CHICO, Calif. - Some new signs with a strong warning have some community members worried about taking their typical route along a north Chico levee.
The signs, which are located along the levee behind Abbott Circle in Chico read: "No trespassing, levee and mud creek are private property." The signs also have a warning on them, saying the "area is active gun range by owners."


"I think we are disappointed," said neighbor, Sandy Reinthaler.
Reinthaler walks her dog along the levee every week and was surprised to see the new signs put up. She found out about the signs through a Facebook post in their neighborhood group.
"I'm not sure who put them up, but I haven't had any problems," said Reinthaler. "I walk my dog along there all the time and have never heard anyone complaining so I don't know."
Butte County Public Works officials said the county did not put up the signs, but the landowners did have a right to post them.
"All those levees in the lower part of mud creek levee system are under easement type of a condition where the private landowners have the discretion and the legal authority to allow the public onto the levees or not, “said Butte County Public Works Assistant Director, Radley Ott.
Ott said the county only has the right to enter and maintain the levees.
"It can be a little confusing for folks, there's an assumption that those might be public, but in fact, they aren't, and that can be frustrating for folks who are used to using those walkways, it's a beautiful area.
He adds that the county has been getting calls about the signs and asks that people be respectful towards one another.
Ott said the Department of Water Resources also has the right to enter the property to maintain the levee.