Sierra Monarch Rescue
32 mile flyway corridor, west to east, El Dorado County
The goal of the Sierra Monarch and Pollinator Rescue Project is to build a 32 mile "breeding habitat connectivity flyway network", running West to East from Folsom to Pollock Pines. The flyway will reduce the distance Monarchs and other pollinators have to fly from habitat to habitat in the foothills of El Dorado County during the spring/summer/fall breeding season.
The project will increase the monarch’s breeding grounds to over 125+ acres of managed pollinator habitats in private residents' yards, farms and public access lands. The quality of the breeding habitats will increase with native nectar plants, indigenous El Dorado County Milkweeds, and native shelter plants along with a reduction of pesticide and herbicide use. The project will bring together a coalition of nonprofit groups, commercial, government and individuals like you, to bring back the Monarch Butterfly and supporting pollinators to El Dorado, Eastern Sacramento and Amador Counties.
Update: We are expanding our territory to branch through Amador County to hook up habitat restoration work being done in San Joaquin County!
Female Monarch
Swallow tail
Male Monarch has little black dots on the orange background on its lower wing.
California Sister (from Wikimedia)
Indigenous milkweed
Know your milkweeds
Tropical Milkweed found in big box stores and random seeds from Amazon are controversial and it is unknown their affects on Monarch Butterfly population in California... particularly in El Dorado County. A safer option is to use native milkweed plants.
Tropical Milkweed is controversial!
Tropical Milkweed looks a lot like Lantanas, with their beautiful orange, red and yellowish flowers. See photo for identification. Sold in Home Depot, Lowes and other Big Box Stores it has been banned in Ventura, San Mateo, Marin and many other counties. The State of California CDFA has put Tropical Milkweed on the "noxious weed list" due to this controversy. Tropical Milkweed is implicated in hosting OE parasites because the Tropical Milkweed may not die off in the winter. The label on most commercial Tropical Milkweed pots says it should be cut down October 31. Probably the bigger problem with Tropical Milkweed or plants purchased from big box stores is their use of herbicides and pesticides that remain on the plants.
We are only using California Native Milkweeds, grown without pesticides and herbicides.
We are using California Native Milkweeds from growers who do not use pesticides and herbicides. Several species of Milkweed we are growing are sourced from El Dorado Native plants. Indigenous Milkweeds will have flowers ranging from yellow to pink - purple (see photos in Gallery). We will distribute Indigenous Milkweed to you for free until the Grant runs out. Get on our 2023 waiting list today. Register today to be part of the Pollinator Flyway Network and get your free indigenous milkweed.
Tropical Milkweed has orange and red flowers.
This is indigenous milkweed. Order from us.
About us
About us
The Sierra Monarch and Pollinator Rescue Project is sponsored by the Wopumnes Nisenan and Mewuk of El Dorado County Heritage Preservation Society. We are a California Native American Intertribal Organization established in 2018 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation EIN 83-2671897. We are an IRS tax exempt organization and donations made are tax deductible according to the IRS. The purpose of our nonprofit is to protect and restore cultural, historic and natural sites, important to the Nisenan and Mewuk Indians, to preserve for future generations.
Why do the monarchs travel so far?
California Indians cultivated many native plants: Buckeye, Valley Oaks, Soap Root, and even the little Milkweed. Compare the Native Trade Routes to the migration path of the Monarchs. Natives cultivated these plants along their trade routes. It is not unusual to find these plants along side grinding mortars the Natives made while grinding their acorns to make their porridge. Milkweed was used by the natives for its latex and to make cordage. The historic Nisenan of El Dorado County, the Wopumnes, are sponsoring the Monarch and Pollinator Rescue project as a way to honor their native culture. Register today to be part of the Pollinator Flyway Netowrk.
Services
What we do?
To help the Monarch Butterfly and pollinators in El Dorado County we are providing educational assistance to land managers of all types (private, farms and government properties) to build out their Monarch Waystations with indigenous El Dorado County Milkweed (narrow leaf and showy) and the El Dorado Native Plant Society is helping us with Native Nectar Plants. We are propagating indigenous milkweed now for the 2023 Spring planting.
Private residents who wish to help the Monarch and other pollinators may build a Monarch Waystation in as little as 100 square feet of their property. A Waystation in your yard or farm will provide Monarch Butterflies, and other pollinators, a safe breeding ground that you can monitor and report progress of to us. Sierra Monarch Rescue will provide Technical Assistance to landmanagers to set up their butterfly garden with regionally appropriate Milkweed that we provide. We will also make recommendations for invasive species plant removal, preparaing your soil, and provide a list of companion native nectar plants that you can purchase from us, El Dorado Native Plant Society, or any nursery of your choosing. The Technical Assistance and indeginous Milkweed plants will be paid for by our State grant and are a gift to you for helping provide shelter to the Monarch Butterfly. You will have the option be placed on the Monarch Waystation Flyway Trail map that will later be posted on this website. Please fill out our “Butterfly Garden Interest Survey” to be added to our waiting list for the 2022-2023 migration season.
Plants will be distributed on a first come first serve basis to people who sign up on the survey. For the 2023 season we will be distributing plants at El Dorado County Farmer's Markets and some delivery will be made for people with special needs.
Tropical Milkweed is being implicated with the spread of OE parasites. You can wash your Tropical Milkweed after purchase and before the butterflies come back. We use only provide chemical free, Native Milkweeds, such as narrowleaf or showy in El Dorado County. Register here for your free milkweed!
Volunteers needed November 18, at Nisenan Village
The photo shows in Red our first habitat restoration. The yellow will be the second phase of that restoration. November 19, 2022 volunteers came out to help prepare the Red area by Sheet Composting and possible early planting of some plants. Many hands make little work. The garden area is expected to be ready for a full planing Spring of 2023 with nectar plants and milkweed propagated from areas around the park and locally. Milkweed is a traditional plant used by the Nisenan for cordiage and latex.
Set-up: 11am
Celebration Kick-off: Noon
For your comfort please dress warmly and bring your own tools and chairs. The park will have benches, mulch and tools available.
If you would like to Volunteer please contact us by filling out the survey.
Marshal Gold State Park
Partnering with the Marshal Gold State Park we are proud to be kicking-off the build out of the California Native Interpretiatve Garden and Monarch Waystation behind the Nisenan Village Oomachas this November 2022.
Located in the upper American River watershed, the “Nisenan Village” exhibit is owned and managed by Marshal Gold State Park. The site is open year-round and is experienced by 70,000 visitors annually. The Nisenan Village built at the foot of the “Mother Rock”, a large granite outcropping the Natives used as their “kitchen”. The “Mother Rock” has over 20 deep grinding mortars showing its use by the natives for hundreds of years. In 2005 the Wopumnes Tribe built the cedar bark oomachas (bark teepees) as part of the display. In 2007, a levy broke and the American River waters rose high enough to go over the parking lot and touch the Mother Rock for a few days.
Need to talk to us?
the WPA Post Office Building
515 Main Street
Placerville,
CA 95667
USA
+1 530 350 9191
info @ Sierra Monarch Rescue . com
Donate to our programs
Sponsored programs
The Sierra Monarch and Pollinator Rescue Project and the West Coast Serama Therapy Chickens are programs sponsored by the Wopumnes Nisenan and Mewuk of El Dorado County Heritage Preservation Society. We are a California Native American Intertribal Organization established in 2018 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation EIN 83-2671897. We are an IRS tax exempt organization and donations made are tax deductible according to the IRS. The purpose of our nonprofit is to protect and restore cultural, historic and natural sites, important to the Nisenan and Mewuk Indians, to preserve for future generations.
Click on the program you want to donate to:
Feed the chickens! :) You've met them at Apple Hill and gave them a hug. The adorable mini-Therapy chickens at El Dorado Orachard. Hopefully they made your day brighter. Your dollars cover vet visits, feed, shelter and help provide companion chickens to families with special needs. This will link you to Stripe to pay by credit/debit card. The Chickies thank you.
Feed the butterflies! :). Sierra Monarch Rescue will be distributing free milkweed in 2023. Your dollars helps cover costs of propagating and distributing milkweed through out El Dorado County to create the Sierra Foothill Monarch and Pollinator Flyway. This will link you to Stripe to pay be credit/debit card.The butterflies thank you!
Services
What we do?
To help the Monarch Butterfly and pollinators in El Dorado County we are providing educational assistance to land managers of all types (private, farms and government properties) to build out their Monarch Waystations with indigenous El Dorado County Milkweed (narrow leaf and showy) and the El Dorado Native Plant Society is helping us with Native Nectar Plants. We are propagating indigenous milkweed now for the 2023 Spring planting.
Private residents who wish to help the Monarch and other pollinators may build a Monarch Waystation in as little as 100 square feet of their property. A Waystation in your yard or farm will provide Monarch Butterflies, and other pollinators, a safe breeding ground that you can monitor and report progress of to us. Sierra Monarch Rescue will provide Technical Assistance to landmanagers to set up their butterfly garden with regionally appropriate Milkweed that we provide. We will also make recommendations for invasive species plant removal, preparaing your soil, and provide a list of companion native nectar plants that you can purchase from us, El Dorado Native Plant Society, or any nursery of your choosing. The Technical Assistance and indeginous Milkweed plants will be paid for by our State grant and are a gift to you for helping provide shelter to the Monarch Butterfly. You will have the option be placed on the Monarch Waystation Flyway Trail map that will later be posted on this website. Please fill out our “Butterfly Garden Interest Survey” to be added to our waiting list for the 2022-2023 migration season.
Plants will be distributed on a first come first serve basis to people who sign up on the survey. For the 2023 season we will be distributing plants at El Dorado County Farmer's Markets and some delivery will be made for people with special needs.
Volunteers needed December 17, at Nisenan Village, 11am.
The photo shows in Red our first habitat restoration. The yellow will be the second phase of that restoration. Volunteers will gather for the Kick-off November 20, 2022 to prepare the Red area by Sheet Composting and possible early planting of some plants. Many hands make little work. The garden area is expected to be ready for a full planing Spring of 2023 with nectar plants and milkweed propagated from areas around the park and locally. Milkweed is a traditional plant used by the Nisenan for cordiage and latex. If you would like to Volunteer please contact us by filling out the survey.
Don't buy Tropical Milkweed... its deadly to Monarch Butterflys. Only use "indigenous" milkweed such as narrowleaf or showy in El Dorado County. Register here for your free milkweed!
Marshal Gold State Park
Partnering with the Marshal Gold State Park we are proud to be kicking-off the build out of the California Native Interpretiatve Garden and Monarch Waystation behind the Nisenan Village Oomachas this November 2022.
Located in the upper American River watershed, the “Nisenan Village” exhibit is owned and managed by Marshal Gold State Park. The site is open year-round and is experienced by 70,000 visitors annually. The Nisenan Village built at the foot of the “Mother Rock”, a large granite outcropping the Natives used as their “kitchen”. The “Mother Rock” has over 20 deep grinding mortars showing its use by the natives for hundreds of years. In 2005 the Wopumnes Tribe built the cedar bark oomachas (bark teepees) as part of the display. In 2007, a levy broke and the American River waters rose high enough to go over the parking lot and touch the Mother Rock for a few days.