City of San Luis Obispo - Natural Resources Programs & Services

Programs & Services:

Community Programs
Program activities in this area include Greenbelt Preservation, Land Stewardship, Natural History Education, and Environmental Restoration.

Greenbelt Protection The City of San Luis Obispo is taking steps to effect the long-term preservation of its rural and scenic, natural setting. These steps make up the Greenbelt Protection Program. Through this program the City acts to protect important resource lands and agricultural lands through purchase of land or easements, dedications associated with granting of development entitlements, and acceptance of donations. The City has permanently protected nearly 2,000 acres in this way since inception of the program in 1995. The City frequently works with the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County in pursuing greenbelt protection projects. The City has also partnered with the Sierra Club to raise acquisition funds and to build trails in open space areas.

Photo of Bishop Peak Bishop Peak is one of the landmark morros for which the Central Coast is famous.
Land Stewardship Community spirit runs very high in San Luis Obispo. People volunteer to help their community. Working with the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo County, the “SLO Stewards” program was created to empower citizens to help in restoration and management of the community’s open spaces. Volunteers plant trees and shrubs, water and weed them, build trails, monitor creek water quality, and a host of other activities to help the environment. To find out more about the SLO Stewards program, contact ECOSLO.

Birds of San Luis Obispo brochure Natural History Education The City also developing a Natural History Education program. City Staff and Volunteers lead walks and give talks to school and Scout groups, civic groups, and the general public in the City’s parks and open space lands. Wildflower walks, bird walks, and creek walks are done on a more or less regular basis, particularly in the spring. A very popular brochure recently made available is the Birds of San Luis Obispo. To request a copy of this local bird guide, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401 or e-mail arichard@slocity.org.

Environmental Restoration The Environmental Restoration Program takes advantage of development activities to build creek restoration, tree plantings, and other natural habitat improvements into the development process. For example, over the past year, over one-half mile of creek banks within the City have been restored with native plantings replacing weeds and exotic species which are often harmful to the streamside environment. A brochure related to the care and restoration of creeks, San Luis Obispo Creek Care, has recently been prepared. To request a copy of this brochure, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401 or e-mail arichard@slocity.org.

Aerial view of San Luis Obispo Creek Significant efforts at habitat-friendly flood control, as well as riparian, wetland, and in-stream habitat restoration are underway all along the length of San Luis Obispo Creek.

Organizational Support
Organizational Support activities include Environmental Mitigation, Project Assistance, and Training.

Environmental Mitigation The City is involved in many projects of its own, and some of these have environmental impacts which can be major. The City Council and City staff are committed to providing full and fair mitigation for the impacts of projects undertaken by the City. Some of these can be very significant, such as some of the City’s road projects or water supply projects. The Natural Resource manager works with project staff to avoid or reduce environmental impacts of projects, and assists in developing mitigations for projects where necessary.

Project Assistance Related to the above, questions about natural resource issues or problems are often relayed to the Natural Resources Manager for advice or action. Community Development Department, Public Works Department and Utilities Department staff routinely consult in this manner to ensure proper handling of sensitive resources or activities in sensitive areas.

The Unocal Tank Farm site contains a surprisingly rich mix of wetlands and grassland of much greater habitat value than might be expected by the casual onlooker.
Training The Natural Resources Program provides training in natural resources to City staff on an as-necessary basis. This may include such activities as creek walks, exploring habitat and learning about endangered species, and reviewing sensitive natural areas.