Oxidation Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary

The Oxidation Ponds at the Chico Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) have been a prime birding spot just on the outskirts of Chico for many decades. In 2010, the city completed work on the plant and added a packed gravel pathway out to the ponds from a new parking area. 

In 2017, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) told the Chico WTP that it could not allow unrestricted access to the public. Altacal negotiated with the City of Chico Public Works Department and the Central Valley RWQCB and ended up gaining access to the ponds through Altacal docents who were trained on safety issues. 

Altacal is allowed to lead one field trip per month, with one docent to every 10 field trip participants. The Altacal docents are also allowed to conduct monitoring and research surveys twice a week. Join Altacal to get the White-tailed Kite Newsletter and find out when our field trips are taking place.