Integrated Right of Way (ROW) Vegetation Management

April 19-20, 2023 | Online :: Central Time

0423-vegetation-management

“This was a great conference. Knowledgeable and professional speakers covered a wide variety of relevant topics. I highly recommend this conference to right of way professionals.” Senior Real Estate Services Agent, HDR

Many items impact the reliability of a utility system and vegetation is typically one of the largest.  Our industry often discusses best management practices, new technologies and tools available to improve our vegetation management programs, but we rarely can get together in the same room to discuss solutions. By focusing on a systematic approach to right of way integrated vegetation management, this program will focus on sharing advanced solutions that have worked for complex problems in vegetation management facing utilities in the United States. 

The goal of this Right of Way Vegetation Management course is to look at how specific challenges impact reliability and how utilities can reduce that impact. Specifically, attendees will take away concrete information on:

• The role of utilities in environmental stewardship along the right of ways (ROW)
• How to improve utilities outage response
• Project planning and forecasting
• Overall environmental protection based on regional and seasonal changes

Learning Objectives

• Discuss how technology and data analytics are changing Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) and Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) standards
• Demonstrate how IVM and sustainability go hand in hand
• Explain techniques to manage rightof ways in eco-sensitive areas
• Explain pollinator health and identify the challenges
• Explain the benefits associated with an ecosystem – based approach to IVM
• Explain the value and necessity of environmental stewardship in the ROW
• Examine the positive and negative effects of herbicides in ROW
• Identify and explain FERC Standards in Integrated Vegetation Management

 

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 : Central Time

 

Introduction to Integrated ROW Vegetation Management

Vegetation Management

• Why it is needed
• History
• Consequences
• Resultant regs (NERC, FERC, FAC-003, etc.)

Best Management Practices for Electric ROW Management

• General BMPs

Methods of Management

• Physical
• Chemical
• Biological
• Cultural

Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM)

• Defined
• Evolution
• Examples

Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) on Elec TX Right of Ways

IVM Part 2

• Benefits of IVM including selective management, adaptability, cost effectiveness, ecological strength
• Bramble and Byrnes multi-decade study
• Rachel Carson / Silent Spring
• Goodfellow

Video Examples and General Discussion

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break

IVM Part 3

Plant Identification

• Trees and shrubs
• Wildflowers
• General growth forms
• Indicator status – what can the plants tell you?

Is it a WEED?

• It depends on your objectives
• Height compatibility
• Property owner buy in

Invasive vs. Naturalized vs. Native

• Does it matter to a power company?

Seed Bank

• What is it?
• How to use it to advantage or detriment

IVM for Habitat Creation

• Pollinators, turtles, endangered birds, bats, snakes, salamanders, rare plants
• How ROWs can fulfill habitat requirements of each
• Specific management examples

 

Thursday, April 20, 2023 : Central Time

 

Integrating Environmental Concerns and Risk Reduction

• Work strategies for planning and mapping out maintenance
• Setting successful timing windows to reduce harm
• Examples of inspection processes and crew quality assurance

Proper Pruning Techniques

• Aesthetics
• Tree health
• Effects on regrowth and cycle maintenance

Danger Tree / Hazard Tree

• What is the difference?
• How are they identified
• Species specific and general indicators
• Invasive pests

Future of IVM

• Updates on latest technology and effects on data acquisition and work processes
• Expanding goals of management – more than keeping the lights on
• Many measures of success in a dynamic system and how to position for the future

Steve Letkowski, New Jersey Licensed Tree Expert #589

Steve Letkowski is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist and Utility Specialist, working in the utility industry for over 10 years under New Jersey Tree Expert license #589. Mr. Letkowski received his Master of Science degree in Forest Pathology and Mycology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry. Steve has over 25 years of experience with vegetation work and “green” work. Mr. Letkowski is currently focusing on expanding and strengthening wildflower ID expertise and improving birding skills, as he continues to work as an Environmental Supervisor of Vegetation Management. In his spare time, Steve is a husband, father, dog lover, beekeeper, shiitake mushroom grower and amateur quail farmer – he learned many things not to do!

Mr. Letkowski believes that the best part about his work is getting paid to hike and identify trees and shrubs.

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: After November 30 you will not be able to join a Teams meeting using Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a meeting invitation will include a link to join the meeting.
• Separate meeting invitations will be sent for the morning and afternoon sessions of the course.
  • You will need to join the appropriate meeting at the appropriate time.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all registrants for three business days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Integrated Right of Way (ROW) Vegetation Management

April 19-20, 2023 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before January 06, 2023 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 1.0 CEUs for this event.

Requirements for a Successful Completion of Program

Participants must login each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

This program will use PowerPoint presentations and group discussions, as well as active participation.

Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

 

Course CPE Credits: 11.0
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who should attend

• Foresters
• Vegetation Project Management
• Plant Operators
• Vegetation Management
• Right of Way Inspectors and Linemen
• Transmission project managers  
• Regulators and regulator staff  
• Ecologists
• Environmental Consultants