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AUTHOR(S):
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Benjamin D. Ballard - bdballar@syr.edu
SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY,
USA
Christopher A. Nowak - canowak@esf.edu
SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY,
USA
Lawrence P. Abrahamson - labrahamson@esf.edu
SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY, USA
Edward F. Neuhauser
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
Syracuse, NY, USA
Kenneth E. Finch
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
Syracuse, NY, USA
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The goal of vegetation management on
electric transmission rights-of-way (ROWs) is to ensure safe, reliable
transmission of power. A common, ecological approach to managing vegetation
on ROWs — Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) —
is to promote desirable, stable, low-growing communities that will resist
invasion by undesirable, tall-growing tree species. Vegetation management
studies consistent with IVM took place on a 25-km section of Niagara Mohawk
Power Corporation’s Volney-Marcy 765 kV electric
transmission ROW in upstate New York. Initial clearing treatments for establishment of
the ROW occurred in 1983. Vegetation management treatments for the first and
second conversion cycles were applied in 1984 and 1988, respectively.
Selective and non-selective applications of stem-foliar and basal herbicide
treatments were applied to replicated study areas during the second conversion
cycle. Woody stem data from initial clearing to present (1999) were used to
evaluate the effects of the herbicide treatments on stem densities of
undesirable and desirable woody species over time. It was hypothesized that
stem density of undesirable woody plants would continue to decrease over time
and stem density of desirable species would increase or remain the same over
time, thus, moving towards a more stable community of woody desirable species
and a maintenance phase of management. Undesirable species densities were
maintained and desirable densities increased over 11-years using an IVM
approach. A stable community of woody desirable species (i.e., maintenance
phase of management, as defined in this paper) has not been reached and may
need another 10-20 years before it develops on the powerline. Shrub abundance
needs to be increased to attain maintenance levels.
Keywords: Powerline corridor, shrub dynamics, stem-foliar herbicide,
basal herbicide, herbicide, undesirable and desirable vegetation
Ref#: 2-2
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