Mount Shasta City Park

Mount Shasta City Park is located off of North Mt. Shasta Boulevard at 1248 Nixon Road, Mount Shasta, California in Siskiyou County. It is one of the many parks within the Mt. Shasta Recreation and Parks District and hosts the District's headquarters.[1]

Mt. Shasta City Park spans 26 acres and offers a variety of opportunities for recreation such as hiking, camping, and biking among many community events hosted within the park buildings. The park is also home to the headwaters of the Upper Sacramento River.[2][3][4]

Recreation

Mt. Shasta City Park is complete with camping areas, picnic tables and benches, trails for viewing nature, Headwaters Bridge, biking trails, a large field, community buildings and the Headwaters Spring. Many of the buildings onsite are available for rental and host events throughout the year. Upper Lodge Recreation Center features a stage, commercial kitchen, and is capable of seating over 185 people. Overlooking the headwaters spring, Lower Lodge offers similar activities as the Upper Lodge Recreation Center on a smaller scale. The historic Rod and Gun Building is available for rental Spring through Fall, and The Dance Hall offers room for wedding receptions, dances, and is the former home of the Dudes and Daisies Square Dance Club.[1][4]

There are a number of campsites complete with picnic tables and a small barbecue available for reservation.

Since 1974 the park has offered dinners for senior citizens every Tuesday to Friday as part of the Mt. Shasta Senior Nutrition Program.[5]

Headwaters of the Sacramento River

Mount Shasta City Park is the source of the Upper Sacramento River. Spring water provided from glacial melt emerges directly from the porous rocks in the side of Big Springs Hill after more than 50 years of filtration through volcanic rock. The spring water converges into a shallow pool before cascading downstream into Stream Creek and continuing its journey to the Sacramento River.[5] The "Big Springs" draw both locals and travelers to partake in the virgin drinking water, providing a break from a long journey, a place to meet new people, and to admire the scenery. There is no swimming or wading allowed in the springs.

History of the Park

Before Mt. Shasta City Park was developed, the land provided hunting grounds for the Wintun, Okwanuchu, and Maidu Native American tribes until 1841 when the land was first discovered by outside explorers.

In 1901, "Big Springs" was fixed with a water wheel that provided Mt. Shasta City with its first source of energy.

From 1920-1943 the park property was used by California State University, Chico, as the summer campus for the Teacher’s College. The park buildings still in use today originated from this time.

In 1947, California State University, Chico, deeded the park property to Mt. Shasta City and in 2005 the city gave the property to the Mt. Shasta Recreation and Parks District.

Originally, the Recreation Center building served as the local National Guard Armory.[1]

Water health

The water emerging from the Big Springs headwaters emerges from the Big Springs aquifer. The aquifer has a flow rate of 420 l/s an average temperature of 6.8C, a pH of 6.71, a siO2 concentration of 53.4 mg/l, Calcium concentrations of 3.7 mg/l of water, and a Mg concentration of 3.18 mg/l.[7][8]

Locals and travelers admire Mt. Shasta City Park for the "Big Springs" headwaters of the Sacramento River. As the water was initially glacial melt that had filtered through volcanic rock slowly over time, the water is highly desired by many. Many locals treat the Headwaters as their local hangout spot where neighbors and friends convene to chat while filling up giant containers of water which they will use later for cooking and drinking. Many individuals prefer to use the water from the Headwaters over their own tap or well water. Although the water has not been treated, it is considered safe to drink.[9]

Restoration projects and goals

Mt. Shasta Recreation and Parks District has worked to ensure Mt. Shasta City Park is healthy and bountiful. Many unique varieties of flowers and other vegetation are planted around the park and labeled. There are often flowers in bloom and during the warmer months pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees frequent the area. The addition of a concrete slab next to the spring allows for easier access to the water without having to travel on the rocks within the pool. Also, restoration has been done to stabilize the base of Spring Hill to minimize erosion.

Controversial water bottling by Crystal Geyser

The water within the Big Springs aquifer is highly desired by many. Many locals are not happy with the nearby Crystal Geyser water bottling facility which taps into the Big Springs aquifer. The concern over losing this component of their daily lives has resulted in a push to study the water quality and chemistry within the Big Springs aquifer. Many locals are hoping to stop the Crystal Geyser facility from using their water source for profit.[9][10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "City Park Headquarters". Mt. Shasta Recreation & Parks District. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcjr-9xTunk
  3. ↑ http://www.mtshastanews.com/article/20140319/NEWS/140319607
  4. 1 2 "Sacramento River Headwaters - Mt. Shasta City Park - Mt. Shasta, CA". Exploring NorCal. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Mt. Shasta City Park". Yelp. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  6. ↑ http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy.lib.csus.edu/science/article/pii/S0377027302004262?np=y
  7. ↑ http://www.jstor.org.proxy.lib.csus.edu/stable/41264524?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
  8. ↑ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.lib.csus.edu/doi/10.1002/rra.2655/abstract
  9. 1 2 "Sacramento River Headwaters, Mt. Shasta City Park, CA". Find a Spring. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  10. ↑ http://search.proquest.com.proxy.lib.csus.edu/docview/926450641?OpenUrlRefId=info:xri/sid:primo&accountid=10358

Coordinates: 41°19′38″N 122°19′26″W / 41.327133°N 122.323919°W / 41.327133; -122.323919

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