Impacts from sweetclover revolve primarily around impacts to species on glacial floodplains. Sweetclover can achieve high densities of growth on roadsides and glacial floodplains. At these high densities sweetclover creates a shade environment that inhibits the vigor of establishing native plant species (Spellman 2010). Sweetclover is also highly attractive to bees and other pollinators, and could change pollinator interactions with native species. However, recent studies indicate that at some abundances sweetclover may draw in more pollinators to native species from surrounding areas, increasing production (Spellman 2015).
The goals of an IPM plan for sweetclover management can vary from eradication to containment along roadsides. When first introduced to an area of the state, glacial floodplains or other susceptible natural areas, eradication is a priority. If significant time after initial establishment has lapsed an extensive seed bank may exist that prevents eradication from being successful for many years. When eradication is not feasible, containment to the human footprint is the main priority. Containment involves targeting management around road river interfaces to remove plants or prevent seed production. By preventing the spread of seeds at road river interfaces the possibility of seeds floating downstream to infest floodplains is greatly reduced.