PNNL

Abstract

The American River Parkway in Sacramento County, California, was selected as an optimal site by the Utility Arborist Association to study the effects of integrated vegetation management (IVM) on pollinator communities within transmission rights-of-way. Inspired by long-term monitoring efforts at the State Game Lands (SGL 33) Research and Demonstration Area in Pennsylvania evaluating the effects of IVM on game species, there was a strong interest in establishing a similar long-term environmental monitoring site to assess different vegetation management approaches in an actively managed transmission corridor in the western United States. The Parkway presented an opportunity to evaluate traditional vegetation management approaches against IVM approaches since there are multiple utilities with transmission infrastructure passing through the area that practice different vegetation management practices.