The Erosion Line
Community-Built Environmental Art to Raise Awareness
of Trail Erosion in Bidwell Park
Erosion Line: Art + Education + Community
The Erosion Line is an environmental artwork that is integrated into trails accessing Monkey Face in Upper Bidwell Park. It draws from Park imagery and history, as well as community participation, to help people learn about trail erosion.
The first step in finding a solution is recognizing the problem.
Trail erosion is widespread throughout Bidwell Park
The geology and natural processes that formed beautiful Chico Creek Canyon also make trails susceptible to erosion. Volcanic bedrock is overlain by a thin layer of topsoil that is easily displaced by normal trail use. Trail erosion makes trails rocky, slippery, and dangerous. It denudes hillsides, harms trees and wildlife, and damages Chico Creek.
Community volunteers make the Erosion Line
Everyone aged 8 and up is invited to help .
Volunteers learn how to use traditional sculpting tools to make the Erosion Line under the direction of Bidwell Park Artist-in Residence and PALS volunteer Eve Werner.
The Erosion Line marks the edge of erosion on trails. It is composed of a repeating motif. Each motif consists of three small holes in a triangle formation.
The motifs are chiseled into volcanic bedrock that has been exposed by trail erosion.
The motif design is inspired by features found in Bidwell Park such as ancient bedrock mortars . . .
. . . and acorn storage holes made by woodpeckers.
How to interpret the Erosion Line
Motifs point in the direction that erosion is heading.
Originally, when installed, the tips of the motifs touched the edge of erosion on trails.
Now, if you see a gap between the tip of a motif and the edge of erosion, it means that erosion has worsened.
Register for a two-hour volunteer shift
The more people participate, the better the Erosion Line will be!
https://www.trackitforward.com/site/516384/events/embed
This project is possible through the generous help and support of the City of Chico Parks and Resource Management team and the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission. A huge shout out to Shane Romain, Assistant CPRM Director, for making all things administrative possible!
