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In the heart of California’s Central Valley - where fertile soil and economic demands collide - a quiet transformation is taking root. This weaving of crops and habitat together, to build resilience and partnerships between farmers, seed producers, conservationists and communities. We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are part the San Joaquin Valley Monarch Collaborative. At the heart of this effort is a simple question: How do we work with what we have - land, water and people - to build a more sustainable future?
That’s exactly what a group of innovative native seed growers, non-profits, landowners and state and federal agencies are trying to answer through the San Joaquin Valley Monarch Collaborative. This region of California is battling extended extreme droughts, groundwater shortage and strained agricultural economies. The collaborative brings together a mix of voices and visions to help narrow a native seed shortage, improve soil health and conserve water in California.
“Fields don’t have to be blown away. Invasives don’t have to take over,� says Melissa Burns western monarch coordinator for the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.
Seed by seed, field by field
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian and pollinator habitat to support monarch butterflies and local nesting bird populations.
Reyn Akiona, executive director of Valley Eco is helping lead the charge. Alongside other growers like Heritage Growers and Hedgerow Farms, the team is building a network of farmers willing to try something new: planting native seeds not just for conservation, but for economic sustainability.
The San Joaquin Valley faces significant water issues, including groundwater overdraft, drinking water contamination and sinking land. These problems are exacerbated by heavy agricultural demands, population growth and a changing climate. Efforts to address these issues include water conservation measures, groundwater recharge initiatives and strengthening the resilience of agricultural and natural systems.
“We can’t always change the water situation,� says Akiona, “but we can improve management practices, to support soil and ecosystem health, enhance productivity and refine our water systems and co-management of working lands. It’s about working shoulder to shoulder with local farmers to layer as many landscape values as possible on each acre of land.�
For example, Valley Eco, California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, Grassland Resource Conservation District, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Board and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service piloted the revegetation of eight miles of an irrigation ditch to pollinator habitat. This tailored project is connecting landscapes by increasing egg laying and opportunities for monarch butterflies and other local pollinator species for feed.
Research shows that planting cover crops and native flowering plants to grow between the almond tree rows, and or, around the outside of the orchard does not compete with almond blossoms. In fact, cover crops and hedgerows provide improved nutrition for pollinators, which also increases their populations. Planting pollinator habitat can also provide several benefits for soil health and quality, soil stabilization and erosion control and improved water infiltration.
Turning dust into opportunity
In areas where land has going fallow due to water scarcity, instead of letting it turn to dust, this collaborative is turning it into opportunity. They’re using it to grow native plants that provide seeds that are hard to find for future habitat restoration projects - from rural farms to city greenways. This approach is already attracting interest from agencies like California Department of Transportation, who are looking for cheaper, local native seeds to restore habitat and reduce erosion along highways and railways. A grant of $25,000 from our agency has helped push this effort forward.
One of the most unique parts of the collaborative? Everyone shares in the risk, and the learning.
“It’s a hard process. There’s not a lot of land or water, and pesticides are a reality,� says Burns. “But we’re proving it’s possible. We’re taking chances others haven’t.�
For farmers, by farmers
Farmers understand better than most how critical pollinators are. Especially in a region where almonds - a pollinator-dependent crop - are a cornerstone of the economy.
“Local farmers understand the value of pollinators for their crops and for the ecosystems around them,� says Akiona. “With native planting efforts and coordination form members of the Collaborative, farmers are better able to meet resources within their operations.�
Still, for many farmers, the big question is: How does this help my bottom line? With multiple pressures, farmers need simple, quick, implementable solutions to improve their operations.
That’s where the collaborative shines. It gives the ability to be flexible and expand opportunities for everyone involved. Through mixed partnership and buy-in from multiple agencies, farmers can get access to native seed, often at no or low cost, and see how it can fit into their operation, whether it's supporting bird habitat, reducing erosion or creating a small side business in seed collection.
Germinating the future
As the collaborative grows, so does its reach. The goal is to create a reciprocity ring, matching people who have land with those who have seed, or water or time. Some are early adopters, already testing what works. Others are coming to the table just to learn. “If the interest and support keep coming, we’ll get more folks involved,� says Burns. “We’re already seeing proof of concept.�
It’s not about doing everything everywhere; it’s about doing something meaningful where you are. In the Central Valley, that’s starting with a few farmers, a few fields and a whole lot of hope.
That spirit of experimentation and collaboration is what makes this work stand out. With lot of large projects on the horizon, they will want and need native seeds and plants. This collaborative is getting well positioned to do this work.
What you can do
If you’re a landowner, farmer or just someone who cares about the land, there’s a place for you in this movement. Whether it’s letting a few acres grow native plants, volunteering to restore habitat with us or connecting with a seed producer, your contribution matters.
As one collaborator put it, “We’re not just feeding people. We’re feeding the land, too.� And that’s a harvest worth growing.
