The Los Osos Cuesta Inlet was a wetland with occurring tidal saltwater attached to the back bay of Morro Bay, until the water was illegally taken out and bulldozed in the 1960s with hopes of building homes with boat docks. Since 1950, it has been privately owned, but was used by the public for activities such as bird-watching, kayaking, paddleboarding, and dog walking. The inlet shows beautiful nature and is an important habitat for wildlife.
After the Cuesta inlet went up for sale in 2022, fear within the community has risen. The new private owner may make it possible for the public to go on it again. This area is home to many endangered plant species, birds, and insects. The inlet contains a habitat with sheltered mud flats and salt marshes.,as well as being a key migration area for some bird routes. It is one of the main routes for kayakers and paddleboarders to launch off from Los Osos. Sharing the inlet with the public and making it accessible for everyone is the shared goal for over 480 individuals and their businesses within the town.
When the community learned the Inlet was going to be for sale at $735,000, they knew they needed to do something about it: ‘SaveCuestaInlet22’.Some ways people have raised money to save the inlet include hosting lemonade stands, garage sales, and volunteering at farmers’ markets to help out. Additionally, the National Estuary Program even offered to donate $60,000.
SLO County has raised enough money to save Cuesta Inlet. They raised $750,000 to keep the 13 acres of land; the community members came together and made it possible.
