Pollinator-friendly Habitat Planted at West Bank Solar Array
Pollinator-friendly habitat planting

Jacob Bechtold, Industrial Engineering major and IonE Student Staff

On a chilly morning in November, a team of volunteers led by Aaron Hanson, a researcher from the Institute on the Environment, spread pollinator-friendly seeds at West Bank’s solar array. Volunteers raked and dethatched the soil in the grassy area surrounding the array before planting the pollinator habitat. The University received the seeds from the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund.

Planting pollinator-friendly habitat

Sarah Bauer, J.D. Candidate, University of Minnesota Law School

Project supervisors

Briana Beck, O&M Project Supervisor | Energy Division MNL, (center) discusses proper seed spreading technique

In addition to the planting, a second crew installed soil moisture monitoring equipment beneath the solar panels. Volunteers dug post holes and set up equipment in an effort to measure the co-benefits of mitigating stormwater runoff. The deep-rooted nature of the new plants will break up the soil and increase infiltration to help keep soil in place during heavy rainfall, preventing it from producing runoff into the river. The moisture monitoring probes are placed at both 6 inches and 12 inches deep in the full sun, as well as under the solar panels’ drip edges where concentrated runoff will occur. The ground underneath the array will also be monitored where rainfall does not directly reach.

Soil moisture and monitoring equipment

Aaron Hanson and Bradley Luchsinger, Philosophy major and IonE Undergraduate Leaders Program Alumni install soil moisture monitoring equipment

Data will be collected for years to come as part of the Living Lab program, becoming measurable as the pollinator habitat becomes established and as the root depths increase. Although this is the only equipment being installed for the time being, other research activities around the West Bank solar array include site observation, such as looking for bees and butterflies and an increase in their visits to the site to find food. Hennepin County also hopes to use the site to monitor for avian activity and gather data on whether birds use the site as ground nesting or feed on the increased population of insects. This research will be useful going forward to see how a pollinator habitat can develop on a solar site in an urban setting.

Pollinator-friendly habitat planting

Aaron Hanson and Bradley Luchsinger, Philosophy major and IonE Undergraduate Leaders Program Alumni install soil moisture monitoring equipment

A community grant from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) made it possible for the University to receive the research equipment and additional seeds, and the University received consulting and implementation services from Minnesota Native Landscapes (MNL). Thank you!

All Sustainability News

April is Earth Month! Check out our frequently updated list of events to get involved. Check it out.

We're hiring sustainability data and project manager graphic

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is hiring a Sustainability Data and Project Manager! Search Job ID # 360205 at hr.umn.edu/Jobs/Find-Job for more information and to apply.

Join us Friday, March 22nd from 10-11am for a chat from sustainable aviation fuel experts!

We'll be hearing from three speakers, Pat Gruber, CEO of Gevo, Shiri Ramaswamy, professor in Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering at UMN, and William Northrop, professor in Mechanical Engineering at UMN.

Register now!

Maroon graphic showing "we're hiring" student position sustainability communications assistant. Job ID is 360089

Apply today for the Student Sustainability Communications Assistant position! Learn more

CAP Town Hall Sustainability Committee 2022

Join the Twin Cities Sustainability Committee (TCSC)! The committee was launched in the fall of 2021 with a charge of guiding the MPact 2025 goal to “Build a fully sustainable future” as stated in the Systemwide Strategic Plan. Moving forward, the committee’s work will advise the Twin Cities Office of Sustainability on all activities, inclusive of operations, teaching, research, and outreach. This committee is open to staff, faculty, undergraduate & graduate students. Apply by 4/1.

Learn MoreInterest Form

University of Minnesota Twin Cities has won the 2023 GameDay Football Zero Waste Touchdown Challenge in the Food Organics Per Capita category! 

This achievement underscores our commitment to waste reduction, putting sustainability at the forefront of our athletic spaces.

Building a Fully Sustainable Future 2023-2024 with a backdrop of fall colors and plants

The 2023-2024 Systemwide Sustainability Report for the University of Minnesota Board of Regents is now available!
 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is aiming to make public buildings like hospitals and schools more resilient against future disasters by paying to install solar panels when they are rebuilt. Read more

Resilience and Adaptation Open House promo banner

Join us for the Climate Resilience & Adaptation Open House! 
Wednesday, February 21st, 2024, 3-5pm
1425 University Ave, room 175
 
Your opinion matters! Join the Office of Sustainability on Wednesday, February 21st from 3pm to 5pm at 1425 University Ave to review and provide insights on the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan objectives and strategies. We want to hear what you think - tell us what we missed or what resonates with you. Open house format - come and go as you please. Light refreshments provided.

 

Fall 2023 Sustainability Advocates from SUST3480 conducted a recent Campus Engagement Project at the University of Minnesota aimed to improve the satisfaction and sustainability of the campus transportation system (Gopher Trip). They distributed a Sustainable Transportation Survey, gathering responses from 57 students to assess current challenges and future possibilities.