OPPD's Prairie in Progress Program
Since 2018, OPPD has planted prairie and pollinator habitats on its properties from Blair to Nebraska City and areas in between.
The monarch butterfly population has fallen dramatically due to habitat loss. The distinct orange and black butterflies used to be a common sight in our area since Nebraska sits in the middle of their migratory path to Mexico.
OPPD’s restoration areas provide native grasses and flowering plants, including milkweed, that help the monarch butterflies survive. Milkweed in particular is essential because it’s the only known food source for monarch caterpillars.
So far, OPPD has restored 117 acres across nine of its properties to natural prairie and pollinator habitats. The sites include substations, generation plants and the OPPD Arboretum. Several other areas could undergo restoration in the future.
In December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed listing the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. A final ruling by USFWS is expected in December 2025.
OPPD is working hard to increase milkweed production on its Prairie in Progress properties. With perseverance and a little luck, we hope the monarch butterfly will become a more common sight across our prairies for years to come.