are being dragged off by the bears and other critters which improves the accuracy of the count. The total estimate for the 2013 spring run was 15,886. Up by over 4,000 from the snorkel count of 11,470. Last yer's run was estimated at 17,000. Are we there yet? View 58 years of run numbers.

Run is On!

The recent rains brought the fish upstream from the ocean and they have flooded the lower canyon. Please "Like" Friends of Butte Creek on Facebook and post your salmon pictures and videos!! Check the Salmoncam also.

2013 Snorkel Count

As was expected the summer snorkel count is a near record and snorkel counts are historically low. With 11,470 counted, 2800 more than last year, we could be looking at a run of 18,000 or more. The all-time record is from 1998 with over 20,000 spawning salmon. Things are looking good. Read report.

2012 Carcass Count

Final estimate from CDFW was 17,000 salmon. One of the top years for returns. Butte Creek's capacity to support salmon is a marvel to all.

2012 Snorkel Count

Nearly 9000 salmon counted. The summer survey is generally much lower than the actual numbers, especially when there is a big run like this year. Read the report.

2011 Salmon Carcass count is in. The numbers are up!!!

Read the newsletter.

Climate Change Threatens California Salmon

Two centuries ago there were over a million spring run Chinook salmon in California. Today there are fewer than 10,000. A new study conducted by UC Davis and the Stockholm Environment Institute, climate change could make these fish locally extinct. Read more.

Capitol Public Radio Story on Butte Creek

Part 1 - Listen here

Part 2 - Listen here

Annual Spring Run Salmon Snorkel Count Results

Read the DFG report for 2011. (pdf)

UC Davis Study Paints Bleak Picture for Butte Creek Spring Run Salmon

UC Davis researchers along with hydrologist from the Stockholm Institute have released their findings on Butte Creek. Without dramatic changes in hydroelectric operations you can say good-bye to the Spring Run. Read the Science Daily article.

Down Comes the Sediment Again-Third time is not a charm

Check out the story. The spill happened before the reported fire and some 8-10 miles upstream of these pictures.

FERC is Concerned About Repeated Sediment Pollution

Read the letter.

Regional Water Board Wants Answers to Sediment Pollution

Read the notice.

PG&E Centerville Canal Fails Again - More Sediment? March 2011

Read the report.

FERC orders PG&E to produce a report in 7 days on sediment pollution in Butte Creek February 9, 2011

Read the FERC order.

Watch the video.

Supervisor support Butte Creek Overlay

Butte County Supervisors voted 5-0 on July 27 to support the development of a Conservation Overlay for Butte Creek Canyon.Read article .

Spring Run Symposium Tours were enjoyed by many.

For more info and photo albums click here.

Fish Rescued Again???

High flows most of the spring left springers spread all the way to Durham. Several pulse flows in July helped some over the last barriers above Hwy 99.

EPA wants new restrictions on pesticides for salmon protection

Read the story.

Canyon residents fight off another threat

Read the Chico News-Review article.

2010 Butte Creek spring run count

The final carcass count is in for the 2010 Butte Creek spring run and the decline continues. Only 1979 salmon were counted, the lowest number in 13 years. Sacramento Valley salmon are heading for extinction. We can not let this happen!

Salmon Water Now has some great videos

See the rest of their videos on our video page.