Full Notification

Nature of Incident: Environmental Conservation Efforts by the Ojai Police Department
Report Number: N/A
Location: Ojai Police Station 402 South Ventura Street, Ojai CA 93023
Date & Time: 04/14/2015
Unit(s) Responsible: Ojai Police Department Community Outreach

Narrative:
The Ojai Police Department in partnership with Monarch Arc & Monarch Watch, Monarch Butterfly Conservation Groups, recently planted drought resistant plants and specific types of milkweed at the Ojai Police Station to help sustain local Monarch Butterfly populations creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly ecosystem. As a result of these volunteer efforts, the Ojai Police Station has been designated as a “Monarch Waystation #10146” by MonarchWatch.org.

The Ojai Police Department has recently made changes to the landscaping that exists around the station property. In an effort to be a better partner to the environment staff members assigned to the station began planting drought resistance plants a few months ago. This was done so that the station would reduce its dependency on water irrigation during this terrible drought. At about the time we were planting, a local citizen representing Monarch Arc approached the Sheriff's Office with a conservation idea that would benefit the community and the environment. Monarch Arc is a local educational and conservation group dedicated to preserving Monarch Butterfly populations.

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) of North America are renowned for their long-distance seasonal migration and spectacular winter gatherings in Mexico and California. The monarch butterfly population has recently declined to dangerously low levels. In the 1990s, estimates of up to one billion monarchs made the epic flight each fall from the northern plains of the U.S. and Canada to sites in the oyamel fir forests north of Mexico City, and more than one million monarchs overwintered in forested groves on the California Coast. Now, researchers and citizen scientists estimate that only about 56.5 million monarchs remain, representing a decline of more than 80% from the 21 year average across North America. This is an alarming statistic.

Habitats typically consisting of various types of milkweed have been destroyed on a massive scale, and now patterns of climate and weather are shifting unpredictably in response to pollution of the atmosphere but the disappearance of these beautiful creatures is more serious than just a loss of color in the countryside. Monarch Butterflies are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. Areas rich in butterflies are rich in other invertebrates. These collectively provide a wide range of environmental benefits, including pollination and natural pest control.

The Ojai Police Station in partnership with Monarch Arc planted about ten different types of milkweed in various planter beds surrounding the station. Within a week the first monarch caterpillars appeared. Due to the successful efforts of Monarch Arc, the Ojai Police Station recently received official certification as a "Monarch Way-station #10146"! This project was done through local donations and there were no expenses paid from tax payer funds. We hope that this way-station serves a conservation model for other local citizens to follow and to learn more about sustainable landscaping that benefits the environment. We would like to thank the volunteers at Monarch Arc for their hard work and partnership throughout this project.


Prepared by: Sgt. Kevin Donoghue
News Release Date: 4/14/2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sgt. Rick Harwood (805) 947-8084
[email protected]
Approved by: Captain Dave Kenney