At Natural Bridges State Beach, Groundswell Ecology is partnering on two long-standing complementary restoration efforts that enhance coastal habitat, support wildlife, and engage the community.
Natural Bridges Enhancement Project
Launched in 2016, the Natural Bridges Enhancement Project is a collaborative effort with California State Parks, the California Native Plant Society, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, local community members, and students and educators from CAMP (Santa Cruz County Office of Education), Gateway Elementary School, Natural Bridges High School, and Redwood High School.
Early phases of the project focused on restoring coastal dune habitat, improving nesting habitat for Brandt’s Cormorants, and rebuilding the park’s primary beach access in a way that balances recreation and resource protection. In 2024 this project received additional support through the Monterey Bay Living Shorelines Program, enabling further integration of nature-based coastal resilience strategies.
Current expansion of restoration efforts targeting the area near the Bridge(s), back beach, and western headlands is funded by the California Coastal Conservancy. Over the years, numerous corporate volunteer groups have played an important role and continue to participate actively in hands-on restoration and stewardship.
Santa Cruz Monarch Enhancement Project
The Santa Cruz Monarch Enhancement Project is a partnership with the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County, California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, California Wildlife Conservation Board, California State Parks Foundation, and California State Parks. These partnerships have helped us to develop a comprehensive management plan for the monarch butterfly overwintering grove at Natural Bridges (Natural Bridges Monarch Overwintering Plan and Appendices). We are now implementing activities recommended in the plan.
This work focuses on reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire within the grove, improving forest and habitat conditions, and increasing the abundance and diversity of native nectar plants that support overwintering monarchs. to support monarch conservation both within the park and across the broader landscape refere to our curated list of early and late flowering nectar plants for Santa Cruz County.
