Wednesday March 12, 2025
KRCR —
California Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) and Senator Megan Dahle (R-Bieber) have announced a legislative push to address public safety concerns in the Five-Mile Basin, a critical flood control system in Chico and Butte County.
The basin, compromised by erosion from the 2024 Park Fire, faces heightened flood risks due to recent storms. In a letter to the Assembly Budget Committee, Gallagher and Dahle requested $7 million for emergency maintenance.
The Five-Mile Basin, built in the 1960s by the US Army Corps of Engineers, diverts floodwater into Big Chico Creek, Lindo Channel, and Sycamore Creek. Maintenance was halted in the early 2000s due to environmental concerns, but the Park Fire’s aftermath has increased flood risks. The fire burned 429,603 acres, affecting 75% of Chico’s watershed.
A study estimated 67,000 cubic yards of debris clogging the waterway. “We all want clean air, clean water and thriving ecosystems. But there has got to be a balance and some common sense,” Dahle said. “California must invest in this project and cut the red tape. Plain and simple.”