A butterfly transmission corridor in Georgia.

The arrival of spring has staffers at many co-ops getting closer to nature. Warmer weather normally marks the beginning of the right-of-way maintenance season, giving co-op foresters, arborists and environmental experts a chance to share their knowledge with consumer-members.

“People are so much more aware of environmental issues these days,” said John C. Thiel, senior environmental biologist for Dairyland Power Cooperative, La Crosse, Wis.

In Dairyland’s service area, which includes parts of five states, peregrine falcons and ospreys are among the species that have benefitted from right-of-way naturalization efforts.

“Properly maintained rights-of-ways can actually help some endangered and threatened species by giving them access to the habitat they prefer,” said Thiel.

Many of Dairyland’s member co-ops have embraced those efforts by helping to preserve habitat for species such as the endangered Karner butterfly.

 “We’ve marked the Karner’s territory with signage and promoted conservation efforts in our newsletter,” said Joan O’Fallon, director of communications for Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, Centuria, Wis.

Other co-ops have their right-of-way crews sowing native grasses and other plants to reduce competition from invasive species.

“We’ve got about 30 acres at our headquarters where we harvest native grasses for seed,” said Joe Settles, supervisor of natural resources for East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Winchester. “We give it to landowners to help them establish wildlife habitat. They’re low growing grasses so it cuts down on our mowing and brushwork.”

Because right-of-way maintenance touches every linear mile of a co-op’s above ground system, many co-ops mark the beginning of the season with tree giveaways or with Arbor Day and Earth Day activities.

“It’s a great opportunity to educate consumers about our right-of-way tree trimming program,” said Jim Clare, a spokesman for San Luis Valley REC, Monte Vista, Colo.

Georgia Transmission Corp., Tucker, is among a growing number of co-ops also finding ways to link their right-of-way naturalization projects with federal and state agencies, nonprofit groups or other utilities. 

“We love working with groups who are as interested in the environment and wildlife preservation as we are,” said Larry Terrell, vegetation management supervisor at South Central Indiana REMC, Martinsville.

Reprinted with permission from an article by Derrill Holly in Electric Co-op Today.