Watershed Conservation Manager
The Monarch butterfly has held deep meaning across cultures, symbolizing beauty, remembrance, and transformation. For many, it’s also a nostalgic reminder of childhood, when monarchs were far more common.
But monarchs are in serious trouble. In the U.S., both eastern and western populations have plummeted, with western monarchs—those overwintering on California’s coast—declining by over 95% since the 1980s. This winter, volunteers counted just 9,119 butterflies, one of the lowest numbers ever recorded. In response, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering listing the monarch as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)—a move some say is "too little, too late."
An ESA listing could provide critical protections, funding, and coordinated conservation efforts. Click here to leave a comment and help us protect the Monarch butterfly! The public can weigh in before March 12, 2025.
Regardless of the decision, Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (CCRCD) is committed to helping monarchs by:
Want to join us? Visit ccrcd.org/monarch-conservation-program or email monarchs@ccrcd.org. Together, we can give monarchs a fighting chance!
