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www.urban-forestry.com 37 a high-voltage transmission line, and a pipeline all cut through the campus, providing research opportunities to faculty, students, and vegetation managers. Peterson explained that if the Ohio State research moves forward, there are still challenges to persuading vegetation managers that ROWs could benefit from pollinator-friendly vegetation. "It's a relatively new con- sideration to use a ROW with the intent of establishing pollinator habitat and forage," he said. The idea is partly being driven by the White House, which in June 2014 issued a presidential memorandum creating a federal strategy for promoting the health of pollinators. The memorandum creates a task force whose members represent the heads of multiple major federal agencies, including the departments of transpor- tation and energy. The White House task force, among its many duties, is charged with considering ROWs and how they might be used to enhance pollinator habitat. Some utilities have already adopted practices aimed at benefitting pollinators. In the West, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) works with Pollinator Partnership, a non-profit that supports efforts to improve the health of pollinators, to set goals and identify actions utilities can take to provide benefits to pollinators in the ROW. PG&E also is working to improve habitat on utility owned lands for the endangered Lange's metalmark butterfly and for the Bay checkerspot butterfly in addition to other protec- tion and education efforts. Both Failor and Peterson agree the potential benefits, such as more effective IVM, improved community rela- tions, and a healthier pollinator population far outweigh the implementation challenges. "There's building recognition of our dependence ecolog- ically and socially on the honey bee and other pollina- tors," Peterson said. "Utilities and vegetation managers The same Pacific Gas & Electric Company ROW in spring after pollinator-friendly plants have bloomed. Establishing pollinator-friendly ROWs positively benefits pollinator populations, local agriculture, and community relations. are starting to say they don't want a scorched-earth policy for IVM. They want to improve the environment in ROWs while protecting their assets." The UAA Research Committee Pollinators Task Force is spearheading initial research efforts. Utilities that have developed demonstration plots, researched, or have worked with pollinators in some way on their ROWs are encouraged to share information with Ward Peterson at Ward.Peterson@Davey.com. 1.877.696.2584 www.lasertech.com/ctm Record every measurement with the TruPulse ® 200X and LaserSoft ® Measure app. LASER APP FOR URBAN FORESTRY