MARTINEZ, Calif. -- Crews began clearing vegetation Monday to make way for some controversial construction near a beaver lodge on Alhambra Creek in downtown Martinez.

The city decided to insert 25-foot steel pilings between a retaining wall and the beaver lodge, after it found evidence of what it says is beaver-caused erosion.

But some animal rights activists say the project will cause unnecessary harm to the animals.

“The solution is that we leave the beavers alone. There is no damage to that wall except time damage. The cracks that they’re talking about are actually weathered,” said John Ridler with the beaver advocacy group, Worth a Dam.

His group has retained an environmental lawyer, who’s filed a temporary restraining order against the project, which could cost up to $500,000.

“I actually believe this project is going to end the controversy about the beaver and that we’re all going to learn to live with the beaver. I don’t think this is going to scare the beaver away,” contended Julian Frasier, a member of the city’s Beaver Oversight Committee.

Steel pilings have been used to reign in beaver erosion in other California cities.