Butte Creek (California)
Encyclopedia
Butte Creek is tributary to the Sacramento River
, joining the river in the vicinity of Colusa, California
, USA. About 93 miles (149.7 km) in length, it runs through much of Butte County, California
(the county, however, receives its name from the Sutter Buttes
in Sutter County, California
). It travels through a spectacular mini-Grand Canyon as it reaches the Sacramento Valley floor, where it then flows somewhat south and west of the city of Chico
towards the southwestern corner of the county.
Recent efforts have brought back Chinook salmon
and steelhead runs to the stream.
There are several dams in its upper reaches. The PG&E has facilities at Centerville
. The Paradise Irrigation District has Paradise Dam impounding Paradise Lake and the smaller Magalia Dam just beneath it on Little Butte Creek.
The creek is notable for the Honey Run Covered Bridge
, the only remaining three-level covered bridge left in the United States. It is the centerpiece of Honey Run Covered Bridge Park. Subjected to repeated vandalism, the bridge and the park require the continuous presence of a resident attendant photos.
The Colman Museum, headquartered in Chico, California
, is dedicated to preserving the history and beauty of the Butte Creek canyon.
Whitewater kayaking
on Butte Creek is popular, in part because of the outstanding scenery of the "Little Grand Canyon" section of the creek near Chico.
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
, joining the river in the vicinity of Colusa, California
Colusa, California
Colusa is the county seat of Colusa County, California. The population was 5,971 at the 2010 census, up from 5,402 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, USA. About 93 miles (149.7 km) in length, it runs through much of Butte County, California
Butte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
(the county, however, receives its name from the Sutter Buttes
Sutter Buttes
The Sutter Buttes are a small circular complex of eroded volcanic lava domes which rise as buttes above the flat plains of the Central Valley of California in the United States. The highest peak, South Butte, reaches about above sea level. The Buttes are located just outside of Yuba City,...
in Sutter County, California
Sutter County, California
Sutter County is a county located along the Sacramento River in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of state capital Sacramento. Sutter County is part of the Greater Sacramento CSA....
). It travels through a spectacular mini-Grand Canyon as it reaches the Sacramento Valley floor, where it then flows somewhat south and west of the city of Chico
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
towards the southwestern corner of the county.
Recent efforts have brought back Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
and steelhead runs to the stream.
There are several dams in its upper reaches. The PG&E has facilities at Centerville
Centerville, Butte County, California
Centerville is an unincorporated community in Butte County, California along Butte Creek. It was midway between Helltown and Diamondville. The area is about one and three quarters miles, straight-line distance, west of Paradise. The US Geological Survey defines it as a populated place with a...
. The Paradise Irrigation District has Paradise Dam impounding Paradise Lake and the smaller Magalia Dam just beneath it on Little Butte Creek.
The creek is notable for the Honey Run Covered Bridge
Honey Run Covered Bridge
Honey Run Bridge is a wooden covered bridge on Honey Run Road located about halfway in between Chico and Paradise in northern California. It is one of the few covered bridges left in California and is the only tri-span bridge in the United States. It was built in 1894 by George Miller. The bridge...
, the only remaining three-level covered bridge left in the United States. It is the centerpiece of Honey Run Covered Bridge Park. Subjected to repeated vandalism, the bridge and the park require the continuous presence of a resident attendant photos.
The Colman Museum, headquartered in Chico, California
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
, is dedicated to preserving the history and beauty of the Butte Creek canyon.
Whitewater kayaking
Whitewater kayaking
Whitewater kayaking is the sport of paddling a kayak on a moving body of water, typically a whitewater river. Whitewater kayaking can range from simple, carefree gently moving water, to demanding, dangerous whitewater. River rapids are graded like ski runs according to the difficulty, danger or...
on Butte Creek is popular, in part because of the outstanding scenery of the "Little Grand Canyon" section of the creek near Chico.