About

Western monarch butterflies have suffered drastic population declines in recent decades, driven by habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. In response, IERCD is restoring native plant habitats that monarchs and other pollinators rely on for survival.

Support for this work comes from a subgrant provided by the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) through the Wildlife Conservation Board’s Climate Resilience Through Habitat Restoration on California Lands initiative. This funding has made it possible for us to cultivate narrowleaf milkweed and a variety of other native nectar plants at our nursery, all of which play a vital role in sustaining monarch populations. We've installed these plants into two monarch restoration gardens in our District. 
 

Louis Robidoux Parkland & Pecan Grove

The Louis Robidoux Parkland & Pecan Grove (LRPPG) monarch restoration garden spans two acres in the northeast corner of this 40-acre Parkland in Jurupa Valley. It features an array of California native plants chosen for their ability to offer nectar, shelter, and breeding habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. 

El Dorado Ranch Park

Located in northern Yucaipa, El Dorado is managed under a five-year habitat uplift plan and a permanent conservation easement jointly overseen by IERCD and the City of Yucaipa.

As part of this larger effort, IERCD has reduced invasive species cover to below 5%, re-seeded the site with locally adapted native species, and adapted management following challenges like the 2020 El Dorado Fire. The two-acre monarch restoration garden extends this uplift work by creating dedicated breeding and foraging habitat for pollinators.