Nature’s Engineers is the first Process-Based Restoration company local to the California Central Coast.
Founded in 2023 by Cooper Lienhart, Nature’s Engineers is dedicated to restoring long-term health to our rivers and streams.
About Us
Meet Cooper
Hi my name is Cooper Lienhart; I have been studying and working with beavers in SLO County since 2020. What originally drew me to beavers was climate change, because beavers create important wetland ecosystems that store huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. I remember my first time visiting a beaver pond. I was blown away by how lush, wet and full of life it was, especially compared to the dry, fire-prone surroundings. Since then I graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection, and I have been working with the San Luis Obispo Beaver Brigade non-profit to educate our county and beyond on the many benefits beavers can bring to our lands and waters. After working with restoration practitioners across the West Coast and training in beaver coexistence services with the Beaver Institute, I am thrilled to bring this work to the Central Coast where I live with my beautiful wife Hannah.
Our Vision is to bring healing to the Earth. The best way we know how to do that is to restore our rivers and streams, the life blood of the planet.
Vision
Restoring rivers and streams by mimicking and supporting beavers, nature’s engineers.
Mission
Check out the amazing projects Nature's Engineers has been a part of on our interactive map.
Nature's Engineers has assisted in building over 500 in-stream Beaver Dam Analog (BDA) structures on more than 10 stream miles throughout the American West.
Projects
Beaver wetland creates fire refuge in Idaho during 2018 Sharps Fire. Credit: Joe Wheaton, Utah State University
Captions
Beaver habitat on the Salinas River in Atascadero, CA. Photo by Brittany App
Meet Nick
Hi my name is Nick Hatalski. I was introduced to the beavers through Cooper Lienhart and the SLO Beaver Brigade in the spring of 2021. I immediately fell in love with the furry creatures, their ability to transform their environment, and the community of people working to support them. Not long after my introduction Cooper and I would embark on a multi state beaver trip that took us across Northern California and Washington to learn from experts in the field on relocating beavers and building human made Beaver Dam Analogs. After our trip I stayed in Northern California working for, and continuing to learn from, these restoration experts building over 1000 structures to date. It’s an honor to bring what I’ve learned to our Central Coast waterways and I look forward to giving others the stewardship opportunities that have given so much to me.
