Our Office
Ecological Reserves
3521 14 Mile House Road
Forest Ranch, CA 95942
530-898-5010
530-342-1371
Mailing Address
Ecological Reserves - Chico State Enterprises
25 Main St. Suite 203
Chico, CA 95928-5388
Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve
Where Education Meets the Land
The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) is located on the ancestral land of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe. The BCCER is under the direction of Chico State Enterprises. Our mission is to work to preserve critical habitats and to provide a natural area for environmental research and education.
7,835 Acres of Diverse Habitats
With the donation of land in early 2021, the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve now contains 7,835 acres of diverse canyon and ridge habitats, including 4.5 miles of Big Chico Creek, and is home to many species of plants and animals. The BCCER was created with the purchase of the Simmons Ranch in 1999 and the Henning Ranch in 2001. It is owned by Chico State Enterprises.
Goals of the Reserve
- Support the educational mission of CSU, Chico by providing a site with natural resources to support research and teaching
- Develop, upgrade and maintain databases to support research and instruction
- Protect and monitor on-site natural resources
- Provide public outreach and education
Support the Reserve's Innovative Land Management
Adopt an Acre(opens in new window)
Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve Overview
Visitors Welcome!
The Reserve is open from dawn to dusk every day with the exception of hunt days.
2021-2022 BCCER Year in Review & Highlights
Wondering what we have been up to? Check out our most recent highlights from this past year:
FISHBIO's Big Chico Creek 2020 Fish Population Survey
At the heart of our Reserve is Big Chico Creek. The team at FISHBIO conducts an annual assessment of BCC's fish population. For more information, be sure to read their latest report.
The outdoor classroom is a fun place for kids to learn about science in the best classroom anywhere - nature!
For more information - getting your class to the Reserves, becoming an intern or volunteer - contact Education Coordinator Jon Aull at jaull@csuchico.edu.
Counting Trout: FISHBIO & BCCER Fish Population Survey
A short film on the 2019 Big Chico Creek fish population survey conducted by FISHBIO and the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve.
The Reserves in the News
The Fires of 2018: What Happens Now
CSU System article on response to this year's fires and learning opportunities.
Fire Mitigation at the BCCER
An article from Chico State Today on our use of goats and prescribed burns.
Local and Government Agencies Partner with BCCER in Prescribed Burn
An article from Chico State Today(opens in new window) on a partnership for training and forest health.
"Adopt an Acre" Catches Critters on Camera
An article from Chico State Today(opens in new window) about the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve's Adopt an Acre program and the CSC2(opens in new window) interns who helped manage the trail cameras.