Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group

habitat conservation + working landscapes

A close-up image of a bee hovering near a vibrant pink flower, surrounded by green foliage, highlighting the importance of pollinators in nature.

Resources library

This online library is a clearinghouse of tools and information related to habitat on rights-of-way and other lands. From seed mix calculators to mowing guidelines and everything in between, you’ll find it here.

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A woman presenting on intentional vegetation management, with a scenic background of purple flowers and power lines, highlighting tools and resources for compatible species, July 19, 2022.

Integrated Vegetation Management – Tools and Resources for Compatible Species – July 19, 2022

Best Management Practices, Case Studies and Research, Planning Tools, Webinars

This webinar discusses a new suite of tools developed by the Utility Arborist Association’s Environmental Stewardship Committee to support the management of compatible species and biodiversity on rights-of-way. These tools are intended to be used alongside the new Integrated Vegetation Management Best Management Practice, 3rd edition, and are demonstrated during the webinar.

Group of five hosts for a virtual event, including Ashley Bennett from EPRI, Toby Chu from Southern Company, and three representatives from UIC: Iris Caldwell, Caroline Hernandez, and Tegha Obire. The image features a professional layout with individual photos and names.

Research Roundtable: Rare Plants and Biodiversity Value of ROWs – August 30, 2022

Webinars

In the first webinar of this year’s Research Roundtable series, this session discusses research on rare plants on ROWs and the unique biodiversity value that these landscapes can provide.

Presentation slide for the Hoosier Energy and Monarch CCAA meeting, titled

Case Study: Hoosier Energy’s Approach to Monarch CCAA Implementation – November 9, 2022

Webinars

In this case study, Dave Appel of Hoosier Energy discusses the organization’s journey with the Monarch Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA), from pre-enrollment to future implementation plans. The presentation outlines the benefits of CCAA enrollment, experience with the application process, approaches to potential obstacles, and the outcome of their participation in the program.

Overview of the Monarch CCAA program highlighting its goals to establish over 2 million acres of habitat for monarchs on energy and transportation lands, providing regulatory certainty and operational flexibility for infrastructure management, and promoting voluntary conservation efforts. The image includes visuals of conservation activities and a monarch butterfly.

Departments of Transportation Monarch CCAA Roundtable – November 16, 2022

Webinars

This video covers a general introduction to the Monarch CCAA for departments of transportation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it8wGF3QbB0&ab_channel=EnergyResourcesCenter
Image featuring a scenic view of a road bordered by wildflowers, with text overlay promoting a research roundtable on the nexus of energy, transportation, and habitat, organized by UIC and Southern Company. The event emphasizes the application of research in these interconnected fields.

Research Roundtable: Habitat Management on ROWs – December 7, 2022

Webinars

In the second webinar of this year’s Research Roundtable, this video highlights the importance of habitat management on ROWs.

Image of a researcher in a field of wildflowers and tall grasses beneath powerlines, illustrating the ecological study on the impact of powerline rights-of-way on the ecological health of the Chicago Metropolitan Region. The image features a title related to the research by Megan Garfinkel, PhD, from UIC.

The Contribution of Powerline Rights-of-Way to the Ecological Health of the Chicago Metropolitan Region – February 2, 2023

Case Studies and Research, Webinars

This case study highlights a research study conducted by the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) on ComEd’s rights-of-way in the Chicago region. UIC researchers evaluated three different vegetation management practices for insect, bird, and plant species richness as well as adjacent landowner perceptions.