Vegetation management along transmission utility lines in the United States and Canada

Abstract

A survey investigating vegetation control methods along transmission rights-of-way was sent to 220 Utility Arborist Association companies. The survey contained questions regarding right-of-way characteristics, control methods used, total dollars spent on vegetation management, and priorities of the vegetation management program. The ROW area reported represented over 48% of all the investor-owned ROWs over 39 Kv in service throughout the United States. More than 75% of the respondents reported using herbicides on their rights-of-way. However, acres treated mechanically outnumbered those treated chemically by a margin of 2.7:1. Garlon 3A and Garlon 4 topped all herbicides, with a combined 220,574 projected gal (834,961 L) of the estimated 549,869 gal (2,081,474 L) of herbicide applied to transmission rights-of-way in 1995. It appears that quite low levels of active ingredients are being applied per acre. Basal, high-volume foliar, and low-volume foliar with a backpack or handgun applications accounted for approximately 75% of the acres of transmission ROWs treated with herbicides.