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Visit by 19 high school students from Yarm School in northeastern England to the Atascadero beaver dams, October 24, 2023.

photos by Brittany App

At first, hesitantly dipping their toes in the Salinas River, but ultimately getting their sea legs while witnessing the delights of Beaver habitat, a group of 19 high school students from Yarm in northeastern England and their four instructors toured the Atascadero beaver dams recently with the SLO Beaver Brigade.

Yarm School is an independent day school founded in 1978 in Yarm, North Yorkshire in the North East of England. The trip involved students majoring in biology and political science and gave the participants rich opportunities for experiencing the intersection of environmental issues and public policy on a 10-day trip through the Golden State.

Audrey Taub, Executive Director and founder of the SLO Beaver Brigade fielded a wide variety of questions from the participants, as she led them through a walk to the local beaver dams. Topics covered during the walk included characteristics of beavers, their diet, habits and dam building, as well as the benefits that beaver dams create: fire refugia, groundwater recharge, carbon sequestration and sediment and pollution capture. Two of beavers’ favorite sources of food, cottonwoods and willows, were easily visible on the walk, as were the beaver chews from these trees that also serve as building blocks for the dams. Students and teachers alike marveled at the quantity of water held back from the dams, as they saw first-hand how beaver dams create lush wetlands and capture water, contributing to the local drinking water supply. Not to be outdone by the SLO Beaver Brigade’s dedication the local watershed, the Yarm School students carried out 15 tires from the side of the River, placed there by local horseback riders and their horses that pulled them from the riverbed.

Yarm School students had a busy agenda during their trip, which included fun and educational activities at points north and south, but several students shared with SLO Beaver Brigade volunteers that the Beaver dam tour was the highlight of their experiences. 

Stephen Edwards of Yarm School stated, “We felt so welcomed, so embraced into the Beaver Brigade project, and so privileged to learn from their  significant insight and experiences.”

Typically after a rain storm, the beavers begin rebuilding their dams within one week to one month after being damaged. This winter though, the beavers didn’t get to begin rebuilding until early June 2023. But the stronger current from this winters rains wasn’t the only obstacle preventing the beavers from rebuilding this year.

As mentioned in an earlier post, and in the SLO Tribune on August 5th, 2023, off roaders have been driving in the Salinas River since their unofficial trails alongside the Salinas River were buried under debris after this winter’s floods. The SLO Beaver Brigade cleared out two of these pre-flooded trails to encourage the off-road vehicles to go around the beaver habitat.

It’s been a tough go for the beavers during this time, as the off-roaders repeatedly ignored the taped off areas and drove over the signs and the fresh starts of beaver activity. Day after day, we would witness fresh beaver building activity, and day after day they would be destroyed.

The only thing encouraging us to continue replacing these signs, day after day, month after month, was the beaver activity happening behind them. It didn’t matter how early in the morning we arrived at the pond, the freshest activity out there was always the beaver signs: fresh drag marks of tree branches crossing the dry river bed and fresh beaver tracks. That is what kept us, and keeps us, heading out there to check on the state of their dams.

We are happy to report, after months of off-roaders driving over beaver habitat and signs, they have finally begun using the side trails around the river. And the beavers have noticed! One beaver family that has been trying since June to rebuild their pond has finally, as of the week of Sept 15th been successful.

Right now, all 3 families of beavers in Atascadero have built at least one dam each, allowing them protection from predators as they harvest willows, cottonwood branches and other plant material for their food. 3 times as much water retention, fire break potential and water filtration is happening.

Thank you off-roaders for taking the side trails!

UPDATE: November 2023

On October 10, 2023 the Atascadero City Council decided unanimously to pass the Conditional Use Permit for the RV Storage Project located at 6805 Sycamore Road in Atascadero. Despite all of the voices who spoke in opposition to this project, way into the wee hours of the night, at 1am the City Council approved the project.

The following Conditions (highlighted) were added to this Project during the October 10, 2023 meeting:

10. No cargo containers, inoperable vehicles, inoperable boats or inoperable RVs shall be stored on-site. Only currently registered, operable vehicles or RV’s may be stored onsite. All vehicles will be inspected upon initial storage to ensure vehicle is operable and all stored vehicles shall maintain insurance and provide copy of current insurance to City upon request.
11. No washing or servicing of vehicles, RV’s or Boats or other equipment may occur onsite.
12. The applicant shall submit a landscape and irrigation plan, completed by a qualified
    professional, with their construction documents. The landscape plan shall be consistent with what is shown inf Exhibit D with additional landscaping focused on the following areas: Along the Anza Trail realignment to include landscaping that maintains safety and visibility In front of the existing construction yard, adjacent to Sycamore Road Landscaping and irrigation shall be installed prior to requesting a Planning Final Inspection.
13. Maximum height of new light poles shall not be taller than 16 feet for each light pole nor exceed the height of the levee to prevent light spillage into the riverbed. The lights shall be set to dim low level light until motion is detected and shall preclude activation by small animal movement.
14. The Use Permit shall be subject to additional review upon receipt of operational
    complaints including a high number of police calls. Additional mitigation may be
    warranted upon verification of recurring noise or operational disturbances that impact residential properties. Community Development Department review for compliance with all conditions within 12 months of commencement of business operation.
15. The applicant shall hire a qualified biologist to provide a nesting bird survey and survey for special status species within 3 months prior to construction commencement. This survey shall include a survey for eagle nests within 1 mile of the project site. The applicant shall follow all recommendations of the qualified biologist and shall obtain all permits from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
16. Trash receptacles shall be provided at or near the access gate, adequately screened
    as determined by the Community Development Department, and of sufficient size to serve the facility.
17. Overnight occupancy shall be strictly prohibited on site.
18. Private Security shall maintain security at site and shall be the first point of contact for response to any security related issues.
19. Parking spaces are noted to be native material and are susceptible to pollutant
    discharge from vehicles. At time of building permit submittal, on the plans and with
    supplemental documents, provide drip pans and spill kits for leaks or other spills under all vehicles at all times, similar to what would be found in a municipal yard. (Reference industrial or municipal stormwater requirements for construction or corporation yard spill prevention.) A disposal station with spill kit supplies and covered cans for soiled materials shall be located on the site for individuals using the facility and maintained by the company who leases the land and runs the business.
    A contact phone number shall be made available to call if a facility user/customer has a spill. Provide copy of a Spill Response Plan to City for review and approval. This
    plan must be in place to provide a procedure for cleaning up major spills, including
    sewage or gray water leaks, in a timely manner with contact information for those who would be responsible parties. Any spills shall be reported to Atascadero Mutual Water Company and the City of Atascadero immediately. The site shall be inspected a minimum of twice weekly to ensure compliance.

Click here to Read the full meeting minutes from the Oct 10th Atascadero City Council Meeting.

As of November 16, 2023, the applicant, VSM Leasing, has not signed a contract with the Atascadero Mutual Water Company to lease the property and carry through with its plan. Possibly they are deliberating on these new Conditions of Approval.

We’d like to give a big shout out of appreciation to all the folks who love the Salinas River and wrote letters and showed up at the Atascadero City Council meeting. While we were super disappointed by the Council vote, we were blown away by all the folks who showed up for this river. Thanks to all for your heartfelt efforts on behalf of our River and our wildlife.

—Previous Post Below—-

Call To Action: OCTOBER 10th 2023, 6pm, the Atascadero City Council will be deciding upon allowing 6 acres of 262 RV Storage to be located on the Atascadero Mutual Water Company property, in the floodplain of the Salinas River in Atascadero.

Please consider coming to this City Council meeting at 6pm on October 10th at the City Hall Council Chambers, 4th floor, 6500 Palma Ave, Atascadero. Or, email public comments to cityclerk@atascadero.org with “RV Storage at 6805 Sycamore Rd” in the Subject Line.

The Project Description (starts on page 36) can be read here http://records.atascadero.org/WebLink/ElectronicFile.aspx?docid=118693&dbid=0

The Atascadero Planning Commissioners narrowly approved the RV Storage project on July 18th, despite the packed room of opposers who made comments urging the Commissioners to deny this project.

Two separate appeals were filed requesting the Atascadero City Council to deny the RV Storage Project. On October 10th the City Council will review the appeals and decide on this project. Atascadero City Council Agenda website will post the agenda for the Council meeting by Oct 5th, or thereabouts.

Letter from Dr. Emily Fairfax:

To Whom It May Concern:
The Salinas River corridor in Atascadero, California contains several beaver-engineered wetlands. These wetlands have been part of ongoing research by my lab group for the past 3+ years. In that time, we have seen them become a key part of the local community and popular wildlife viewing area. Further, our data suggests that they are ecological hotspots for biodiversity in an otherwise highly developed landscape. Beaver- engineered riverscapes are not only home to numerous other species but are also shown in the scientific literature to be uniquely resistant to drought, flood, and wildfire – all of which are an inevitable part of Central California’s climate future. Beaver wetlands preserve critical habitat during these natural disasters and improve the overall resilience of the landscape afterwards. None of these benefits will be realized if the river corridor is excessively altered and the beavers are driven away.

Ensuring that full, proper biologic, geomorphic, and hydrologic assessments are conducted prior to further development in the river corridor is important for preserving the ecological and cultural value of the wetlands within in. It is also prudent given the magnitude of flood events that activated the entire floodplain this past winter – it is in no one’s best interest if infrastructure is built then immediately washed away.

Attached is a species list of animals directly observed by my lab via camera trapping in the Salinas River beaver complexes in Atascadero, CA. (see list at bottom of page)

Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions about the status or conservation of beaver wetlands and the associated ecosystem services they provide on the Salinas River and its floodplains.

Emily Fairfax, PhD
Assistant Professor of Geography
University of Minnesota
efairfax@umn.edu

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David Broadwater Appeal

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BioDiversity First! Appeal

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David Broadwater Supplement to Appeal

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BDF! Supplement to Appeal

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The SLO Beaver Brigade added the following supplement to the appeal:

The SLO Beaver Brigade would like to express our concerns about the following issues with the RV storage project that was approved by the Atascadero Planning Commission on July 18, 2023 and ask that the City Council deny this project.

1. The city staff presented a list of other possibilities for this site that misled the Commissioners and defined the conversation falsely going forward.
2. The city staff offered an environmental mitigation for the bald eagle nest located directly across the river from the site location.  This is a CEQA violation by the city.
3. There is a lack of consideration for the health of the beaver wetland habitat in the vicinity of the project site and of the wildlife that live there, which will be detrimental to the riparian area in the vicinity of this use. Attached letter from Dr. Emily Fairfax included in this supplement.  This is in direct contrast to Finding: “The establishment, and subsequent operation or conduct of the use will not, because of the circumstances and conditions applied in the particular case, be detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the general public or persons residing or working in the neighborhood of the use, or be detrimental or injurious to property or improvements in the vicinity of the use.”
4. There is a deviation from the current Atascadero General Plan.  This is in direct contrast to Finding: “The proposed project or use is consistent with the General Plan.”
5. More than one Planning Commissioner expressed dis-ease at making this decision. ‘This commission should not be deciding this project’, was expressed by more than one Commissioner, including the Commission Chairperson van den Eikhof.  There are substantial reasons to revisit this decision.

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1.  The City Staff supplied a list of uses for the 6805 Sycamore Rd site and stated that these uses would have to be allowed by the city and there would be no process by which these uses could be denied.  (There is no record in the approved Draft Minutes of the July 18th meeting showing this list.  There is no record in the Agenda Packet of the July 18th meeting showing this list. Why is that?)  This was a false presentation that defined the conversation of the Commissioners that evening.  This list contained items such as:  a brewery, a mechanic shop, and other industrial uses.  There is no possible way any single item on this list could be implemented (besides the seasonal sales possibility) that would not require a CEQA analysis and public comment.   And yet, these items absolutely guided the Commissioners discussion going forward.  Things like, ‘wow, this storage project isn’t as bad as what is listed on that list!’ were expressed by more than one Commissioner.  Commissioner Carranza called that list a “fear-tactic” during the meeting. This list, and the fear it invoked, defined the conversation going forward and falsely swayed the Commissioners to think of this RV Storage project as the lesser of many possible evils,  thereby influencing four of the seven commissioners to approve this project.
2.  The draft minutes of the July 18 Planning Commission meeting state that an additional condition was proposed to address a concern that was expressed in written public comment that day., 

The applicant shall hire a qualified biologist to provide a nesting bird survey and survey for special status species within 3 month of construction commencement. This survey shall include a survey for Eagle nests within 1 mile of the project site. The applicant shall follow all recommendations of the qualified biologist and shall obtain all permits from the Dept of Fish and Wildlife as necessary.

A SLO Beaver Brigade representative spoke to Cal Poly CEQA Instructor, Sarah Spann, and she expressed that “the City is violating CEQA by imposing mitigation measures as conditions of approval on a CE (Categorical Exemption). At a minimum they should complete an initial study to determine whether a MND or EIR is required.”    This is in contrast to the statement in the CUP; “WHEREAS, the laws and regulations relating to the preparation and public notice of environmental documents, as set forth in the State and local guidelines for implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) have been adhered to;”

3. See attached letter from Dr. Emily Fairfax, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.  This project will be a detriment to the adjacent riparian zone and thus inhibit the functioning of our floodplain and beaver habitat to provide increasing groundwater recharge, flood control and wildfire buffers.  It will reduce the ability of our wetland to provide a wildfire break.   For these reasons, it will be a detriment to the general public.  This is in direct contrast to Finding: “The establishment, and subsequent operation or conduct of the use will not, because of the circumstances and conditions applied in the particular case, be detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the general public or persons residing or working in the neighborhood of the use, or be detrimental or injurious to property or improvements in the vicinity of the use.”

4. This project does not align with our current General Plan LOC 1.3,  LOC 6 and LOC 8.1.
   1. Policy 1.3 states, “Enhance the rural character and appearance of the City, including commercial corridors, gateways and public facilities.”  This location is at the gateway of the City of Atascadero from the East, just south of highway 41.  It is currently a beautiful vista and this project would not enhance this gateway but instead would become an eyesore to all who enter our city from the east. 
   2. Policy 6.1 states, “Ensure that development does not degrade scenic and sensitive areas, including historic sites, creeks, riparian corridors, wetlands, woodlands, hillsides and other valuable habitats.”  Please read Dr. Emily Fairfax’s letter (attached).  This project will degrade our wetland habitat by:
      1. Run-off from this property will degrade wetland habitat.  Rain water will drain into the river, taking with it all substances on the surface; anti-freeze, oil, herbicides, toxic cleaning products.  Everything.  The Salinas River and its groundwater basin provides 100% of our drinking water.  This will be a detriment to the health of all residents in Atascadero.  This should matter to all of us.
      2. Parking leaky vehicles on a permeable surface next to our water source is asking for water quality issues.  Providing drip pans for the owners of RVs that admit they have a leak is not enough to protect the nearby riparian zone from contamination and negatively affecting our water supply. Without 24 hour monitoring of and immediate response to any leakage of toxic chemicals onsite, the River is vulnerable and becomes even more so during a flooding event. 
      3. This is an encroachment on an active eagle nest, a disturbance to a  State Listed Endangered Species.    
      4. This site is a nuisance attractor, attracting crime and other issues.  Public comment submitted on Nov 14, 2022  by Cindee Yandow, who manages 50 storage facilities states, “RVs are a huge problem and get broken into often and people try to sneak and live in them.  We have very little sites that allow vehicle storage and the ones we do have onsite residences with a live-in manager.”  This project suggests video surveillance will be enough, which we are hearing from someone with relevant experience is simply not true. 
      5. RV Storage sites are active sites; owners work on their vehicles and owners wash their vehicles there;  it is not a passive site as it is being represented.  These activities should not occur next to the Salinas River, the source of our city’s drinking water.
   3. Policy 8.1 states, “Ensure that development along Atascadero Creek, Graves Creeks, the Salinas River, blue line creeks, and natural springs, lakes, or other riparian areas does not interrupt natural flows or adversely impact riparian ecosystems and water quality.”  This project will adversely affect the riparian habitat adjacent to the property by reducing the ability of our riverscape and beaver habitat to replenish our groundwater, to reduce intensity of floods, to provide wildfire buffers, and other benefits of beaver wetlands.

This is in direct contrast to the Finding:  “The proposed project or use is consistent with the General Plan.”

It is disheartening to be spending so much time on updating our General Plan 2045, and yet in the same moment witness our city staff ignore the General Plan we currently have.  If we have a General Plan, shouldn’t we therefore use it?

It can also be noted that during the public comment period during the General Plan Update meeting on August 30th,  Mr. Cleveland spoke about his development project that has been on hold for 3 years awaiting the update to the General Plan.  In contrast, the  Planning Commission was informed by the City lawyer that their decision on June 20th to postpone this decision on the RV Project 6-8 months until staff reviews the future land use designation on this site for the General Plan Update, was invalid and needing to be decided upon now. These two sets of directions seem to be in contradiction with each other. How is this possible?

The General Plan Update refers to the potential of the Salinas River as an economic stream for the City of Atascadero.  Quoted from the Existing Conditions Atlas, “In addition, the Salinas River has been identified as a key natural resource that should be protected and bolstered as a regional attraction for tourism, recreation, and education.”  Currently, the SLO Beaver Brigade attracts visitors regularly from Los Angeles to San Francisco.  We provide tours of the Salinas River to the public, to boy & girls scout groups, environmental organizations and clubs, school groups, landowners and more.  One high school group from the UK will be visiting our beaver ponds in October 2023.   These folks who come to our tours need places to stay, places to eat, all of which will bring, and is currently bringing, revenue to the City of Atascadero.  The potential for this to grow is very large, and recognized by the very consultants hired to create our Existing Conditions Atlas.  We are in conversation with multiple organizations to form a Salinas River Center to help highlight the natural resources in this area, similar to the visitor center at Elkhorn Slough and San Joaquin River Centers.  

We can not expect the Salinas River to continue to become a regional attraction for tourism if we are putting sites such as RV Storage next to the river.

In developing our city zone maps, our city allows for transitional zoning, where a 10 acre home will not be situated next to a 30 unit apartment complex.  There will be numerous transitional zones between these two types of properties.  Yet, sites that are rich with biodiversity and potential eco-tourist sites are zoned next to extreme, waste producing sites such as industry.  This has to change.  And The City does have a precedent for improving.  It wasn’t long ago when the city would dump chunks of broken cement into the river, including in locations known to have cultural/archaeological value  (See photos below).  And while the city would never do that today, it was a common practice not long ago.  It could be that putting Industrial zones next to diverse, active, wildlife areas, and floodplains will be a thing of the past that we will look on as shockingly as we look on the act of dumping concrete into the river today.   The city has already set a precedent to improve their actions, we can continue to do so as we gain knowledge and perspective.

5.  Planning Commission members stated they do not think they are the body to decide this project, and in fact, there are serious concerns still to be addressed; we urge the City Council to revisit this decision.

For these reasons, we ask the City Council to reevaluate the decision from the very divided Planning Commission and deny this project on the grounds that it does not satisfy the Finding “The proposed project or use is consistent with the General Plan.” or the Finding “The establishment, and subsequent operation or conduct of the use will not, because of the circumstances and conditions applied in the particular case, be detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the general public or persons residing or working in the neighborhood of the use, or be detrimental or injurious to property or improvements in the vicinity of the use.”  

Thank you for giving this issue your utmost consideration.  We are available for any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Audrey Taub on behalf of the SLO Beaver Brigade

www.slobeaverbrigade.com

Dumping concrete into the river used to be common practice for the City of Atascadero. Photo by Audrey Taub

Please consider coming to this City Council meeting at the City Hall at 6pm on October 10th at the City Hall Council Chambers, 4th floor, 6500 Palma Ave, Atascadero. Or, email public comments to cityclerk@atascadero.org.

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Species Observed at Beaver Ponds in Salinas River Corridor, Atascadero.

Summer 2020 – present
Observed on Game Cameras and Classified by Fairfax Lab

Species: 61 birds, 14 mammals, 3 reptiles, 1 crustacean, 1 amphibian
Alligator Lizard
American Coot
American Crow
American Goldfinch
Anna’s Hummingbird
Bat
Beaver
Belted Kingfisher
Bewick’s Wren
Black Phoebe
Black-crowned Night
Heron
Black-headed Grosbeak
Bobcat
Brewer’s Blackbird
Bullfrog
Bushtit
California Meadow Vole
California Quail
California Scrub-Jay
California Thrasher
California Towhee
Canada Goose
Common Merganser
Common Yellowthroat
Cooper’s Hawk
Coyote
Crayfish
Deer
Double-crested
Cormorant
Downy Woodpecker
Fence Lizard
Fox Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Greater Yellowlegs

Green Heron
Hermit Thrush
Hooded Merganser
House Finch
House Sparrow
Lawrence’s Goldfinch
Least Sandpiper
Lesser Goldfinch
Long-tailed Weasel
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Mallard Duck
Marsh Wren
Morning Dove
Mouse/Rat
Muskrat
Northern Flicker
Northern Mockingbird
Oak Titmouse
Opossum
Phainopepla
Pied-billed Grebe
Purple Finch
Rabbit
Raccoon
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruddy Duck
Say’s Phoebe
Skunk
Snowy Egret
Song Sparrow
Sora
Spotted Towhee
Squirrel
Turkey Vulture
Turtle

It’s been a tough six months for the beavers on the Salinas River. While they’ve had relative ease over the past 3 years building upon their dams, the times have changed.

The dam above was built in April 2020. It started out small but after 3 years it eventually measured slightly over 100 feet, creating a diverse, wetland habitat bursting with life.

But then the rains came. The dam survived the first of many atmospheric rivers.

But on January 9th, that final atmospheric river caused all of their dams, lodges, bank dens to wash away in the heavy rains. Entire riparian areas were either buried deep under sand and water, or literally uprooted, turned upside down and moved downstream. Juvenile beavers were separated from their families and ultimately many didn’t survive the separation.

Following that major event, the force of the current had beavers turning up in all sorts of unlikely locations. A few were seen in people’s front yards in Atascadero, one walking along Old Creek Road in Cayucos, lots of trails and beaver sign all along the Salinas River. And while we’ve been monitoring their sign and activity, we’ve been not so patiently waiting for them to rebuild their dams.

And finally, they began to rebuild. The current of the Salinas River had slowed down significantly due to the lower amounts of water flowing in the river. And while we expected to see a new dam in April, then in May, not until June did the beavers begin to rebuild. June!

We noticed this small nub of a beaver dam jutting out from the bank of the river. We were so excited! After scanning the river for months, the beavers were beginning to rebuild their habitat! Finally.

On June 17th and then on June 21st we led tours to this newly started beaver dam. Folks could already see the fish congregating and resting up behind this nub of a beaver dam. While it was very small, the complexity it was adding by slowing the flow, allowing deeper pools to form was very visible to our tour participants.

From that day forward, we would visit every couple of days, watching the dam get closer and closer to the other side of the river. When will they complete it!

On July 1st, my daughter went with her friends to visit this beaver dam. They ended up spending the day there because the dam was finally completed! Yay!! When she came home I was so excited to hear that the dam was finished, I insisted we go back and see it that evening. At 8pm, we finally headed out there.

But I did not get to see a completed dam. Instead I saw ATV tracks, lots of them, straight through the river right up to the dam remains. Chewed beaver sticks intertwined with algae, rocks, smashed frog and dozens of squashed minnows were strewed everywhere.

Such a disappointment. And not just for the beavers.

This isn’t just about the beavers and the animals that depend on them, this is about the future of our water security. The beaver dams are the only thing keeping water in the river year-round; if it wasn’t for those dams there would be nothing to stop the water from rushing to the ocean and sinking underground. Without beaver dams the groundwater level will drop, and that will affect everyone living along the Salinas River that relies on groundwater in their wells

It is time for us to respect the Salinas River as the important natural resource that it is. If treated right, the Salinas River can continually replenish our groundwater and act as a fire buffer and wildlife refuge. Or, we can keep turning a blind eye and continue to allow recreation that damages habitat, decreases our water availability and increases fire risk.

It isn’t legal to destroy beaver dams, it violates CDFW code FGC 1602 Fish and Wildlife Protection and Conservation. It isn’t legal to have ATVs on the De Anza trails , it voilates California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH § 38319

And yet, these ATV riders currently don’t have a local place to drive. Because the riparians areas around the river are littered with fallen trees and impassable after this winter’s floods, the ATV trails that used to parallel the river in places, no longer exist. Now the ATV drivers that insist on driving through the Salinas River bed must drive straight through the river. Driving through the river prohibits any beaver dams from spanning the river. They prohibit ground water being replenished and water being stored. This removes all chance of fish, amphibians, and insect survival which in turn affects the plants, bird life, and mammals in the area. Driving through the river reduces life. Instead we get a hot, dry riverbed prone to fire.

As we watched the water rush by, we imagined what could be happening here instead. The water could be slowed down, held back. The ponds could be expanding, creating more riparian area around the river, providing shade and cooling the water, supporting the fish and tiny toads that are all over the place right now. The water could be seeping into our ground water, keeping our water supply stable. The water could be getting filtered through the dams, getting cleaner after every dam. The beavers could be building a second of many dams, creating a dense series of cascading dams, or speed bumps, slowing down the force of future potential floods. The river could be expanding, providing a badly needed firebreak should a wildfire break out this season (or should I say when?).

But instead, the beavers get to rebuild their one dam, over and over again. Here it is.

It’s also time to address all the vehicular traffic running right through the river. These ATV riders currently don’t have a local place to drive, the closest places to legally drive ATVs and other OHVs are quite a distance away from Atascadero.

Maybe we need to find another place for them to ride?

Or maybe we need to ask them to restrict driving to designated trails out of the river during the spring and early summer months when it’s essential for the beavers to rebuild their dams and capture the water before it runs underground?

That is why we need to come together as a community to find a solution so that all community members can have a safe, legal place to recreate that isn’t a wildlife habitat refuge like the Salinas River, where ATV riders, hikers, horseback riders can all feel safe. It’s up to our community to find a solution that works for ALL of us, non-humans included.