The 'Monarch Highway' initiative aims to create pollinator habitats along Interstate 35 to combat the drastic decline in monarch butterfly populations, which have decreased by 90% over the last 20 years. Since launching in 2015, six states have committed to promoting pollinator-friendly plants, with a goal of increasing the number of registered waystations in Michigan. The project seeks partners to expand the network and educate the public on the importance of preserving these habitats for monarchs and other pollinators.

1. Monarch Highway
Presented by Meghan Fitzgerald

2. Our Inspiration: Interstate 35

4. Background
● Highway stretching 1,500 miles from
Laredo, Texas, through Oklahoma,
Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa, ending in
Duluth, Minnesota
● 2011 - MnDot began placing “butterfly
friendly” plants along freeway to
prevent snow from drifting onto road
○ Helped reduce erosion, but also re-
introduced butterflies to the area
● Offered a safe place for larvae as well as
nectar for adult Monarchs and other
pollinators

5. Creation of the “Monarch Highway”
● Actions in Minnesota and other states made way for the initiative to
launch in 2015
● 6 states signed an agreement with FHA that they would promote
pollinator habitats along the corridor
● Increase the number of plants that provide food and protection for ALL
pollinators, not just monarchs
● Now, they only use pollinator-friendly plants during new construction and
maintenance projects along I-35

6. Our Plan

7. Why?
● During summertime, the lakeshore area
was filled with monarchs, especially as
they began to migrate south
● In the last 20 years, the number of
monarchs migrating to Mexico
decreased 90% - this change has been
very visible in West Michigan
● Monarchs, as well as other pollinators,
are important to the natural ecosystem.
The continued decline in population can
lead to detrimental effects here and
abroad.
● We want to create a solution.

8. Monarch Watch
● “Non-profit education, conservation, and
research program”
● Help the public start their own waystation
habitats
○ Public and private land
● Plant milkweed and other host plants for
pollinators to encourage Monarch migration
and increase the population of Monarchs
● As of December 30, there are 15,357
waystations registered
○ 1,167 in Michigan
○ 12 on Ottawa County Park land - plans for 14

9. Our Plan: Michigan’s Own Monarch Highway
● Connect our own Monarch Waystations with Waystations along with
Lakeshore
● Increase the number of Waystations on park land
● Partner with other Michigan tourism bureaus and agencies to create
advertising opportunities and chances to register more waystations
● Market it
○ Encourage trips during prime-migration season, when Monarchs will be in abundance

10. Location
● Current waystations in our Parks:
○ Rosy Mound
○ Hemlock Crossing
○ Riley Trails
○ Historic Ottawa Beach
○ Tunnel Park
○ Kirk Park
○ Macatawa Greenspace
○ Upper Macatawa
○ Adam Street Landing
○ North Beach
○ Olive Shores
● Other places we can connect with:
○ Local parks
○ Community centers
○ Public lands
Monarch at Riley Trails

11. Tunnel Park

14. Potential Partners
● The Nature Conservancy
● DNR
● MDOT
● Grand Haven Area Convention
and Visitors Bureau
● Holland Visitors Bureau
● West Michigan Tourist
Association
● Experience Grand Rapids
● Pure Michigan
● Regional Land Conservancy Units
○ Southwest Michigan Land
Conservancy
○ Land Conservancy of West
Michigan
○ Others further north and
south along Lake Michigan
● Local agencies
○ Kalamazoo Nature Center

15. What does this mean for you?
● We are seeking partners to help expand our project beyond the Ottawa
County Park lands
● Our partners would create their own monarch waystations, promote
them, and educate their visitors
● What would we do for you?
○ Press release
○ Signage
○ Social media outreach
○ Newsletter publications

17. Thank you!