Informational panels about beavers to be unveiled at Atascadero trailhead
– A celebration of beavers, recognized as nature’s ecosystem engineers, is scheduled for Feb. 10, at 9 a.m. at the Juan Bautista de Anza Trailhead at 8005 Gabarda Road in Atascadero. The event will mark the unveiling of two interpretive panels that showcase the remarkable role of beavers in the Salinas River, portraying them as water heroes and firefighters.
Made possible through the California Coastal Commission Whale Tail grants program, the panels are a collaborative effort between the San Luis Obispo Beaver Brigade, the City of Atascadero, and Amigos de Anza group. The grants support experiential education and stewardship of the California coast and its watersheds.
The unveiling ceremony will feature remarks by representatives from the SLO Beaver Brigade, along with Atascadero Council Member Charles Bourbeau. The two panels, recently installed at the De Anza trailhead entrance by the wastewater treatment facility and on Aragon Road near the De Anza trailhead, are designed by Terre Dunivant of Gaia Graphics. They include photographs of Atascadero’s Salinas River beaver habitat, captured by local photographer and SLO Beaver Brigade volunteer Brittany App, and detail the transformative work of beavers, along with the scientific research conducted around beaver ponds.
The SLO Beaver Brigade invites the public to join the celebration at the De Anza Trailhead in front of the Atascadero Wastewater Treatment Facility. The event begins at 9 a.m. at 8005 Gabarda Road, Atascadero. Founded in 2020 and fiscally sponsored by Ecologistics, Inc., the SLO Beaver Brigade focuses on raising awareness about beavers in San Luis Obispo County. Their work highlights the beavers’ contributions to replenishing groundwater, providing fire refugia, and improving water quality and quantity in creeks and rivers.
The organization also introduces process-based restoration techniques and beaver management tools to foster cohabitation between humans and beavers in shared habitats. The SLO Beaver Brigade actively engages in education and public participation in watershed stewardship through initiatives such as river cleanups, citizen science surveys, tours, public art, and trail signage. The organization regularly offers presentations and tours of beaver habitat to the public on a donation basis.
For more information about the Beaver Brigade, tour sign-ups, or to contribute to their efforts, visit slobeaverbrigade.com. For additional details, contact Audrey Taub at [email protected] or (805) 464-1255.
