Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks and Recreation

 

TO:

Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager

CC:

Ernie Shaw, Mark Hecker

FROM:

Crystal Miles, Horticulture Manager

DATE:

July 2, 2015

RE:

Application to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s “Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund” grant

 

Background

Over the past 20 years, the North American monarch butterfly population has plunged from 1 billion to less than 60 million, due mostly to loss of critical habitat. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)’s Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund will support efforts to increase monarch butterfly population numbers – with an ultimate goal of reaching a resilient population and continuing its migratory phenomenon. Approximately $3.8 million is available in this inaugural year of the Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund. Grants may be up to two years in length and will generally range in size from $50,000 to $250,000. Matching funds of at least 1:1 will be required. 

 

Project Description

The Parks and Recreation Department would like to apply to the NFWF monarch grant to fund two restoration projects that would restore critical monarch habitat at four sites:

  1.  A 6 acre prairie and monarch habitat in VenturePark adjacent to the Westar substation.  This area was already designed to be planted with native grasses and forbs. (see attached map)
  2. A 0.5 acre linear monarch habitat adjacent to the newly constructed Sandra Shaw Trail by Outside for a Better Inside. (see attached map)
  3. 0.5 acre meadow at Burcham Park. (see map)
  4. 3.5 acres at Prairie Park Nature Center, which will add additional milkweed plants and monarch habitat into existing prairie restoration spaces. (see attached map)

 

We anticipate applying for approximately $37,000 from the NFWF grant opportunity to fund the purchase of native grasses, forbs, and milkweed plants to plant the sites, along with funding for ongoing monitoring and maintenance. The 1:1 match can be met with in-kind support provided by Parks and Recreation, and will include our staff labor to install and maintain the monarch habitat.  No additional funds are requested from the Commission to support this grant request.  The grant is due July 15th.

 

Action

Authorize application to the NFWF Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund to support monarch habitat restoration at Venture Park and Burcham Park.