The Auburn Area Democratic Club lost an active member and devoted political activist on May 2 with the death of William Michael Wauters, 76, of Auburn.
William channeled his creativity and strong opinions into activism and environmentalism. He participated in multiple protest movements, including anti-Vietnam War marches and recent No Kings demonstrations. Earlier this year he was part of a small and enthusiastic group of protesters who stretched a long No Kings banner across the Bell Road overpass of I-80 every Friday afternoon for many weeks.
He also was an active member of the Sierra Foothills Unitarian Universalists congregation, where he spent many hours doing projects to improve the church building on Finley Street, across from Placer High School. The Sunday worship service at SFUU on May 31was in memory of William.
William was born on May 30, 1949, to parents Cliff and Helen Wauters in Washington, D.C., the oldest of three children. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Newcastle, California. He would go on to spend most of his life in the Auburn area. His mother was an avid outdoorswoman and from her he learned to love the foothills and mountains of the region, spending his life immersed in the local ecology and history.
His enthusiasm for healthy river ecosystems guided his participation in local river conservation groups. He volunteered with PARC to stop the building of the Auburn Dam, which would have flooded the canyons. For many years he organized the public speaker program for the monthly Auburn Canyon Keepers meetings. He also collaborated with PARC and the Canyon Keepers to install interpretive trail posts for the Confluence Interpretive Trail.
He was a frequent volunteer for American River cleanups, removing litter and graffiti from the canyons. He was deeply involved in the successful campaign to protect the Bear River from the proposed Centennial Dam. He also was active with Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead efforts to return spawning salmon to the Auburn Ravine. Contributions to organizations such as these would be a welcome tribute.
