Five creeks around Chico found with high levels of fecal matter

Reports by a local group show that Chico Creeks contain a concerning level of fecal matter.

New at 5 -- we're investigating reports that chico creeks contain a concerning level of fecal matter... action news now reporter mackenzie drigo shows us what's really in the water.

Look live fruit grower laboratory did 5 test reports on our local watering holes like sycamore pool finding fecal coli-form bacteria in these waters that can either be from humans or animals.

Sot jody gallaway- biologist "i wouldn't let my children swim in certain parts of the creek," the interest groupã"one chico" funded the testsã according to state levels.

Samples were collected from sycamore east and west, 5 mile, comanche creek, and humboldt park.once per week for the month of june.

Biologist jody gallaway says it's natural to have bacteria in water but needles have increased.

Sot jody "its very common for us to find a considerable amount of garbage, human waste, and more often we are finding needles at a increased level," the reports show there is more fecal matter than usual- some think that could be caused by camping by waterways.

Sot jody "there could be a little more by unauthorized use of our creek by people camping near the creek sometimes we see a spike in that type of bacteria when there is low water," linda herman is a manager at the chico public works, she says they only test at sycamore pool.

Sot linda herman park and natural resource manager of chico public works "we don't test the other creeks, we test above pool and below the pool, monthly during the winter time and weekly during the swim season," herman says they test for total coliform and fecal coliform and the pools get cleaned every other thursday.

Herman says over 5,000 milliliters would require the pool to close.

According to the california regional water quality control board the bacteria water quality should not exceed 200 fecal units per 100 milliliters.

Susan farwell- community member "i don't trust people to be clean i just don't know how often or how well the pools are cleaned and i'm just not comfortable being exposed to who knows what."

Susan farwell isn't the only chico'en that has never swam in pools here.

Rachel gallagher doesn't as well.

Rachel gallagher "i have not ever swam in this pool, i think i would have been open to it at a different time but right now with covid going on i don't feel we can maintain a 6 foot distance and the water that were sharing i don't feel comfortable right now," herman tells me they are looking into getting an e- coli test.

Reporting in chico mackenzie drigo action news now coverage you can count on.

Herman says public works will continue posting their testing on watering holes like sycamore pool finding fecal coli-form bacteria in these waters that can either be from humans or animals.

Sot jody gallaway- biologist "i wouldn't let my children swim in certain parts of the creek," the interest groupã"one chico" funded the testsã according to state levels.

Samples were collected from sycamore east and west, 5 mile, comanche creek, and humboldt park.once per week for the month of june.

Biologist jody gallaway says it's natural to have bacteria in water but needles have increased.

Sot jody "its very common for us to find a considerable amount of garbage, human waste, and more often we are finding needles at a increased level," the reports show there is more fecal matter than eenal- seig th&m& o on i don't feel we can maintain a 6 foot distance and the water that were sharing i don't feel comfortable right now," herman tells me they are looking into getting an e- coli test.

Reporting in chico mackenzie drigo action news now coverage you can count on.

Herman says public works will continue posting their testing on the website.

To look at the reports in full detail- go to our website action news now dot com still to come...