Churn Creek, swollen with torrential rains, is also contaminated with sewage. Many people are unaware that Churn Creek runs through the City of Shasta Lake. Not far downstream from its source, a private septic system near Lake Boulevard and Red Bud Lane in the Summit City area has failed and is draining raw human sewage into Churn Creek. It’s probably fortunate that heavy rains are somewhat diluting the contamination as the creek wends its way through North and East Redding and Churn Creek Bottom before finally reaching the Sacramento River. That dilution is not enough to eliminate the concern for bacterial infection to anyone who comes into contact with the water. Contact with churn creek by humans or animals should be absolutely avoided until the problem is mitigated.