You Asked, We Answered: “Why is RPU allowing invasive plants like wild parsnip and thistle to grow in its pollinator project?”

We appreciate hearing from customers who care about our community’s natural spaces. Creating healthy pollinator habitats doesn’t happen overnight. While RPU’s pollinator corridors are planted with native grasses and wildflowers, it is common for invasive plants to appear during the first few growing seasons. Many of these plants grow from seeds that have been in the soil for years before the restoration projects began.

In 2024, RPU launched a three-year project in partnership with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) to transform two electric transmission corridors into pollinator-friendly habitats. These corridors are being restored with native vegetation that supports bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects while also reducing soil erosion, improving water quality, and maintaining safe and reliable access to RPU’s electric infrastructure. As a pilot project, one of its objectives is to evaluate whether this approach is an effective and sustainable long-term land management practice for utility corridors.

RPU works closely with Prairie Restorations, Inc., a company specializing in native habitat establishment and management, to monitor the sites and manage invasive species. Restoration is a gradual process, and invasive plants are expected during the early years as native vegetation becomes established. The sites are routinely evaluated, with invasive species managed through mowing and targeted herbicide treatments when appropriate. Over time, healthy native plant communities naturally compete with and suppress many invasive species.

Fun fact, not all thistles are invasive. Some, such as native field thistle, provide valuable nectar and habitat for pollinators. Effective management requires distinguishing between invasive species that should be controlled and native plants that contribute to a healthy ecosystem.

Because these corridors are only in the early stages of restoration, customers may continue to see some invasive plants during the establishment period. As the pilot project progresses, the native grasses and wildflowers will become more established, resulting in healthier, more diverse landscapes that support pollinators while meeting RPU’s operational and environmental goals.