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Programs & DataConservation and ManagementCentral Valley MonitoringSacramento Valley Tributary MonitoringBig Chico Creek
Big Chico Creek Spring-run Chinook and Water Temperature Monitoring

Iron Canyon fish ladder
Big Chico Creek’s Iron Canyon fish ladder.
Big Chico Creek (BCC) originates on Colby Mountain and flows 45 miles to its confluence with the Sacramento River. Watershed elevation ranges from about 120 feet at the mouth to 6000 feet on Colby Mountain. The creek supports a diverse array of aquatic and terrestrial species though spring-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss) are the primary focus species on the creek. Depending on water year type, summer water temperatures in Big Chico Creek can be marginal for holding spring-run Chinook salmon. High water temperature can lead to mortality for holding adults and can make salmon more prone to disease outbreak as well as limit their ability to tolerate other stresses. Other concerns include adult migration delays at Iron Canyon and at 1 Mile Recreation Area.
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Background
Big Chico Creek’s Iron Canyon fish ladder
Big Chico Creek’s Iron Canyon fish ladder.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has collected both adult and juvenile spring-run Chinook salmon monitoring data for many years. Juvenile emigrant data was collected from 1995-2003 using a rotary screw trap. Data indicated juvenile salmon are generally present from early December through mid-May. Peak migration for all years of trapping on BCC occurred in the first two weeks of March. Adult spring-run population estimates on Big Chico Creek date back to 1956 (CDFG 1998). Many of the early estimates were generated by observation at key holding pools. Beginning in 1989, snorkel surveys became the primary form of survey. The DFW planted hatchery origin spring-run in Big Chico Creek occasionally between 1959 and 1992. In the 1980’s, adult spring-run returns were extremely low and continued sporadic Feather River Hatchery plantings made assessing the status of the natural population difficult. Currently, it is difficult to determine whether the Big Chico Creek spring-run population is self-sustaining or supported by exchange of individuals from the larger Central Valley spring-run population. In 2006, 299 adult spring-run returned to Big Chico Creek. CDFW was able to collect 30 tissue samples from carcasses. Genetic data suggested eighteen of the samples were Butte Creek spring-run, two were Deer or Mill Creek spring-run, five were fall-run Chinook salmon, and five were unidentified Chinook salmon. Although not a comprehensive assessment of the run that year, it suggests that in some years the population in Big Chico Creek may be composed of salmon from multiple salmon runs and populations.
Snorkel Survey Memos

Big Chico Creek 2015 Adult Escapement Estimate

Big Chico Creek 2014 Adult Escapement Estimate

Big Chico Creek 2012 Adult Escapement Estimate

Big Chico Creek 2011 Adult Escapement Estimate

Big Chico Creek 2010 Adult Escapement Estimate

Big Chico Creek 2009 Adult Escapement Estimate

Big Chico Creek 2008 Adult Escapement Estimate

Big Chico Creek 2007 Adult Escapement Estimate

Map
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Contact Information

North Central Region Anadromous Fisheries Program Supervisor
Colin Purdy
1701 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova CA 95670
(916) 358-2943
colin.purdy@wildlife.ca.gov

Clint Garman
Environmental Scientist
North Central Region Anadromous Fisheries
629 Entler Ave. Chico, Ca. 95928
Clint.Garman@wildlife.ca.gov

Tracy McReynolds
Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)
North Central Region Anadromous Fisheries
629 Entler Ave. Chico, Ca. 95928
Tracy.McReynolds@wildlife.ca.gov

2018 by CalFish
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