Hillview Farms Pollinator Hedgerow - Placer Resource Conservation District

Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, are critical to biodiversity and ecological function in California. In Placer County, flowering plants and agricultural crops depend on pollinators for reproduction. Unfortunately, a number of factors including habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and climate change threaten pollinators such as the endangered western monarch butterfly. Since the 1980s, the western monarch population has plummeted more than 99%. Western Placer County is part of the prioritized region where the first generation of monarchs go after leaving overwintering sites and is critical for providing pesticide-free early season milkweed and nectar plants. In response, Placer RCD has partnered with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD), the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, and local organic farms to plant native hedgerows with nectar and habitat sources for migrating monarchs. In November 2020, Placer RCD worked with Hillview Farms in Lincoln and planted a 500-foot pollinator hedgerow. The hedgerow consisted of 85 native plants tailored for our region consisting of milkweed, coyote brush, buckwheat, toyon, and other native plants.

In Fall 2021, Placer RCD has teamed up with Placer County Parks Division to install a 1,200-foot hedgerow in Doyle Ranch Park in Roseville. An additional 800-foot hedgerow will be installed at Stone’s Throw Farm in Colfax.

To learn more about pollinator conservation and how you can implement best management practices for pollinators, contact our key staff listed below.