Chico State’s Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve Severely Impacted by Park Fire

Reserve Closed to Public Until Further Notice as Staff Assess Impacts, Address Safety Risks

The Park Fire—which began in Chico two weeks ago and continues its reach across the North State—burned across the majority of the University’s Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserves, scorching the landscape and destroying the reserve’s headquarters and most of its existing infrastructure, including a historic barn.

BCCER Director Eli Goodsell and staff have made several trips to the property to begin assessing damages across its 7,835-acre expanse. The reserve will remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future to evaluate damages, conduct safety assessments, and initiate cleanup. Also to be determined are the fire’s impact on educational offerings, research and projects, and other activities planned for the fall semester and beyond.

“The overwhelming flow of incoming community support and people checking in has been humbling and inspiring,” said Goodsell. “Our whole team is working around the clock in response to the fire and what it means for our employees, students, and wildlife. This tragedy will bring opportunity as we move into this new reality. 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.”

BCCER, which is owned by Chico State Enterprises, is located on the ancestral land of the Mechoopda Indian tribe. It has been part of the University since 1999, serving students, researchers, and the public on its expanse adjacent to Upper Bidwell Park, roughly 14 miles east of Chico State.

Renowned for its diverse habitat for hundreds of species of plants and animals, BCCER serves as an outdoor classroom, innovative training grounds for prescribed fire exercises, a spark for conversations around Indigenous culture, and a backdrop for faculty and student research, therapeutic practices, and hands-on learning.

On a visit to the reserve this week, Goodsell was encouraged to see tender green growth already sprouting among the blackened landscape, and he began envisioning the wildflowers that will blossom this coming spring.

“Our mission to preserve and steward critical habitat and to provide a natural area for environmental research and education has not changed,” he said. “This event has highlighted the critical importance of the stewardship work and research that we conduct. 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.”

President Steve Perez commended the foresight and caution of BCCER leadership and staff, as well as their experience with wildfire response, which spurred them to evacuate early on the afternoon the fire broke out so that no one was harmed.

“The BCCER has been a treasured space for this campus for more than 20 years,” he said. “While we are deeply saddened to see such destructive fire on its landscape, we are grateful for the safety of our employees and students, and our hearts go out to our neighbors along Highway 32 and Forest Ranch who suffered incredible losses to their homes and community. For now, we remain focused on supporting those who have been affected by the fire and to lending our expertise and ability where we can help with response and recovery.”

For now, BCCER staff are utilizing 25 Main Street as their headquarters. Staff can be reached at bccer@csuchico.edu.

Donations to a general fund for the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve will be used to support recovery from the impacts of the Park Fire. 

Chico State Enterprises, an auxiliary of the University, owns and manages BCCER, which was acquired with the purchase of the Simmons Ranch in 1999 and the Henning Ranch in 2001. The purchases totaled 3,950 acres at the time, but a gift of 3,885 adjoining acres by an anonymous donor in 2021 doubled its size—making it the California State University’s largest contiguous ecological reserve or field station, as well as one of the state’s largest college- or university-operated reserves.