January
Fast Facts

There are three main types of stormwater pollution:

  Litter, such as cigarette butts, plastic bags and drink containers.

  Chemical pollution, such as detergents, oil, fertilizers and pesticides.

  Natural pollution, such as leaves, garden clippings, animal droppings, sediment and silt.

Download the PDF for the 2008 Chico Clean Creeks Calendar here. You can pick up a free printed copy of the 2008 calendar at Chico City Hall and the Chico Public Library. Important Contacts Creek Watch Hotline Hosted by Butte Environmental Council 891-6459 Report polluted runoff from construction site erosion, illegal dumping, and dumping in areas that drain to storm drains (e.g., parking lots) City of Chico Storm Water Management Program Rich Burgi website 879-6950 after hours: City of Chico Fire Department 897-4900 Butte County Storm Water Program Tom Blixt website 538-7266 Ext 2009 Report significant hazardous material spills Governor’s Office of Emergency Services California State Warning Center 1-800-852-7550 www.oes.ca.gov Report poaching and pollution in the State's waterways CalTIP (Californians Turn In Poachers and Polluters) hotline 1-888-334-2258 Report water quality concerns Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Redding 530-224-4845 Where to recycle used oil Butte County Public Works Dept. Solid Waste and Recycling Division website 530-538-7681 Where to dispose of household hazardous waste Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility website 1101 Marauder Street, Chico 1-866-429-2288 For water quality concerns within Butte County Butte County Environmental Health Dept. 530-891-2727 Become a citizen monitor and learn how to test our local creek water Please contact Timmarie Hamill, Citizen Monitor Coordinator, Big Chico Creek Watershed Alliance thamill@bigchicocreek.org with the subject line Citizen Monitoring, or call 530-342-6623.

Welcome to the Keep Chico Clean Website

Keep Chico Clean is a cooperative effort of the City of Chico and the Butte County Department of Public Works, Storm Water Management Programs (SWMP). The effort is designed to foster public awareness that the water in our gutters drains directly to our creeks; and to provide information on how to prevent runoff pollution of our local creeks and streams.

Thank you for keeping our gutters clean!

You can make a big difference and help to keep our creeks clean by following these simple guidelines.

View the Keep Chico Clean home page for any month

January	February	March	April
May	June	July	August
September	October	November	December

January Tips:
Preventing Stormwater Pollution

When it rains, stormwater flows across driveways and patios, over lawns and sidewalks, and into our street gutters and storm drains. Along the way, stormwater picks up debris, chemicals, oil residue, dirt and other pollutants. Together, the stormwater and pollutants get discharged, untreated, into our local creeks. These pollutants impact our water quality and harm wildlife. Polluted runoff is the nation's greatest threat to clean water.

Chico residents can help keep our local creeks clean and healthy by keeping common pollutants like pesticides, pet waste, construction debris, grass clippings, and automotive fluids off the ground and out of stormwater. Each month in this calendar highlights the beauty and value of our local creeks and features watershed-friendly practices that every Chico household can adopt in an effort to keep our waterways clean and healthy for both humans and wildlife to enjoy.

The Environmental Protection Agency considers stormwater pollution as the single biggest threat to water quality.