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.

In this month's issue:

• Butte Creek Land Returned to Mechoopda
• Indigenous Peoples' Day Activities
• Butte Creek Canyon Cleanup Oct 8
• Butte Climate Action Day Oct 29

• Create an upcycled costume!
• Annual Cleanup Success
• Plant Trees with BEC
• Vote for BEC by October 31!
• Britt Wray Speaking Oct 13

On California Native American Day, September 23, 2022, an historic event took place with humble ceremony. The 93 acre land known as the Butte Creek Ecological Preserve, held by Chico State Enterprises, was returned to the Mechoopda Tribe. This event marks the first of its kind in California. Many barriers were overcome, including changes to legislation to allow Tribes to obtain and manage conservation lands. Not only does this represent a small bit of restitution for the tragedy that was the colinization and theft of this land from the people who have been the caretakers in the region since time immemorial, but this transfer also gives us hope of properly restoring one of northern California's most important riparian watersheds and salmon habitats for a thriving future for all. Read more details about the story HERE, image credit to Jason Halley, CSUC photographer.

• 10/07 - Earth Day Live Online Event - Future of the Global Cleanup (info HERE)
• 10/08 - The LAST Citizen Water Quality Monitoring with The Stream Team of 2022 (more info HERE)
• 10/08 - Butte Creek Canyon Cleanup with Paradise PRPD and BEC 8:30 am - 12 pm
• 10/10 - Indigenous Peoples' Day at Verbena Fields in Chico 10am-3pm
• 10/10-10/12 - Sustainable Ground Water Management Workshops 1-3 (info HERE)
• 10/13 - Teaching Climate Change. Britt Wray speaks at Chico State (More Info HERE)
• 10/17 - Sustainable Ground Water Management Workshop #4 (info HERE)
• 10/22 - Make a Difference Day in Bidwell Park (info HERE)
• 10/24 - BCAGTransportation Routing Study Public Workshop (info HERE)
• 10/25 - T.E.K. Wildtending Plant Walk in Verbena Fields (more info HERE)
• Every Friday - Volunteer at Verbena Fields
• Every Thursday - Help make local compost with Paradise Community Compost (more info HERE)

View BEC's Community Events Calendar HERE. If you would like to promote your environmental-related event to the next newsletter or on the community calendar on our website, please email staff@becnet.org.

It's spooky season, and what is spookier than a pile of trash? A costume made from trash. 

Halloween costumes are a huge contributor to the waste that ends up in our landfills. Nearly 85% of costumes end up in the landfill eventually. The people at Clean River wrote an article that I would like to share with you about “10 Scary Sustainable Halloween Costumes Made From Recyclable Waste” 

There are plenty more costumes that can be made from recyclables. We would love for you to participate with us this year! If you make an upcycles spooky costume, please tag us on facebook and instagram @butteenvironmentalcouncil

Check out our Recycling and Rubbish Education webpage for more upcycle project ideas to reduce waste in creative and fun ways! www.becnet.org/rare

35th Annual Cleanup Success

The 35th Annual Bidwell Park & Chico Creeks Cleanup was a HUGE success!

We could have not done it without the endless support from the community. Without the support of volunteer pickers, waste sorters, drivers, Friends of the Cleanup, business sponsors, nonprofit partners, our city and county agency departments, and of course the BEC Board of Directors, this event would not be possible.

Yet again, with the help of over 500 volunteers, we were able to remove thousands of pounds of trash, recyclable material and hazardous waste from our beloved waterways and shared spaces in just ONE day! So, THANK YOU!

Event Totals

This year, we had 508 participants (volunteers and BEC staff) work 2,911 total hours to clean up 15.5 miles of parks and creeks in Chico, collecting the following:

• 997 pounds of recyclable materials (cans, glass, plastic, cardboard)
• 7,380 pounds of recyclable scrap metal
• 23,635 pounds of waste
• 170 pounds of hazardous waste (including batteries, electronics, etc.)
• 5 mattresses
• 6 shopping carts
• 1 news dispenser
• 6 pallets
• 100 pounds of textiles
• 2,570 volunteer hours + 241 staff hours

This comes out to a total of 32,182 pounds of material removed, which is 16.1 tons! The lifetime total for BEC cleanup events is now 540,795 pounds (270.4 Tons) with 11,593 participants working more than 35,000 volunteer hours. WAY TO GO!!!

🏆Congratulations to the Cleanup Challenge Winners!

Here are the runners-up for the most 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆 items found

•1st place: Spurs

•2nd place: Deep Fryer Basket

•3rd place: 1940’s rusted Acme Beer Can

Next year’s cleanup will be on Saturday, September 16, 2023, in conjunction with California Coastal Cleanup Day and World Cleanup Day. You can already pre-register HERE so please mark your calendar and get on our volunteer list!

Thank You Cleanup Sponsors

Once again, many thanks to the City of Chico, Butte County Fish & Game Commission, Butte County Public Works, The Rose Foundation, and all our business and nonprofit sponsors: California Water Service, C Force Bottling Co., Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., City of Chico, Altacal Audubon Society, Recology, Waste Management, Klean Kanteen, Chico U-Lock It Self Storage, Chico Green Builders, Friends of Bidwell Park, The Printed Image, Chico Area Recreation District, Cloud Chaser, KZFR, California Health Collaborative, Chico Natural Foods Co-Op, Members 1st Credit Union, CN&R, InterWest Insurance Services LLC, Pullins Cyclery, Tri Counties Bank, Chico Naturopathic Medicine, Azad's Martial Arts Center, Stand Up For Chico, North Valley Harm Reduction Coalition (NVHRC), Sigma Metalytic, Melton Design Group, Raleys, Costco, Mr. Kopy, Hodges Nursery, Upper Park Clothing Co. for the monetary support for this event, as well as Beatniks, Coffee Ranch, Gnarly Deli, Lundberg Family Farms, and Noble Orchards for providing volunteer refreshments and lunch. 

The endless support from the community helps us to achieve our mission to protect the land, air and water of Butte County!

Plant Trees with BEC!

We have lots of tree planting events in the works for the upcoming months, so stay tuned for some new trees coming to Chico by the end of 2022!  

If you would like to help expand Chicos urban forest, please sign up to be a tree planting volunteer! 

You can sign up to be a tree planting volunteer online at, bit.ly/BEC-TreePlantingVolunteer

Mark your calendars for November 19 & 20 because we are partnering with Paradise Park & Recreation District to plant trees on the ridge! Meet at Bille Park & Noble on Nov. 19 - 20 from 10 am - 3 pm

For more information about this event, please email Sophia with Paradise Parks & Rec at smunoz-oliverez@paradiseprpd.com or call (530) 872 - 6393. 

According to the National Forest Association, “Tree planting provides fresh water for millions of Americans across the country.” 

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up today, and plant trees with us!

SOURCE: https://www.nationalforests.org/blog/31-things-you-should-know-about-tree-planting#:~:text=Tree%20planting%20provides

URGENT CALL FOR HELP!

With growth typically comes growing pains. Over the past few years, BEC has expanded its reach, implemented new projects across the county, built relationships, advocated on issues that matter to all of us, doubled staff, added two Climate Action Corps Fellows, and more. Our organization STILL depends on grassroots donations from community members and, unfortunately, we have seen a drastic decline in membership and monthly sustaining donations. We are facing an unusual struggle to afford our administrative costs and are calling on our supporters for help. If you are already a member, please consider increasing your monthly contribution even by just $2 per month. If you are not yet or are no longer a member, please consider joining our membership program for as little as $4 per month. If you are unsure of your membership status, as many times members lapse and miss our renewal notifications, then please don't hesitate to call our office.

This newsletter is opened by more than 1,000 people each month, yet we are down to 175 members. Asking for help is one of my greatest personal challenges, but I am humbly asking this of you, dear reader, today.

Please help Butte Environmental Council keep up this tremendous momentum we have in expanding our impact for a better future in Butte County and the surrounding region.

Humbly yours - Caitlin Dalby, Executive Director

YOU are the reason BEC thrives!

BEC is a grassroots non-profit dedicated to a healthy environment for us all. Our work is made possible by people like you! Being a BEC member means sustaining the work we do for the environment of Butte County and the surrounding area:



• Angel Members contribute $35 or more each month

• Sustaining Members contribute between $4 and $34 each month

You don't have to be a member to contribute:

• One-Time Donations of any amount helps us serve our community and the environment!
• Volunteers help by donating their time, energy, expertise, and resources.