City Trees

July/August 2012

City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!

Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/75614

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Partners Updates Utility Arborists Association City Utility Manages Trees for Power Reliability AND Bird Habitat by Kristin Wild, Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Corporate Communications Photos by Carl Schattenberg except where noted The black-capped vireo has been on the endangered species list since 1987. One reason that this tiny song- bird became endangered is that its favorite nesting habitat in Texas has been cleared for development or overgrazed by livestock and deer. Black-capped vireos prefer dense shrubland habitat characterized by low- growing, deciduous vegetation with cover extending to the ground level. (Photo by COA BCP) Another reason for the species' decline is the fact that whereas in the past, wildfires maintained the breeding area's vegetation in an early state of succession, fire control policies in recent decades have prevented that from happening. The resulting older, taller growth is unsuitable to these birds. And as we all know, tall trees are also incompatible with high-voltage power lines! The black-capped vireo will hopefully find Austin Energy's right-of-way quite attractive now that the contracted crews from Asplundh have selectively cleared dense juniper growth and maintained the understory of pre- ferred vegetation for this endangered bird. Shared Goals In a first-of-its-kind pilot for Austin Energy in Co. crews worked with local biologists this past winter to manage vegetation under the utility's transmission lines in a way that enhanced nesting habitat for protect- ed birds on the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP). In this case, pruning or removing tall-growing trees was a mutually beneficial goal! Texas, city utility foresters and Asplundh Tree Expert Helping the Black-Capped Vireo Austin Energy's scheduled right-of-way maintenance plan last winter provided a perfect opportunity to get the pilot project going. Utility Forester Carl Schattenberg worked with biologists from Travis County's BCP land to develop a vegetation management plan for a one- mile segment of electric transmission right-of-way that runs through a BCP property northwest of Austin. With the help of Asplundh Pre-Planner Duane Walsh, biolo- 34 City Trees

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