From September 24 – 26, 2026, Friends of Butte Creek mark their 20th anniversary hosting the Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour at both the Pageant Theatre in Chico and the Paradise Performing Arts Center in Paradise. Join them for another year of inspiring environmental activism and a love for nature through film. This year’s festival features two nights of spectacular films and four guided field trips throughout the Butte Creek watershed.
The Friends of Butte Creek work to protect, restore and enhance the natural habitats of wildlife in the Butte Creek Watershed. They Friends of Butte Creek evolved from the early efforts to create a collaborative community-based organization in the Butte Creek Watershed. When it became clear that environmental concerns and opinions were being ignored, FBC formed in 1999 to advocate for stronger environmental review, protection and enhancements to the watershed.
FBC has worked closely with several environmental groups and other supporters of community-based groups to bring attention to the ongoing problems with recovery of salmon and steelhead. FBC has partnered with Earthjustice, the Sacramento River Preservation Trust, Friends of the River, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Association, and the Northern California Federation of Fly Fishers to pursue legal action to ensure that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Pacific Gas and Electric, and the state and federal agencies do everything possible to recover salmon and steelhead in the most expeditious manner.
FBC has worked with the California Hydro Reform Coalition to learn about and participate in the FERC Integrated Licensing Process for the DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric project operated by PGE. FBC has invested hundreds of hours and written dozens of pages of comments and suggestions for improving the project and the study plans in preparation for the application for a new 30-year license for the project.
FBC has also worked with Streaminders, the Sacramento River Preservation Trust, and others to provide substantive comments on the CALFED funded Butte Creek Floodplain Management Project. FBC is the only Butte Creek group submitting comments on the project.
FBC has also been instrumental in providing field trips for school groups to view spawning salmon throughout the watershed to develop a community with a strong appreciation of this natural miracle.
Pamela Posey says, “Our event builds community and raises awareness about our Salmon Stronghold that is Butte Creek. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. FBC builds much of their support from this event.”
Pamela goes on to talk about FBC’s favorite things about hosting a Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour event. She says it’s “reaching out to sponsors and the reception that we receive. Donors now contact us about giving to our silent auction (which shows that this event and us are respected and valued). And, most importantly, seeing the impact that the films have on folks and then hearing about films that made an impact on people years later.”
