Grad students from Chico State have been working alongside nonprofit and federal organizations to reestablish and analyze the success of habitats for juvenile salmon in the tributaries of the Sacramento River. Salmon play a crucial role in the Sacramento River’s ecosystem by being one of its top predator fish.
The Coleman National Fish Hatchery on Feb. 4 partnered with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife to release more than 300,000 juvenile Chinook salmon into the Sacramento River, and more than 53,000 juvenile winter Chinook salmon into Upper Battle Creek.
Susan Strachan from Chico State’s Geographical Information Center manages the restoration project. Amanda Banet, assistant professor in the biological science department, has a team of graduate students in-charge of collecting data and tracking overall progress.
More affordable housing in Chico is on the way. The Chico Housing Action Team was granted nearly $300,000 to lease a property for non-congregate housing on Feb. 2. The grant will also benefit low-income and displaced students because Chico State Basic Needs has partnered with CHAT to help find affordable housing.
CHAT Executive Director Leslie Johnson said on Feb. 2 they hope to promptly purchase the Town House Motel. “It has about 30 rooms,” Johnson said. “The Torres Center currently booked 10 rooms for six more weeks, however 20 rooms are still available. After that period of time the rooms will be available to us.”
Co-Founder Robert Trausch said CHAT intends to use the Town House Motel for transitional housing while also constructing an additional 60 units for permanent housing.
News items included:
20% to 30% of fall classes will be in-person or in a hybrid/flex format
Students will have the opportunity to participate in face-to-face activity on a limited basis via clubs and student organizations
Butte County plans to open a vaccination site on-campus to prioritize vaccinating students and faculty
Freshmen enrollment numbers for Spring 2021 decreased by 5%, but transfer applications increased 4%. About 750 new students joined the Wildcat family this semester
Chico State expects to receive around $31 million from the second federal stimulus package approved in December. A minimum of $10 million will go directly to students as emergency aid
Residence halls are expected to see hundreds of students dorm in the fall.
Uncertain weather conditions have caused the homeless and transient population in Chico to hunker down in peril. In addition to COVID-19 complications, the possibility of catching cold-related illnesses like flu looms as an atmospheric river a storm system bringing high winds and cold rains flows through NorCal.
Chico occasionally opens a warming center at Depot Park. However, it isn’t readily available and only opens when temperatures become life-threatening. According to a Jan. 27 press release, city staff is closely monitoring the weather in order to determine if it’s necessary to open the emergency warming shelters and will notify people when it reopens.