Nipomo Boone Battles to Save Critical Butterfly Habitat

Five Cities Gazette
January 31, 2002
Story by Bob Behme

Cayucos - Efforts to purchase a four lot eucalyptus grove in Cayucos as a way of preserving winter habitat for the Western Monarch butterfly have reached a critical point according to Sheila Boone, a Nipomo preservationist. The land is listed for sale by Thomas Anderson and Garda Kohlman, conservators for the owner, Jean B. Anderson. Bids have been received from several developers who want the land for development according to Bob Lyons, a local realtor. Lyons also predicted that a bidding war might well develop over sale of the site.

Boone, also a bidder, is represented by an anonymous donor who would like to buy the land and. turn it over to Boone's non-profit foundation. The foundation would keep the land intact as winter habit, giving Cal-Poly scientists and students an opportunity to both study the unusual creatures and to restore the site. Environmentally sensitive areas such as the Cayucos parcel are generally protected by provisions of a Coastal Zone Act.

The Western Monarch, a species butterfly lovers call "flying flowers" because of their brilliant coloring, plays an important role in western insect life. It is the only butterfly west of the Rockies to migrate, a process still mystifying to scientists. During the summer Monarchs can be found flying through out the west but in winter Western the species can only survive along the California coast. Dr. Kingston Leong, a distinguished Cal Poly professor and butterfly specialist, has characterized the land as essential habitat necessary for the preservation of the western species.

Where once there were several hundred wintering locations there are now fewer than one dozen since many sites have been destroyed by development, the intrusion of suburbia and the aging of the habitats themselves. Scientists consider major sites as those capable of supporting colonies of 50,000 or more. The land bordering Birch Street along Little Cayucos Creek has been called one of the most important.

"We're reaching a dangerous plateau," Boone said, "Today there are barely two million Western Monarchs and 8 to 12 major winter habitats remaining. The entire population is threatened and the Cayucos site can play a major role."

Darlene Kaberline, whose home is located just yards away from the threatened habitat, can remember sitting on her front porch watching the beautiful orange and black winged creatures gather on the branches of nearby trees.

"We had them for 22 years. Now there are not as many," Kaberline said.

What has happened, according to Dr. Kingston Leong, is that the trees are aging and battering by wind and rain have thinned branches along the trees trunks. It is the branches which provide resting places for the butterflies. They cluster in layers, one over the other, as nature's way to  protect the insects and keep them alive for revival in the spring.

"All the Cayucos site needs is care and management. It has a better than an 80% chance of being restored," Leong said, "If its managed properly it can support more than 60,000 butterflies each year."

"If the land is sold to a developer the trees will be removed and the habitat will be lost," Boone said, "It may be a difficult decision for the land's owners, but butterflies are important."

More than one year ago a similar situation surfaced at Santa Barbara Shores when plans were announced to develop a wintering site called Ellwood Groves. Cynthia Brock, president of the local homeowner's association challenged development and the county Zoning Commission responded immediately. Development was stopped and the case has been tied up in court for more than one year.


S. Boone Productions, Photographer Siamak Sehat

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