Beavers will be celebrated on Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. at the Juan Bautista de Anza Trailhead 

ATASCADERO — Beavers, nature’s ecosystem engineers, will be celebrated on Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. at the Juan Bautista de Anza Trailhead at 8005 Gabarda Road in Atascadero with the unveiling of two interpretive panels highlighting the role of the beavers in the Salinas River as water heroes and firefighters. These panels have been made possible through the California Coastal Commission WHALE TAIL® grants program and the San Luis Obispo Beaver Brigade in collaboration with the City of Atascadero and Amigos de Anza group. The Coastal Commission WHALE TAIL® grants support experiential education and stewardship of the California coast and its watersheds.

The unveiling will include remarks by representatives from the SLO Beaver Brigade, as well as Atascadero City Councilmember Charles Bourbeau. The two panels have recently been installed in Atascadero at the De Anza trailhead entrance by the wastewater treatment facility and on Aragon Road near the De Anza trailhead. The panels, designed by Terre Dunivant of Gaia Graphics, include photography of our Atascadero, Salinas River beaver habitat by local photographer and SLO Beaver Brigade volunteer Brittany App and describe the transformative work of beavers and the scientific research that takes place around beaver ponds.

About the SLO Beaver Brigade

The SLO Beaver Brigade, a local organization fiscally sponsored by Ecologistics, Inc., began in 2020 to raise awareness around beavers in San Luis Obispo County and the work beavers do to replenish our groundwater, provide fire refugia and increase the quality and quantity of water in our creeks and rivers. The Beaver Brigade also brings process-based restoration techniques to SLO County, along with beaver management tools to allow for people and beavers to share habitat. The SLO Beaver Brigade focuses on education and strong public participation in watershed stewardship through river cleanups, citizen science surveys, tours, public art, and trail signage. The SLO Beaver Brigade frequently offers presentations and tours of beaver habitat on a donation basis to the public. To learn more about the Beaver Brigade, sign up for a tour or donate to our efforts, visit slobeaverbrigade.com.