Chico State Donors Help Restore Big Chico Creek After Park Fire
“While we mourn what has been lost, we are moving forward with intention and passion to build a healthier future for our land, our community, and the students we serve.”
—Eli Goodsell
Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve Director
When the Park Fire ignited in upper Bidwell Park on July 24, 2024, its flames swept across canyons and ridgelines, ultimately consuming almost all 7,800 acres of the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER). In just hours, the reserve’s headquarters and historic barn were lost, its habitats devastated, and its wildlife displaced.
In the weeks that followed, more than 400 donors came together in an unprecedented show of support, contributing $281,531 to the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve Emergency Fund. Their collective generosity provided immediate relief to help restore water sources for wildlife, prevent erosion ahead of winter rains, and rebuild essential operations, so students and staff could continue their stewardship of this vital landscape.
“The overwhelming flow of incoming community support and people checking in has been humbling and inspiring,” said BCCER Director Eli Goodsell (Criminal Justice,’07; MA, Geography, ’11). “While we will mourn the beauty and work that has been lost, we will move forward with intention and passion to build a healthy future for our landscape, our community, and the students we serve.”
For more than two decades, BCCER, owned by Chico State Enterprises and located on the ancestral lands of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe, has served as a living classroom and research hub. It is where students learn to care for ecosystems, practice sustainable land management, and honor the interconnectedness of people and place. Today, thanks to donor generosity, that mission endures.
Contributions support everything from repairing damaged roads and communications to employing Chico State students in restoration projects.
“This event has highlighted the critical importance of the stewardship work and research that we conduct,” said Goodsell. “We will learn a lot from the Park Fire both in how it has affected our landscape, but also in how we respond in stewarding our lands and providing learning opportunities for our students and our communities.”
Together, we are writing the next chapter in BCCER’s story—one of resilience, restoration, and hope.
BCCER Wildfire Recovery and Restoration Highlights
- Installed sediment retention devices across the reserve to prevent erosion and protect Big Chico Creek
- Partnered with local organizations to build 1,783 sediment devices in Upper Park and nearby canyons, resulting in 57,863 cubic feet of sediment kept out of the creek
- Installed 35 new trail cameras to replace those destroyed by the Park Fire
- Rebuilt critical infrastructure, including power, internet, and communications, water lines, access roads, and a temporary staff office
- Cleared debris and removed hazardous trees to restore safety and access
