Date: August 12, 2024
Re: Comments to the Proposed Moran Lake Butterfly Habitat Management Plan
Dear Manu,
Currently a vulnerable species, Monarch butterflys may be relisted as endangered as early as
this December.
Save Pleasure Point (SPPt) supports the efforts and dedication for Monarch Butterfly Habitat
Preservation in our Moran Lake Area.
Yet we feel there must be equal attention to balancing habitat protection to the needs of public
safety. In support of our PPt neighbors we urge that this Monarch Butterfly Habitat area be
continuously and timely monitored including vigorous year-round maintenance.
Of concern is that the proposed Habitat Management Plan’s recommendation language uses
the word “will” not the word SHALL (intend to do). As such the Plan’s recommendations lack
teeth! Board approval of this Plan does not promise or require area observations, tree and
ground monitoring, assessments and maintenance being timely nor thorough..
Moran Lake’s surrounding area is residential. Towering unkempt eucalyptus trees create perils!
We understand rule of thumb suggests that if a eucalyptus is 100 feet tall it is recommended
each tree be at least 100 ft away from any structure and that recommended spacing between
planting new eucalyptus trees is 25 feet from the other.
Eucalyptus risk issues at 40 Moran Way resulted in a February 2024 storm causing severe
structure damage to adjacent Moran Way residences. One home had 3 trees fall through it. On
the other side of Moran, a home on Baker St was hit in this same storm leaving the structure
looking like toothpicks. This 2024 storm did not start “eucalyptus calamties” around Moran:
over the past 10 years homes on the parking lot side of Moran Lake have had eucalyptus land
on their roofs; a home on Palisades had a eucalyptus from 40 Moran fall across the width of the
street and through its roof.
During these incidents it is beyond lucky that no one has been injured or killed! How long will
this luck hold? Also, there is the “after” the misfortune: the emotional and financial impact on
those affected.
Area surveillance, tree risk assessments and maintenance in Moran’s Monarch Habitat area
MUST be frequent and regular including removing vegetation around the trees, topping trees,
removing bark which peels back, removing hazardous branches and removing on the ground
debris. In February 2024 if risk monitoring had been up to date isn’t it safe to presume that
many hazardous trees would have already been removed with other potential problems already
noted and addressed?
A non-native tree, eucalyptus are an invasive species. Yes, they grow fast yet at what cost? The
dense weight of their branches makes them prone to falling in winds; their heaviness makes
counterbalancing their roots difficult and they emit a flammable oil in their leaves making them
a serious fire risk.
While it may be believed Monarch butterflys only thrive in eucalyptus trees it is important to
note that no study has proved this claim. Griffiths & Villablanca in 2015 suggested Monarchs
do not prefer eucalyptus trees and that restoration of habitat areas should include native
species.
An example of a more varied habitat is nearby Asilomar, a many decades-old Monarch Habitat
site. Asilomar has a variety of trees that “their” Monarchs overwinter in. Asilomar’s monarchs
roost in eucalyptus, Monterey pine, Monterey cypress and coast live oaks.
Being that Monarchs can adjust and thrive if a different habitat is introduced, why in 2023 were
100 new eucalyptus trees planted in Moran’s habitat area? Going forward, we urge that it be
mandatory to plant only native trees in this habitat area (plant natives beyond seedling stage;
for sure there is a nursery who will discount the price of larger plants for this greater good).
SPPt. urges Moran’s Monarch counts be published annually to foster increased awareness of
their plight and/or success of this habitat’s revival (Moran’s counts: 1997 – 70,000; 2023 –
7,050). To assist grow this majestic species we suggest that the County also encourage locals
living within an appropriate distance of Moran’s habitat area to plant a combination of the 20
types of flowers that Monarchs feed off of including certain milk weeds, golden rod, black-eyed
Susan, butterfly bush, cosmos, lantana, etc.
Respectfully submitted: Save Pleasure Point’s Steering Committee: Jo Ann Allen, Kimber
Blackburn, Patti Brady, Carin Hanna, Glenn Hanna, Lowell Marcus, George McCullough, Padi
Romero, Matt McMillan, Debbie Shulman, Jerry Still, Marika Strauss, Kevin Walter, Vanessa
Young (all PPt residents, property owners and business owners
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