Community Profile

Pledge Status

Active

Pledge Date

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Program Year

2024

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Town of Moraga

Moraga, CA

Teresa Onoda

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The Town of Moraga is a semi-rural community nestled in the beautiful hillsides of the East Bay of Contra Costa County, California. Moraga's population is 17,692. In November 2020, the Moraga Garden Club launched the “Moraga for Monarchs” initiative which resulted in the installation of a 2,600 square foot Monarch Habitat and Demonstration Garden at Rancho Laguna Park. The garden includes native and fire-safe plants that flower between early spring and late fall each year and interpretive signage to educate the community. The project included significant fundraising efforts and countless volunteer hours. The Moraga for Monarchs initiative spanned over 15 months during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Community contributions included over 2,870 volunteer hours and donations exceeding $92,000. Community donations include in-kind donations from 27 businesses and monetary donations from 98 individual donors, 3 service clubs, 3 social clubs, 4 garden clubs, and 1 Moraga Foundation. The garden includes over 600 plants including 95 native and drought tolerant varieties to increase the habitat for monarch and pollinators.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2024

Communications and Convening

  • Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
  • Create a community art project to enhance and promote monarch and pollinator conservation as well as cultural awareness and recognition.

Program and Demonstration Gardens

  • Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
  • Facilitate or support a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort.
  • Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
  • Initiate or support community science (or citizen science) efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.
  • Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change

  • Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife.