Community Profile

Pledge Status

Complete

Pledge Date

Friday, March 4, 2022

Program Year

2022

Achievement

Signatories

2022

Links and Uploads

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Action Item Report

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City of Dana Point

Dana Point, CA

Joe Muller

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The City of Dana Point is a beachside community in southern California that is home to over 30,000 residents. Dana Point is named after author/adventurer Richard Henry Dana Jr. who described the area as the "only romantic spot on the coast" in his book Two Years Before the Mast. Dana Point has long been a stop over for the western Monarch Butterfly during their migration, so much so that one of our coastal communities is called Monarch Beach. The City has committed to creating Monarch habitat throughout the community to ensure that Monarch butterflies continue to have a place to rest, relax or call home in Dana Point.

Community Spotlight

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Sea Terrace Park

Day one of the 2022 habitat workdays. Volunteers completely cleared room for new native plant growth.

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2023 Monarch Butterfly Habitats Reach New Heights

The Monarch Butterfly Habitats program creates pollinator-friendly habitats throughout the city. Incorporating California native plants, many species are returning to Dana Point. In 2023, over 250 community volunteers created habitats, a new record!

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2024 Monarch Butterfly Habitats Season is Here!

The City of Dana Point welcomes all volunteers to be a Habitat Helper and create a home in Dana Point for Monarch Butterflies. Access the link below to become a Habitat Helper and create a home in Dana Point for Monarch Butterflies!

Learn More

Action Items Committed for 2022

Communications and Convening

  • Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. (If you have community members who speak a language other than English, we encourage you to also communicate in that language; Champion Pledges must communicate in that language.)
  • Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs.
  • Engage with Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations or neighborhood organizations to identify opportunities to plant monarch gardens and revise maintenance and mowing programs.

Program and Demonstration Gardens

  • Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
  • Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
  • Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change

  • Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.