ABSTRACT 7th International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management
TITLE:	Reducing Maintenance Costs using Integrated Vegetation Management on Electric Utility Transmission Lines in British Columbia
AUTHOR(S):	Thomas C. Wells - thomas.wells@bchydro.bc.ca BC Hydro Surrey, BC, Canada Kevin D. Dalgarno - kevin.dalgarno@bchydro.com BC Hydro Vernon, BC, Canada Ray Read - ray.read@bchydro.com BC Hydro Nanaimo, BC, Canada
BC Hydro maintains over 17,800 km of electric transmission lines in British Columbia spanning biogeoclimatic zones from desert grasslands to alpine tundra. The primary goals of the vegetation program are to maintain public safety and system reliability at reasonable cost while balancing environmental and social resources. These goals are accomplished within a process-based organization using Integrated Vegetation Management principles. LapMap, a mapping and database program, was developed to collect a wide array of data including civil, environmental and social attributes. Vegetation inventories define the growth rates and stand densities of key target species, as well as identifying competitive ground cover, to determine action thresholds for treatment. Conductor-to-ground clearance models combined with target growth rates permit treatment cycle optimization and identification of off-cycle problem areas. A prescriptive approach is taken to select the appropriate combination of manual, mechanical, chemical, and natural control methods to establish short and long-term site objectives. Results from transmission corridors in the Southern Interior and Vancouver Island indicate that selective approaches to right-of-way maintenance allow long-term site objectives to be met at reduced costs. This is achieved by optimizing treatment cycle lengths or reducing maintenance by clearing only what is necessary to establish compatible plant communities. With these programs, resources are used more efficiently while protecting key riparian habitats and wildlife habitats as well as promoting opportunities for compatible use. Keywords: Transmission, rights-of-way, balancing resources, inventories, prescriptive maintenance Ref#: 2-4