Year In Review 2019-2020

August 2020

YEAR IN REVIEW 2019 - 2020 Fiscal Year Report

Butte Environmental Council (BEC)

BEC'S MISSION Is to protect and defend the land, air and water of Butte County and the surrounding region through action, advocacy and education.

BEC STAFF Danielle Baxter General Manager, Anna Isaacs Business Manager, Emily Donaldson RARE Program Coordinator

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Becky Holden, Aaron Kunst, Scott Grist, Shyla Black, Bryce Goldstein, Maggie Scarpa, Luann Manss, Beba Greer

02 | Fiscal Year Report

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW A comprehensive report on income and expense activities throughout the preceding year.

REVENUES Events & Sponsorship 27.8% Membership & Donations 44.9%

Programs: Grants & Contracts 27.3%

MEMBERSHIP INCOME PERCENTAGES Angels

the cornerstone of bec's operations

Annual Members One-Time Donations 0

EXPENSES

10,000

20,000

Events & Outreach 7.4%

Programs & Education 20.6%

Facility & Operations 26.5%

Administration 42.2%

30,000

03 | Fiscal Year Report

SUSTAINING BEC'S WORK supported by you 400

300

membership increase over the last year

200

100

0 July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

March

Apr

May

June

In addition to over 800 volunteers, businesses, organizations and partners, BEC's 2019-2020 fiscal year achievements were made possible by over 300 individuals who financially support our mission driven work.

a way to give that just makes sense In order to ensure a vital and secure future for the Butte Environmental Council's work, we have expanded our membership opportunities to encompass the category Sustaining Member. Sustaining members donate between $3 and $30 a month directly from their bank account to ours. This option allows the advantage of knowing your membership is always current and that your contribution is at a level that is sustainable for you, and for BEC.

BEC ANGELS & MEMBERS AT THE 44TH ANNUAL GALA

04 | Fiscal Year Report

BEC EVENTS

with the goal of coalition building and providing tangible action to improve environmental health EARTHDAY URBAN TREE PLANTING 50 TREES TO HONOR 50 YEARS OF EARTHDAY On May 2nd and 3rd, nearly 40 community volunteers helped us deliver 118 trees to Chico residents, far surpassing our goal of 50 trees planted in Chico's urban forest in honor of 50 years of Earth Day! This effort is the result of a partnership between BEC and the City of Chico to involve the community in planting over 700 local trees by 2022.

44TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CELEBRATION THE WORK WE'VE DONE TOGETHER Celebrating 44 years of environmental leadership in Butte County with over 130 community members, supporters and partners in November 2019 was an evening to remember! BEC awarded Emily Alma with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Ali Meders-Knight with the Environmentalist of the Year Award and Donna Garrison with the Butte Environmental Council Service Award.

BIDWELL PARK & CREEKS CLEANUP

TEICHERT PONDS RESTORATION

OVER 500 VOLUNTEERS

HELPING HANDS MAKE FOR LIGHT WORK

27,720 lbs. of trash, 979 lbs. of recyclable materials, and 2,573 lbs. of scrap metal were removed from 15 miles of Chico creeks and parks in order to protect and prolong the health of our riparian habitats and sensitive species.

On May 30th, BEC and the City of Chico led a full cleanup and invasive species removal day with 36 community volunteers, leaving this cherished Chico wetland pristine and accessible to wildlife and the public.

05 | Fiscal Year Report

BEC PROGRAMS

with the goal of education, community outreach and civic engagement in our region RECYCLING & RUBBISH EDUCATION

RARE IS BACK! The RARE Program had a successful year of education and outreach in Butte County schools, back under the BEC umbrella with: 73 in-classroom presentations on recycling, composting and oil disposal 30Â Butte County schools reached 1,613 students engaged in waste reduction curriculum 7 community events attended with public outreach and resources

COMMUNITY FORUM SERIES

EDUCATION & CIVIC DISCOURSE August Climate Action Plan Listening Session November & February Housing and Climate Change Forums January Community Water Issues Forum

OAKWAY COMMUNITY GARDEN

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY All Oakway Community Garden plots filled and 39 individuals and families growing local food, reaping the benefits that our soil and climate provide us!

OAK RESTORATION PROGRAM

CREEK WATCH HOTLINE

EXTENDING ROOTS & NATIVE HABITAT

WATCHDOG, ACT, PROTECT

We are concluding a 7-year oak restoration project in Bidwell Park with great success! After these years of fantastic volunteer support and over 150 hours of planting acorns, watering seedlings and maintaining growing conditions, we will "graduate" 57 established young oaks to cages they can safely grow in for the next decade.

BEC hosts the Creek Watch Hotline (530) 891-6459, a telephone referral service that connects people with the appropriate public outlets to report local dumping or water quality issues. Now online for accessible and easy virtual reporting at www.becnet.org

06 | Fiscal Year Report

ADVOCACY & A PLATFORM FOR PARTNERSHIP made possible by you WATCHDOGGING THE ISSUES & POLICY FRAMEWORK Land Prioritize infill development in Butte County and oppose urban sprawl in sensitive habitat areas Engagement and review of significant land use Restore ecosystems through planting native species and current habitat protection measures Air Review transportation-related plans and policies Increase education and access to public transportation Work with local government and community group efforts, including the climate action commission, to reduce GHG emissions Water Watchdog local and regional Sustainable Groundwater Management Act implementation Engage the public in regional water issues Support conservation efforts in agricultural and domestic water uses Support protection of groundwater dependent ecosystems

OUR WORKING PARTNERSHIPS Environmental Coalition of Butte County BEC is revisiting its original "Council" identity with efforts to bring together local environmental organizations and meet regularly as a coalition.

City of Chico Quarterly Environmental Meetings The BEC General Manager hosts quarterly current environmental issue meetings with City of Chico staff alongside, and in representation of, local environmental stakeholder groups.

Smart Growth Advocates BEC is an active partner of S.G.A. in collaboration and support of their initiative to advocate for a healthy and livable community by avoiding suburban sprawl.

07 | Fiscal Year Report

CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES community resiliency & adaptation

spring flowers bring hope at the oakway community garden As for many non-profits and local businesses, the impacts of COVID-19 on regularly scheduled events and operations has been challenging to navigate. But, WE HAVE YOU TO THANK for supporting us through this difficult time. Here are three ways we have adapted to fulfill our mission and support our community through this process.

Endangered Species Education online The annual Endangered Species Faire is a legacy event that provides interactive education to hundreds in Butte County on the critical importance of endangered and threatened species. Without the ability to educate in the classroom this Spring, we provided public access to the annual curriculum and inspiring art activities, online, with great response from parents and teachers at home!

Mutual Aid Support community resiliency In April, the City of Chico took emergency steps to comply with CDC guidelines by enacting a short term ban on evictions of homeless encampments sheltering less than 10 individuals. As restrictions lifted temporarily, the creeks became less impacted and local mutual aid response groups ignited to clean and restore targeted creek bed areas. BEC provided a network of outreach, support, and safety materials. It is crucial we stand by these efforts, as an organization that has been at the forefront of local creek health for nearly 4 decades.

More Time at the Oakway Garden soil beds of hope The Oakway Community Garden is not only a pillar asset of BEC, in regards to our mission, but it is one place we can offer involvement and sustainable living during a time when it's unsafe to be indoors or close to others. We have spent additional time improving our community garden and encourage building blocks of local food security.

08 | Fiscal Year Report

THE FUTURE OF BEC alongside our supporters

VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION Our community forum series will be adapted to host regular and free educational forums on a variety of current environmental issues with panels of experts. The first of this upcoming virtual series will be the Zero Waste Butte County Forum on October 14th, 2020.

CLEANUP - TWO DAYS In times of challenge, BEC steps forward for our local environment! We are expanding our legacy Bidwell Park & Chico Creeks Cleanup to two days for the first time in BEC history! We are taking all necessary safety precautions and front-loading materials and dispatch to keep volunteers safe and increase our efforts.

URBAN FOREST PROGRAM EXPANSION BEC has expanded it's partnership with the City of Chico Urban Forester's revitalization project. This new program encompasses meaningful stipend internship opportunities for two individuals per semester to work on goals and initiatives within the non-profit and municipal sector simultaneously.

RARE ONLINE In addition to standing program goals, RARE will be working hard to provide consistent virtual updates on Butte County waste reduction initiatives, zero waste lifestyle campaigns, and new and improved professional videos that make RARE curriculum virtual and accessible to all.

09 | Fiscal Year Report

A CALL TO ACTION

together with you

1

increase your level of support

4

2

make a onetime donation

invite your friends and community to join bec

5 join our board of directors

3 serve on a committee

10 | Fiscal Year Report

STAY INVOLVED WITH BEC get in touch with us at

facebook.com/ butteenvironmentalcouncil/

@butteenvironmentalcouncil

email our general manager at

click "sign up for bec's e-news"

danielle.baxter@becnet.org

at www.becnet.org

click the link in the chat to take the 2020 member survey, we want to hear from you!

A WYATT HERSEY COMMUNITY MURAL AT THE BEC OFFICE