Friends of Butte Creek featured on front page of the San Francisco Chronicle!

The Monday, May 26, 2008 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle featured the article Salmon resurgence in Butte County. Here's a snippet:

The number of spawning fish returning from the ocean to Butte Creek increased 10 percent from 2006 to 2007, Harthorn said. By the look of things, he said, even more fish are returning this year.

But the most dramatic resurgence occurred over the past 10 years, when an average of almost 10,000 salmon a year swam back up the creek, according to Harthorn, who co-founded Friends of Butte Creek in 1999 after years battling farming interests and Pacific Gas and Electric over its DeSabla-Centerville plant.

Read the entire article here, and view an image of the front page here.

Butte Creek supports the largest run of Wild, Naturally Spawned Spring Run Chinook Salmon in California

Over $30,000,000 (see Restoration Handout) has been spent on improved fish passage in the lower watershed. Much of the best salmon habitat is blocked by Centerville Head Dam and still has reduced flows (71% to 82% reduction in summer) and increased water temperature below the dam. By all measureswild Butte Creek Spring Run have recovered, averaging over 10,000 salmon per year for the last twelve years (see Spring Run Populations), while hatchery Fall Run stocks have collapsed. Tagged stray Butte Creek Spring Run have shown up in Battle Creek, Clear Creek, and the Feather River Hatchery. Steelhead trout are not doing so well. (see fish report) Their habitat is greatly reduced by hydroelectric operations. Other forest and aquatic creatures have also benefited including Bald Eagles like the one in the photo, seen last May.

Check out the Butte Creek Mapping Site

Check out the interactive watershed map of Butte Creek, provided by River Network and IMRivers. You can view the major features of the creek, including bridges, dams, flumes and trails. View the map here.

Butte Creek Salmon Cam

Watch a 60 second clip (8.6 mb)of the first exclusive underwater video of Butte Creek's 2004 spring run salmon. You can order the complete DVD with music at SalmonCam.org. Every sale from the website contributes $5 to the Friends of Butte Creek and $5 to the Salmonid Restoration Federation.

Friends of Butte Creek T-shirts and hats

Friends of Butte Creek T-shirts and hats featuring this beautiful Lenn Goldmann print are now available. You can buy them directly for $20 at Metagraphics, 194 East 6th St. in Chico or send us an email to friends@buttecreek.org.

Fish crossing website

Check out the Forest Service fish crossing website with great information on fish passage! Great videos, software and more.