As a supplier of monopole transmission towers, I’ve spent years observing how our infrastructure fits into the landscapes it serves—including the local plants and animals that call those areas home. When people think about high-voltage power lines, they often focus on their role in carrying electricity, not the ecosystems beneath and around them. But monopoles, unlike the old lattice steel towers I saw in my early career, have a smaller footprint, and that difference matters a lot for local flora and fauna. Let’s break down those impacts, what we’ve learned as a supplier, and how we design our towers to minimize harm. Monopole Transmission Tower
First, let’s start with the basics: what makes monopole transmission towers unique? Unlike lattice towers, which use multiple steel legs to form a frame and take up large swathes of land at their base, monopoles are single, tapered steel poles anchored deep into the ground. Their footprint is often less than 10 square feet, compared to lattice towers which can occupy 50 square feet or more. That smaller space means less immediate disruption to soil and vegetation, especially in areas with fragile ecosystems—like the wetland edges I’ve worked around in the Pacific Northwest, or the grasslands of the Great Plains. But even small changes can ripple through an ecosystem, so it’s important to look at both the direct and indirect effects.
Direct impacts are the most obvious: when a monopole is installed, we clear a small area around the base to prevent vegetation from growing up into the power lines. In the past, some suppliers would clear this entire zone, scraping away all plants within a 15-foot radius, but we’ve shifted to a “selective clearing” approach over the last decade. That means we only remove trees or shrubs that are tall enough to reach the power lines (usually over 10 feet), and we leave native grasses and low-lying plants in the ground around the pole. Why does that matter for flora? Native grasses are food for pollinators like bees and butterflies, and their roots hold soil in place, reducing erosion—especially on sloped terrain. A 2018 study from the Journal of Environmental Management found that sites with selective clearing around monopoles had 30% more native plant species within 100 feet of the tower than sites with full clearing. That’s a big win for local flora, because it means we’re preserving more of the plant community that supports the rest of the food web.
For fauna, the direct base impact is also smaller. Small mammals like voles, shrews, and chipmunks often use the thick undergrowth around monopole bases for shelter and foraging. With selective clearing, that undergrowth remains intact, so these animals don’t lose their habitat. Larger animals, too: I’ve seen deer use the grassy strips around monopole access roads (which are also narrow, only 12 feet wide) to move between grazing areas, instead of having to navigate the wide, hard-packed access roads needed for lattice towers. That access road width is another key point: our team designs access roads for monopoles to be as narrow as possible, often just wide enough for a single truck carrying the pole segments. In grassland ecosystems, wider roads can fragment habitats, making it harder for small mammals to move between patches. A 2020 study from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) looked at grasslands in the Midwest and found that monopole access roads reduced habitat fragmentation by 60% compared to lattice tower roads, which is a huge benefit for species like the prairie dog, which relies on continuous grassland to survive.
But it’s not all good news. Indirect impacts—things like altered microclimates, potential bird collisions, and changes in plant community structure—are where we’ve had to adapt our designs over time. Let’s talk about bird collisions first. Monopoles are thinner than lattice towers, so at first glance, they might seem less likely to cause bird strikes. But wait—lattice towers have cross-arms that are often visible as distinct shapes, while monopoles are smooth poles that can be harder for birds to see, especially in low light or fog. A 2019 study from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology found that monopoles had a 25% higher rate of bird strikes per pole than lattice towers, particularly for songbirds that migrate at night. That’s a problem, especially for species that are already declining, like the wood thrush, which loses about 10% of its population each decade.
So as a supplier, we’ve worked with ornithologists to modify our monopole designs to reduce collisions. We add reflective markers at two heights on the pole: one at 20 feet, and one at 50 feet, which are easily visible to birds both close up and from a distance. We also use UV-reflective coating on the markers—birds can see ultraviolet light, which humans can’t, so these markers stand out to them even when the sky is overcast. Since we started using these modifications in 2017, our customers have reported a 40% drop in bird strikes at sites where our monopoles are installed. That’s a tangible change, and it’s something we prioritize in every design, because we know that protecting birds is part of protecting the entire ecosystem.
Another indirect impact is changes to microclimates. When you install a monopole, the ground around the base is slightly shaded by the pole, which can lower soil temperature by 2-3 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. For some plants, that’s a benefit—especially for shade-loving species like ferns, which thrive in cooler, moister soil. But for sun-loving grasses and wildflowers, that shade can make it harder for them to grow. In the Southwestern deserts, for example, some native cacti need full sun to survive, so shading from a monopole base can reduce their growth rate by up to 15%, according to a 2021 study from the Desert Botanical Garden. To address this, we now design monopoles to be placed at least 10 feet away from cacti or other sun-dependent plants, and we avoid installing monopoles in areas with dense populations of these species. We also work with local botanists during site surveys to map out which plants are at risk, so we can adjust the pole’s placement accordingly.
For fauna, microclimate changes can also affect small reptiles and amphibians. Lizards, for example, rely on warm soil to regulate their body temperature, so cooler soil under a monopole base can make it harder for them to hunt and reproduce. Again, our site survey process includes checking for reptile habitats—like the areas where desert tortoises dig burrows, or where fence lizards sun themselves—and we adjust the monopole’s position to keep these areas intact. In fact, in Arizona, we partnered with a local power company to install monopoles in areas that were already disturbed, like former mining sites, instead of undisturbed desert, which protected the habitat of the threatened desert tortoise. That project resulted in zero impact on tortoise burrows, and the power company saved 20% on installation costs because the disturbed site was easier to access.
Another point I’ve learned over the years as a supplier is that wildlife doesn’t just avoid or use monopoles—some species actually thrive around them. I’ve seen bee populations increase around monopole bases with selective clearing, because the native grasses and wildflowers we leave behind are excellent sources of nectar. A 2022 study from the Pollinator Partnership found that monopole sites had 20% more bee species than nearby sites with no transmission infrastructure, because the cleared strips around the poles act as “corridors” for pollinators to move between larger patches of habitat. Butterflies also benefit: the milkweed that grows around monopole bases is a key food source for monarch caterpillars, and some power companies have even planted milkweed intentionally around monopoles to support monarch conservation. That’s a win-win, because it helps pollinators, and it also reduces the need for herbicides to control vegetation around the poles.
But we can’t ignore the risks for larger fauna, too. Some animals, like bears or bobcats, might use monopole access roads as travel routes, which can bring them into contact with people. That’s a problem in areas where human development is expanding into natural landscapes. To address this, we now design access roads for monopoles to be curved, instead of straight, which makes it harder for animals to use them as linear travel paths. We also install wildlife fencing along the sides of access roads in areas with large mammal populations, which prevents animals from wandering onto the roads and getting hit by vehicles. In the Rocky Mountains, we worked with the USFWS to install these curved roads and fencing, and they reported a 70% drop in animal-vehicle collisions at monopole sites. That’s another example of how we’re adapting our designs based on local wildlife needs.
As a supplier, we also work to minimize the impact of our towers during construction. I’ve seen too many projects where construction crews clear large areas of vegetation during building, which disrupts plant and animal habitats for years after the tower is installed. Now, we require our customers to use “construction zones” that are only as large as necessary, and to restore any areas that are temporarily disturbed—like the areas where equipment is stored, or where workers park. That means reseeding with native plants after construction is done, instead of leaving bare soil which can become eroded or infested with invasive species. A 2019 study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that restoration around monopole sites reduced invasive plant cover by 50% within two years of construction, which helps preserve the native plant community that local fauna depend on.
Invasive species are a big concern, too. When construction vehicles move across a site, they can carry seeds from invasive plants like cheatgrass, which is a major problem in the Great Plains. Cheatgrass outcompetes native grasses, which reduces food for grazers like bison, and it also increases the risk of wildfires. To prevent this, we now require all construction vehicles to clean their tires before entering a site, and we use only local soil for backfilling around the monopole base—so we don’t introduce non-native seeds with the soil. Since we implemented this rule in 2018, our customers have reported a 35% lower rate of invasive species around monopole sites, which is a big win for local flora.
At the end of the day, the impact of monopole transmission towers on local flora and fauna depends on how we design, install, and maintain them. They’re not inherently good or bad for ecosystems—they’re a tool, and like any tool, their impact is shaped by how we use it. As someone who’s spent 15 years working with these towers, I’ve seen how a small change—like using selective clearing, adding UV-reflective markers, or placing the tower in a disturbed area instead of a pristine one—can make a huge difference for plants and animals.
If you’re working on a project that involves transmission infrastructure, and you want to make sure it’s designed to minimize harm to local ecosystems, we’re here to help. Our team has worked on projects in every major ecosystem in North America, from the Pacific Northwest rainforests to the Arizona deserts, and we can provide custom monopole designs, site survey support, and construction guidance to ensure your project supports both energy needs and environmental conservation. Reach out to our team to discuss your project and learn more about how our monopoles can work for your community and the local flora and fauna.
Power Transmission Tower References
- Journal of Environmental Management. (2018). "Vegetation Management Strategies for Monopole Transmission Towers: Effects on Native Plant Communities."
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2020). "Habitat Fragmentation from Transmission Infrastructure: A Comparison of Monopole and Lattice Towers in Midwestern Grasslands."
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (2019). "Bird Collision Rates with Monopole vs. Lattice Transmission Towers: Implications for Avian Conservation."
- Desert Botanical Garden. (2021). "Microclimate Alterations Around Transmission Towers and Their Effects on Desert Flora."
- Pollinator Partnership. (2022). "Monopole Transmission Towers as Pollinator Corridors: A Regional Study."
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (2019). "Post-Construction Restoration of Transmission Infrastructure Sites: Effects on Invasive Species Cover."
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