November 14, 2025

Nelson Hydro is aware of community concerns regarding the recently advertised draft Pest Management Plans (PMPs) and would like to take this opportunity to share additional information and clarity around the process.

What is a Pest Management Plan?

A Pest Management Plan (PMP) outlines the methods used to manage vegetation such as invasive plants around power poles and other utility-owned infrastructure. Nelson Hydro is required by the Province to file a PMP every five years.

The PMP ensures that:

• all work complies with the Integrated Pest Management Act (IPMA) and Integrated Pest Management Regulation (IPMR), as well as all applicable federal, provincial, and regional laws and regulations;
• strategies are developed and implemented to protect domestic and agricultural wells, endangered wildlife, riparian areas, fish, water intakes, and other sensitive ecosystems;
• protocols for the responsible use of pesticides, public notification, and record-keeping are followed; and
• only products approved by Health Canada are used.

Read more about pest management and see the draft PMPs here.

Why is vegetation management necessary?

If left unmanaged, vegetation can create safety and fire hazards that compromise the reliability of the electrical system and pose safety risks to crews working in the field. Most often, this involves fast-growing brush and tall plants near power poles and lines, but increasingly, invasive species like Knotweed are also becoming a concern.

What is included in Nelson Hydro’s PMP?

Nelson Hydro uses several methods to control vegetation around substations, underneath power lines and around power poles. The most common is manual and mechanical removal, such as mowing, trimming, and cutting.

The PMP also includes clear guidelines for when chemical treatment may be necessary. We understand the community’s concern about pesticide use; these products are only used as a last resort, by certified and trained applicators, and applied using precise, targeted methods such as paste or wand application. These techniques minimize product use and ensure accuracy.

Nelson Hydro’s PMP aligns with other utilities across the province, complies with all regulatory requirements, and follows the City of Nelson’s Pesticide Use Bylaw.

What about glyphosate?

Glyphosate (commonly known as Roundup) is included in Nelson Hydro’s proposed PMP only as a last resort, when other methods have consistently failed. During the current PMP period (2020–2025), glyphosate was used only twice—both times within fenced Nelson Hydro substations. In each case, all safety and environmental protocols were strictly followed.

There have been no applications in 2025.

Next steps

The City of Nelson and Nelson Hydro take environmental health seriously and appreciate the community’s engagement on this topic. A Let’s Talk engagement opportunity will be available, where residents are invited to learn more, ask questions, and share input. The link will be shared on Nelson Hydro social media channels once the site is live, and the link will be added to this post as well. We are also organizing a public engagement session specifically on this topic. The date, location and links will be shared on Nelson Hydro social media channels once all of the details are confirmed.