Brayton Metzger/NC3 Two Monarch Butterflies on the ground at the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. The population of Monarch Butteflies has dropped to alarmingly low levels this year. PISMO BEACH, Calif. - The number of Monarch Butterflies has dropped precipitously this year, prompting Congressman Salud Carbajal along with Congressman Jimmy Panetta and Senator Jeff Merkley to write the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to express their concern about the decision to not list the butterfly under the Endangered Species Act. Grover Beach Resident Laura Ochoa agrees. She comes to the Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach regularly and sees the lower numbers firsthand.