Camp Ashland is located alongside one of the Midwest's most important rivers, the Platte, and within the heart of monarch breeding and migratory flyways in Nebraska. Through DoD support, the MJV has provided training on monarchs and their habitat needs to natural resource staff at the installation. Additionally, MJV staff provided assistance on how to manage a 13-acre area located near their cantonment to serve as an interpretative pollinator habitat. The site is currently planted to a warm-season grass mix but will be enhanced with pollinator plants in the spring of 2024. MJV is working with Camp Ashland to recruit volunteers to assist in planting pollinator plugs, with a special invitation being extended to Blue Star Families to participate.
In August, MJV will be conducting an IMMP training workshop with Camp Ashland staff and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologists. During the field portion of the workshop, we will work together to identify floral resources and identify how monarchs are using the installation.
In September, to celebrate Public Lands Day, MJV will be hosting a monarch tagging event that will be open to the public with a special invitation extended to Blue Star Families.
Through DoD support, technical guides will be developed for enhancing grasslands with pollinator resources post-warm season grass seeding and managing invasive species such as Leafy Spurge.
