The santa lucia preserve encompasses an area of approximately 20000 acres of which 18000 acres 90% are conserved wildlands which includes a mix of nonnative and native grassland shrub land coastal…

The santa lucia preserve encompasses an area of approximately 20000 acres of which 18000 acres 90% are conserved wildlands which includes a mix of nonnative and native grassland shrub land coastal savanna pine and redwood forests seasonal wetlands and stream riparian habitats. Accelerated humancaused erosion has led to loss of wetmeadow habitat and sedimentation of downstream pond features. Over time the hydroperiod of these water features have become too short for amphibians to complete breeding brooding and metamorphosis. The loss of wetmeadow habitat has reduced the amount of native flowering plants which are key nectars sources for earlyseason migrating monarch butterflies. One of the santa lucia conservancys restoration priorities is an ephemeral stream channel that joins LAS gazas creek at moores lake. In spring of 2024 approximately 18 beaver DAM analog structures were installed along an upper 1700FOOT section of the stream. Additional work is needed to install 1020 beaver DAM analogs along the lower 1500FOOT section of the stream to restore the ephemeral streambed and surrounding wet meadow habitat and protect downstream wetlands from future sedimentation. Maintenance of the beaver DAM analogs will continue from 20262029. Key species benefiting from this project include california tiger salamander ambystoma californiense california redlegged frog rana draytonii monarch butterfly danaus plexippus smiths blue butterfly euphilotes enoptes smithi and migratory birds.