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AUTHOR(S):
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Erin O'Neill
Woodlands,
Finch, Pruyn & Company, Inc.
Glens Falls, NY, USA
Benjamin Ballard - bballard@esf.edu
SUNY - College
of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY, USA
Christopher Nowak - canowak@esf.edu
SUNY - College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY, USA
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Gray birch (Betula populifolia
Marsh.) is an important tree species on powerline rights-of-way (ROWs) in the north temperate zone of North America. It is a pioneer species that can proliferate in
the early plant succession environment of powerline ROWs.
While a short tree at maturity (10-15 m), it is commonly a danger for the
transmission of electricity. On a 17-yr-old 765 kV ROW in New York, stem densities of the gray birch population (trees
greater than 1 cm diameter at breast height and approximately 3 m
height) averaged 350 ha-1. The ROW had
been last managed with herbicides 11 years previous using an Integrated
Vegetation Management approach. Treatments were basal and stem-foliar
herbicides applied using non-selective or selective modes as part of a
long-term study. Fifty-four gray birch trees from across a 25 km section of
ROW were examined for height-age development patterns. Population density and
age structure were measured on 11 treatment plots. Tree heights ranged to
over 11 m and trees ages from 4
to 13 years. Most of the trees were established within 3 years after
treatment. Young powerline corridors that have mesic to hydric
moisture regimes are well-suited to birch invasion, particularly with
management-related disturbance. Minimizing site disturbance and promoting the
development of a tall-shrub community should reduce birch presence in older powerlines.
Keywords: Electric transmission lines, integrated vegetation
management, right-of-way management, life history, autecology
Ref#: 2-6
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