VALLECITO, Calif. — At the edge of New Melones Lake lies a hidden wonder — a pristine, underground swimming hole at Coyote Creek Natural Bridges. Known for its unique beauty, visitors must swim or float through a limestone cavern to truly appreciate this geological marvel.
Unfortunately, due to its popularity, graffiti, litter and other signs of vandalism can be found all over the recreation area which is managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Matt Bowers of the Western Cave Conservancy, a volunteer group dedicated to cave preservation, says he and other volunteers clean up the site regularly.
"The graffiti is a problem," Bowers said. "We don't understand why people feel the need to do that on federal land. It's actually a felony."
Volunteers have invested hours cleaning up the mess, but often find new marks and damage shortly after each cleanup effort.
"The team spent about three hours cleaning graffiti off this rock, and a month later it was back,” he added.
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Coyote Creek is a tributary to the New Melones Reservoir and traces back 245 million years to when it was submerged under a shallow ocean. Over the millennia, water has shaped the landscape, creating a natural bridge formation, a unique passageway connecting two ends of the cavern beneath a landmass.
“Over years and millennia, the slow etching of that water carved the rocks out," Bowers said.
While the Western Cave Conservancy hosts regular restoration events to combat the effects of vandalism, Bowers hopes the need for such events will diminish in the future.
“I understand people wanting to leave their mark,” Bowers said, “but I'd rather they just take pictures, post it online, and appreciate the fact that they were here rather than leaving paint.”
For now, conservationists continue their mission, hoping that awareness and respect for Coyote Creek Natural Bridges will ensure its beauty for future generations.
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