ABSTRACT 7th International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management
TITLE:	Wildlife Habitat Management on Electric Transmission Rights-of-Way: Interpreting the Results of an International Survey
AUTHOR(S):	Jill Harriman - jill_harriman@hotmail.com University of Northern British Columbia Prince George, BC, Canada Kenneth Child - ken.child@bchydro.bc.ca British Columbia Hydro Burnaby, BC, Canada
The incorporation of wildlife habitat management (WHM) strategies into transmission right-of-way (T-RoW) maintenance programs has allowed British Columbia Hydro to integrate various non-electrical resource values such as recreation, aesthetics, and biodiversity into RoW management objectives. In order to determine the nature and extent of WHM on T-RoWs as practiced by other utilities, a survey questionnaire was developed. The survey questionnaire was distributed by mail to 102 electric utility organizations in the United States and Canada through representatives of the Edison Electric Institute’s Biologist Task Force. Thirty-seven survey questionnaires representing 32 utility organizations were returned for a response rate of 31%. Three major questions were explored in the survey: Are wildlife habitat management strategies common on electric transmission RoWs in the United States and Canada? Which methods of wildlife habitat management are most common on transmission RoWs where it is in practice? What motivates electric utilities to include wildlife habitat management strategies in RoW management? Key findings of the survey questionnaire are presented and interpreted with respect to both British Columbia Hydro’s current management practices, and the opportunities and constraints that WHM strategies present for utilities seeking to address a variety of resource values on T-RoWs. Ref#: Abs-1-031