Pollinators

Earth Month Series: Buzzing Into Action For Pollinators

As climate change accelerates, pollinators face growing threats to their survival. The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, a federally endangered species and Minnesota’s state bee, has seen its population decline by about 80 percent over the past two decades. Similarly, butterfly populations have declined by over 20 percent. 

Pollinators play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth. Around 80 percent of the world’s flowering plants require pollinators, and without them, humans and any other terrestrial species would cease to exist. About 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators, and an estimated 80 percent of the world’s population uses plant-based or herbal medicine as part of their primary care. 

You can help protect pollinators by adding a pollinator-friendly garden with native plants to your yard. Native plants, such as milkweed, attract pollinators like monarch butterflies, whose populations have sharply declined in recent years. These gardens can provide a refuge for many species threatened by habitat loss and environmental degradation. 

Native plants offer several additional benefits: 

• Filtering rainwater
• Supporting native ecosystems
• Resilience during flooding and droughts
• Enhancing soil health
• Providing food for wildlife
• Stabilizing land to reduce erosion

While planting native gardens may sound daunting at first, there are a lot of resources to help you get started. Visit bluethumb.org for tips on creating your own pollinator-friendly space. The Golden Valley Garden Club also offers support for gardeners at all experience levels. The club meets regularly, offering educational speakers in the winter and garden tours in the summer. It provides a network for those interested in helping pollinators thrive. 

Sources 

• The Need for Protecting Pollinators – Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
• Who Are the Pollinators? - US Forest Service
• The Importance of Pollinators – US Department of Agriculture
• Exploring connections between pollinator health and human health
• Eastern migratory monarch butterfly populations decrease by 59% in 2024 – World Wildlife Fund

Water Pollution

Earth Month Series: Protecting The Water That Reflects The Sky

In the land of 10,000 lakes, water is central to life—whether for drinking, recreation, or the health of ecosystems across the state. Long before European settlers arrived, and continuing today, the Dakota people have cherished Minnesota’s waterways. Even the name “Minnesota” comes from the Dakota phrase Mni Sota Makoċhe, meaning “the land where the water reflects the skies.” 

One of those waters, Bassett Creek (known in Dakota as Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ, meaning “Creek to the River of the Falls”), flows through Golden Valley before joining the Mississippi River. Today, like many bodies of water across the state, it faces environmental challenges. 

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, over 5,000 lakes, rivers, and streams—about 40 percent of Minnesota’s surface waters—are considered impaired. Common issues include high levels of nutrients, bacteria, sediment pollution, declining fish or aquatic insect health, and elevated chloride levels from road salt. 

Bassett Creek is listed as impaired due to excess bacteria and chloride. Chloride pollution, primarily from winter salt use, is especially harmful because once it enters waterways, it does not break down. Just one teaspoon of salt can permanently pollute five gallons for water. 

What You Can Do
You can help protect Minnesota’s waterways by making small changes in your daily habits: 

• Properly dispose of household chemicals and medications
• Switch to PFAS-free cleaning and personal care products
• Pick up litter to keep it from washing into storm drains
• Reduce salt use on driveways and sidewalks during winter by using smart salting techniques

Organics

Earth Month Series: Turning Scraps Into Soil

Next time you’re cleaning up after a meal, take a moment to think about where your food waste is headed. If you throw it in the trash, it’s likely bound for a landfill. 

In Hennepin County, up to 30 percent of landfill waste is made up of organic materials that could be composted—including food scraps, paper towels, and coffee grounds. Through organics recycling programs, food waste and other organic materials are diverted from landfills and processed into compost, which can be mixed with soil to provide nutrients and help retain moisture to support healthy plant growth. 

The City offers free curbside organics recycling to all residents in one- to four-unit homes, with pickup every Friday. After pickup, Golden Valley’s organics are brought to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Organics Recycling Facility, where they’re turned into compost.  

For residents in apartment buildings or multifamily buildings without curbside service, an organics drop-off site is available at Fire Station #2 (400 Turners Crossroad S). Please be mindful not to block garage doors or emergency access when dropping off. 

Visit the Golden Valley Organics Recycling page for tips on how to get started and what items are accepted. Additionally, Golden Valley offers free compost to residents for pickup in the spring. Subscribe to the recycling email updates on the Organics Recycling page to be notified when compost becomes available later this season. 

Sources

• Organics Recycling – Golden Valley
• Organics Recycling – Hennepin County
• Composting – Environmental Protection Agency
• Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

Invasive Species

Earth Month Series: Battling Invasive Species In Minnesota

What do European starlings, Japanese beetles, and earthworms have in common? All are invasive species in Minnesota. 

Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause environmental, economic, or health-related damage. These species are able to thrive outside their native ecosystems by outcompeting local floral and fauna, disrupting natural environments and reducing biodiversity. 

Among Minnesota's most prolific invasive species is buckthorn, a woody shrub that spreads rapidly and is notoriously difficult to eliminate. There are two main types—common and glossy—both of which produce berries that are commonly spread by birds. Because the seeds pass through birds undigested, buckthorn spreads quickly through woodlands and open spaces. 

The most effective way to remove buckthorn is to cut the plant at the base and apply a topical herbicide to the stump. This is best done in late summer through fall. Once cut, experts recommend leaving the brush on-site to avoid spreading seeds. 

Another problematic invasive species is garlic mustard, a fast-growing weed that grows well in disturbed or chemically affected soil. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends preventing the spread of young garlic mustard plants in early spring by pulling them up, roots and all, before they can go to seed. Removed plants should be bagged and burned, as their seeds can remain viable and spread if left on the ground. 

While invasive species pose a growing threat, individuals can take action. Cleaning shoes, bikes, and gear before entering and leaving natural areas helps reduce the spread of seeds. Learning how to identify and properly remove invasive plants is another way to protect Minnesota's native ecosystems. 

Sources:

• What Are Invasive Species? – National Park Service
• Garlic Mustard – U of M Extension
• Garlic Mustard – Minnesota DNR
• Invasive Species – Minnesota DNR