Black Butte Creek is a spring fed creek which lies within the Shasta River watershed east of and within the city limits of Weed in Siskiyou County, CA. Black Butte Creek flows west from its source (Black Butte Spring) and, about ¼ mile downstream, flows under the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and then through property at 800 Black Butte Road. As it enters the property, Black Butte Creek splits into multiple channels, with three main channels creating a wetland zone through the property. One channel flows into a man-made pond created by previous owners of the property as an emergency water source in case of fire. This pond reaches five feet in depth. Two creek channels then flow out of this pond, while the third main channel bypasses the pond to the north. One of the channels flowing out of this pond also forms two other shallow ponds on the property. Two of the three main channels come back together near the west end of the property, while the third rejoins them on the adjacent downstream property to the west.

During a three-day visit to the 800 Black Butte Road property in September 2006, Black Butte Creek was found to be a meandering braided creek creating a wetland zone with a diversity of plant and birdlife. Tree species included three species of willows, Black Cottonwoods, Ponderosa Pines, cedars, water birches, dogwoods, oaks, and others. A variety of shrubs and herbaceous plants flanked its banks, and the ponds contained thick clumps of rushes and sedges. Additionally, several trout measuring up to 12 inches long were observed in the furthest upstream pond, and 5-6 inch long trout were observed in deeper pools of the northern channel of the creek. The creek was being used by a variety of migrant as well as resident bird species, and a number of mixed-species foraging flocks were using the riparian area. Species observed included Mountain Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Purple Finch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pygmy Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, and others.

In early April, 2007 a nearby property owner, without authorization, ran a backhoe or other heavy machinery up the northernmost creek channel all the way through the 800 Black Butte Road property to the railroad culvert. This action appears to have occurred as a result of a misunderstanding on the part of the downstream neighbor.

As part of the creek alteration, the northernmost channel of Black Butte Creek was dug out deeper than it had previously been, causing erosion of the stream bed and banks. A longstanding diversion at the east end of the property was destroyed, causing all of the other creek channels to dry up. A series of three ponds/wetlands linked by the southernmost channel also soon dried out, causing dieoffs of fish and, presumedly, aquatic insects in the ponds and southern channels. The eastern man-made pond contained numerous fish, previously identified by area residents as rainbow and brook trout. Shortly after the pond and southern channels became dry, an area resident observed 30-40 dead fish in the pond ranging in from a few inches to over a foot long. Since the damage to the creek occurred, two trout (the larger of which was about two inches long) have been observed in the channelized section of the creek at the eastern edge of the property just down from the culvert under the railroad tracks. It is unlikely that these two trout were survivors of the creek alteration process. It is much more likely they traveled through the culvert from the intact upstream section of the creek after the creek alteration occurred.

In addition to the damage to the channel, a swath of bankside vegetation was destroyed along either side of the channelized section of the creek. Previously, the banks were covered by dense thickets of willows and several shrub species, and also had numerous larger trees growing along the banks. During the creek alteration process, several bankside trees measuring up to 10 inches in diameter at breast height were knocked over. These tree species included cedars, ponderosa pines, water birch, and at least four of the 12-15 black cottonwoods which were growing in a stand on the property.

On the return trip downstream, the heavy equipment operator took a different route about 20-30 feet to the east of the creek causing an additional eight foot wide swath of chaparral vegetation to be destroyed.

Many fish and aquatic insects were apparently killed, either by the drying out or channelization of different sections of the creek. The negative impacts to remaining or future populations of fish and aquatic insects include loss or reduction of food resources, increased water turbidity from channel and bankside erosion, and higher water temperatures in the channelized sections due to loss of deep pools, loss of bank and root crevices to hide in, and loss of shade created by bank side vegetation.

Frog species need wetlands for reproduction and early life-cycle developments and Black Butte Creek - especially the three ponds/marsh areas - provide important frog habitat. The alteration of Black Butte Creek and subsequent drying up of the ponds have likely had negative impacts on the area's frog populations. Western Toads and Pacific Treefrogs have been observed in the area.

A link to the full species list of birds recorded on the 800 Black Butte Road property or along Black Butte Creek between Black Butte Springs and the property, is included at the end of this document. A number of these species were negatively impacted by the damage done to Black Butte Creek.

Many bird species utilize the creek's riparian corridor for breeding and foraging. Several of the area's bird species are heavily dependent on the wetland/riparian vegetation. For other bird species, the deciduous nature of the creekside vegetation is very important in an otherwise fairly arid, primarily coniferous region. Bird species recorded along Black Butte Creek which rely heavily on riparian/wetland/deciduous forest include the following:

Coopers Hawk — depends primarily on deciduous woodlands and riparian corridors.
Red-shouldered Hawk — depends on moist, mixed woodlands, often near water. The species has been observed breeding along Black Butte Creek.
Downy Woodpecker — primarily prefers riparian habitats. Uncommon in coniferous forests, except for those with a deciduous component.
Warbling Vireo — prefers riparian/wetland habitats both for breeding and for foraging stopovers during migration. In recent years there have been large declines documented in California populations due to loss of breeding/stopover habitat (Point Reyes Bird Observatory data, Big Sur Ornithology Lab data).
Yellow Warbler — depends on wetland/riparian habitats for breeding and for foraging stopovers during migration. It builds its nests in wet thickets, especially willows.
Wilson's Warbler — depends on riparian habitat for breeding and for foraging stopovers during migration. Although it is not currently listed as threatened or endangered at either federal or state levels, it is a priority species in several conservation listings in western North America due to recent population declines caused primarily by loss of habitat.
Song Sparrow — a resident species which depends on wetland/riparian habitats for breeding and foraging. The species is widely distributed across North America, and is common in many areas. However, habitat loss is an issue, especially with California populations. The species has been extirpated in Santa Barbara and on San Clemente Island and in San Francisco the loss of coastal marsh habitats have caused steep declines in sub-species which are dependent on those habitats.

Some bird species need tree cavities or holes for roosting and nesting and a few of those specifically need dead trees and snags in which to excavate their cavities. The number of dead trees and snags in an area can be a limiting population factor for some such species and the number of already excavated cavities can be a limiting factor for species which cannot excavate their own cavities. As part of the damage that occurred on Black Butte Creek at least four dead trees were knocked over. At least two had partially excavated cavities in them. The following cavity nesting/roosting bird species have been recorded on the 800 Black Butte Road property and along Black Butte Creek between Black Butte Spring and the property:

Northern Flicker — Excavates nest cavities in dead trees/snags and also in sections of live trees with heart rot.
Red-breasted Sapsucker — Excavates nest cavities in dead trees/snags. California populations have declined due to habitat loss and degradation and loss of dead trees/snags for nesting.
Downy Woodpecker — General habitat requirements discussed above. Excavates nest and roost cavities in dead trees/snags.
Hairy Woodpecker — Excavates nest and roost cavities in dead trees/snags and also in sections of live trees with heart rot. California populations tend to prefer dead trees/snags over live trees.
Mountain Chickadee — Nests in cavities excavated by other species.
White-breasted Nuthatch — Nests in cavities excavated by other species.
Pygmy Nuthatch — Nests in cavities excavated by other species.
Western Bluebird — Nests in cavities excavated by other species.

The return of the heavy equipment by a different route, which destroyed an additional swath of chaparral vegetation to the east of Black Butte Creek, may have negatively impacted birds dependent on that habitat. Several bird species breed in chaparral vegetation, and may have had nests in the area damaged. The following chaparral-associated species have been recorded in the vicinity of the destroyed swath of vegetation:

Wrentit — Resident species reliant on chaparral habitat.
Bushtit — Resident species reliant on chaparral and brushy woodlands.
Bewick's Wren — Resident species reliant on chaparral habitat.
Spotted Towhee — Migrates to lower altitudes during winter. Relies on chaparral habitat for breeding and also associates with chaparral and brushy woodlands during winter. Breeds in Siskiyou County.

The alterations to Black Butte Creek in early April, 2007 have caused substantial damage to the streambed and banks, as well as the streamside vegetation. Stream and riparian dependent wildlife which were negatively impacted by the stream alteration include trout, aquatic insects, frogs, and several bird species.

In mid-May water flow was partially restored to the wetland areas dried up due to the creek alteration, including the three ponds/marshes. The restoration of water flow has been a slow process, with water reaching the middle pond about 7 days after water flow was restored, and water reaching the lowest pond about 14 days after water flow was restored. Water flow was restored early enough to prevent most wetland plants from dying, and this vegetation seems to be recovering from the lack of water. Frogs which were previously silent, began calling from the furthest upstream pond within 24 hours of the water flow being restored. The greatest damage was done to the northernmost main channel of the creek which was essentially channelized by digging out the streambed and destroying the flanking vegetation.

Hiring a stream restoration specialist will be required in order to further assess the situation and develop both short-term and long-range plans for restoring and maintaining the Black Butte Creek ecosystem. In order to restore the Black Butte Creek ecosystem it may be necessary to take some or all of the following actions:

Streambed and Banks — Further modifications to the streambed and banks to minimize erosion and maximize the habitat for wildlife.
Water Flow — Creating a more permanent water diversion system for maintaining water flow into the other channels and the ponds, as well as for reinstating water flow through sections of the creek which have remained dry since the initial creek alteration. The temporary diversion does not appear to be sending as much water into the smaller creek branches to the south of the channelized main branch as in the past.
Vegetation — replanting native vegetation which was destroyed during the creek alteration, focusing on maintaining plant diversity and maximizing the habitat potential for stream/riparian dependent wildlife. Erecting protective exclosures around black cottonwood saplings and other plant species which are vulnerable to browsing by deer, in order to encourage growth and facilitate repopulation of those species. Removal of non-native invasive plant species in nearby areas in order to reduce their potential encroachment into areas of disturbed bankside soil and competing with replanted native species.
Wildlife Repopulations — repopulating the creek with native aquatic insect and trout species whose populations were likely to have been lost or greatly reduced during the creek alteration.
Bird Nest Boxes — building and installing nest boxes for cavity nesting bird species which may have lost nest sites as a result of the creek alteration.

For a list of all bird species recorded since September, 2006 on the 800 Black Butte Road property and along Black Butte Creek between Black Butte Spring and the property see the "Black Butte Bird List" of May, 2007 (slightly revised in December, 2007).