The staff at the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is preparing for butterfly season, but the butterfly that makes its home here is on the brink of extinction.
The Lange Metalmark Butterfly has gone from a peak of 2,300 in 1999 to just 86 butterflies last year.
The reason? Wildlife experts say too much nitrogen in the ground that kills the butterfly's host plant.
Conservationists say the source of the nitrogen is PG&E's nearby power plant. They've informed the Environmental Protection Agency they plan to sue it for allowing the plant to operate.
PG&E says the power plant is one of their cleanest burning plants, and they say they're doing their part to protect the butterflies.
Jodi Hernandez provides more details on the planned lawsuit in her video report above.
