New entrance opened into Sweet Springs Nature Preserve in Los Osos

Access to the popular Sweet Springs Nature Preserve is now easier from the north side of the 33-acre bird sanctuary in Los Osos with a new entrance on 3rd Street.

The Morro Coast Audubon Society has owned the preserve, which features a network of trails and viewing platforms, since 1989. The group recently acquired a one-acre parcel next to the preserve, allowing the new entrance to be opened.

Visitors can now use the new entrance, says the president of the local Audubon chapter Judy Neuhauser. But please, no dogs.

Last April, the Audubon Society announced that community members Carole Maurer and John Dilworth donated $300,000 to make the purchase of the land all the way to the intersection of Pismo and 4th. The land was purchased from Kathryn Donovan for $250,000. A stipulation required public access.

Now SmithCo Construction has completed a 160-foot connecting path to the existing platform trail overlooking the back bay, ironically an old duck blind.

Better access is part of the mission for the group, Neuhauser said.

“We know that people love Sweet Springs and we want to encourage more visitors to appreciate what is here. If you see it, you will want to preserve it,” she said.

Particularly in winter, the estuary is home to thousands of waterfowl that can be seen from two viewing platforms.

Some 240 species have been documented in the wildlife preserve.

”We have about 40 that nest,” Neuhauser said. Species found there include great horned owls, peregrine falcons, bald eagles and osprey.

“By providing habitat for birds to nest, and for birds to thrive, we are providing ecological services for the entire community,’ she said.

Sweet Springs is wooded in some areas and opens up to a productive marshland that is fed by little streams on the property with water from a spring. It overlooks the Morro Bay Estuary.

The new entrance happens to be along the way of a popular walk between Los Osos and Baywood. You can access the preserve from the Ramona and 4th Street side as well.

The Morro Coast Audubon Society acquired the 8.3-acre East parcel in 2008.

In 2011 the group applied to the County of San Luis Obispo for a minor use permit allowing for native plant restoration and public access at East Sweet Springs.

In 2017 the permit was approved, and East Sweet Springs was improved with boardwalks, signage, benches, viewing blind, and more.

Together with West Sweet Springs and Central Sweet Springs and now the latest one-acre addition, the Sweet Springs Nature Preserve will continue to be a place to walk, watch birds, and enjoy a quiet and peaceful natural environment.

The preserve is maintained and improved largely by volunteers who are busy removing invasive veldt grass and ice plant and replanting with native species. The preserve has regular work days to make improvements. To find out more about how to support the project, visit morrocoastaudubon.org.

John Lindt is the editor of the news website Sierra2theSea.net.