Monthly News, Events & Environmental Updates
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BEC's mission is to protect and defend the land, air and water of Butte County and the surrounding region through action, advocacy and education. Our monthly newsletter is designed to keep our community informed about local issues that impact our region's environmental quality and bring you opportunities to become involved. Thank you for staying connected!
Consider making a donation today to help us continue serving Butte County.
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Tonight!
Feb. 25th from 6 to 8 PM at Valley Oaks Village, Chico
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Our first Housing & Climate Forum sparked insightful and spirited discussions on the nexus of climate change and housing issues in our region. In response, we're re-assembling our local housing experts to create a unified narrative for sustainable housing in our region, which we will present and discuss at tonight's forum. We intend to develop proactive guidelines for sustainable development in our community, with your help. Please, don't miss this conversation if this is an issue you're passionate about!
Email brycegoldstein@yahoo.com to RSVP and get information about parking.
A huge thank you to our friends at Valley Oaks Village Co-Housing for offering their space as a resource to this process. As always, ride your bicycle or carpool is possible.
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Environmental Community Gathering
Friday, Mar. 27th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM at the Chico Women's Club
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Don't miss this celebration and connection opportunity that follows the Chico State
This Way to Sustainability Conference
. This gathering is focused on keeping the conversation going and features a no-host bar with Sierra Nevada beer and local wine.
We are now accepting registrations for your environmental organization or agency to table at this event!
This is a wonderful outreach opportunity to get people involved with your upcoming events, volunteer needs and environmental efforts in Butte County.
The deadline to register is March 9th.
To be sure you'll have a presence at this important community event,
Click Here
to register now at the BEC Website.
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Food Systems & Climate Change Forum
Sunday, Apr. 5th from 10 AM to 2 PM at the GRUB CSA Farm Barn
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In light of Earth Month.. we want to talk local food systems and climate change! Mark your calendars for April 5th to spend a beautiful Sunday at the
GRUB CSA Farm's
barn and discuss critical topics with expert panelists. Topics and ideas presented at this forum will center around changing temperature, food scarcity, soil biodiversity, the importance of growing your own food and regenerative agriculture practices. *If you believe you're an expert on these issues and would like to sit on this panel, please contact Danielle at danielle.baxter@becnet.org and let us know what your knowledge and experiences would bring to the table.
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41st Annual Endangered Species Faire
Saturday May 2nd from 10 AM to 3 PM in Cedar Grove, Bidwell Park
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The theme of this year's ESF is "Have to Have a Habitat"!
BEC has organized and hosted the ESF for 4 decades in Bidwell Park to ensure there is a festive and education based event in Butte County with the purpose of celebrating endangered species and protecting them by learning about what threatens them.
Each Spring, BEC and friends provide amazing interactive classroom lessons on Endangered Species. This includes the creation of puppets, some larger than life, that will march in the Procession of the Species.
We are scheduling workshops on puppet making with classrooms now and would like for you to get involved!
Please contact Danielle at danielle.baxter@becnet.org if you'd like to make puppets and march in the procession this year. Learn more about the ESF at
www.becnet.org
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Please consider being a business sponsor of this event and ensure we have the resources to keep offering this heritage educational celebration to our community!
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Chico Bicycle Music Festival
Saturday June 13th, All Day!
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This annual event, in its 11th year, combines local music with inspiring ideas on sustainable transportation, energy use and community gathering. Local musicians are showcased with Live-On-Bike performances and a "pedal-powered" stage that runs off grid, powered by audience members riding stationary bicycles connected to a power generator. This event exemplifies and fun and exciting way to explore ideas of fossil fuel independence. The CBMF is considered a local finale to BIKE Month, a national and local campaign promoting bicycling to work, school and play. To learn more about the CBMF, visit
www.becnet.org/chico-bicycle-music-festival
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As we are solidifying this year's line-up and event features, make sure you are plugged in online to stay up to date on the details!
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BEC Programs and Advocacy
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It's Time to Start Gardening!
Please renew your plot fees at the Oak Way Community Garden
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BEC manages the Oak Way Community Garden, located at 8th Ave & Highway 32 (Nord) and we will have plots to lease for the spring gardening season! If you are a current gardener,
renewals are due by March 1st
. Please come by the BEC Office and speak with Anna, on Monday and Wednesday. *Plots that are not renewed by March 1st will be rented to someone else. If you are interested in gardening with us, please give us a call at (530) 891-6424 and we will let you know what the plot availability for spring is.
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Urban Forest Tree Planting Campaign
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BEC is partnering with the City of Chico's Urban Forest Manager in a three year urban forest planting campaign. This Cal-Fire grant funded project aims to increase the number of Chico street trees by 700 in the next three years and will likely reach higher numbers of trees planted than required. So, what's coming down the line?... Help us get started! We are looking for volunteers to help with door to door outreach in search of prime locations (Chico homes) for trees.
To lend a hand in this awesome project, call Maggie at (510) 701-2207.
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Then, on April 25th and 26th, BEC will host a weekend full of urban forest support. Saturday and Sunday, from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Dorothy Johnson Center, community members who signed up can come pick up their trees and get assistance from local volunteer groups to make sure the planting process is efficient and fun.
If you have a group that is interested in volunteering for this weekend of tree planting, please contact BEC's General Manager, Danielle, at danielle.baxter@becnet.org
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Recycling & Compost Education in Butte County Schools
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R.A.R.E. is a Butte County funded program that seeks to educate the community and K-12 classrooms about the solid waste stream and the importance of the 4R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot (compost). RARE provides FREE hands-on, interactive, and fun educational workshops for ages K-12 in the areas of Recycling, Compost, and Auto Oil Recycling.
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Water - California's Currency: Part II
Article by Neil Bajaj, Chico High School Student
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The Campfire immensely added to the California water crisis. The Paradise water lines were constructed with toxic materials, which, when melted by the fire, released toxic chemicals into the groundwater. According to research recently unearthed by PID’s engineers, the contamination might come from a reaction with galvanized pipes, which are more common in Paradise2. Regardless of the source, toxic contamination has rendered most of the Paradise groundwater undrinkable. In November 2019, PID approved a contract with a construction company to accelerate the repairs. The utility expects 650 laterals to be replaced by spring 20202. Until then, residents of Paradise have been asked to drink bottled water, due to benzene contamination1. Benzene is a harmful chemical which has severe side effects when ingested and is linked to Cancer. One of the few ways that has been scientifically proven to mitigate Benzene from water has been through the use of an activated carbon filter. Activated carbon filters are pretty miraculous in terms of their abilities to remove contaminants, odor and bad taste from tap water. According to EPA3(the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States) Activated Carbon is the only filter technology recommended to remove: -All 32 identified organic contaminants including THMs (by-products from chlorine). -All 14 listed pesticides (this includes nitrates as well as pesticides such as glyphosate also referred to as roundup). -The 12 most common herbicides. One of the easy ways to clean drinking water is to use Brita Carbon wrap. They cost $20 and help reduce several contaminantes4.
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Neil Bajaj
1)
https://pidwater.com/wqadvisory
2)
https://www.chicoer.com/2019/11/19/preliminary-findings-show-that-harmful-contaminants-in-burn-scar-plumbing-are-rare/
3)
https://iaspub.epa.gov/tdb/pages/treatment/findTreatment.do
4)
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Brita-Universal-Heavy-Duty-Carbon-Wrap-2-Phase-Cartridge-WFWHF204/204644557
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California Naturalist Certification
Chico Creek Nature Center
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If you enjoy exploring and learning about our local ecology, engaging in citizen science and sharing your knowledge with others, this program is for you! The 40-hour course will combine citizen science, guest lecturers and field trips in its curriculum, and a volunteer experience to help students explore the unique ecology and natural history of the Big Chico Creek Watershed and surrounding areas.
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Early bird registration deadline 2/6/19
Final registration deadline 3/12/19
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Thank you for your continued support and involvement with BEC!
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General Manager
Butte Environmental Council
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