Chapter 4 - Integrated Vegetation Management Flashcards
system of managing plant communities based in integrated pest management (IPM), in which managers identify compatible and incompatible vegetation, consider action thresholds, evaluate control methods, and select and implement controls to achieve specific objectives. The choice of control methods is based on the anticipated effectiveness, environmental impact, site characteristics, safety, security, economics, and other factors.
Integrated vegetation management (IVM)
the use of all available pest control methods to keep pest populations below acceptable levels. Methods include cultural, biological, chemical, physical, and genetic
Integrated pest management (IPM)
maximum incompatible plant pressures (species, density, height, location, or condition) allowable before unacceptable consequences develop
Tolerance levels
vegetation that is desirable or consistent with the intended use of the site. For example, plant species that will never grow sufficiently close to violate minimum clearance distances with electric conductors.
Compatible vegetation
plant species that are inconsistent with the use of a site (e.g., tree species sufficiently tall that they will grow into overhead conductors during their life span).
Incompatible plant species
Six steps in IVM
- Set objectives
- Evaluate the site
- Define action thresholds
- Evaluate and select control methods
- Implement control methods
- Monitor treatment and quality assurance
the initial phase of the integrated vegetation management model
Set objectives
transmission right-of-way vegetation management philosophy applied through cover-type conversion. The wire zone is the section of a utility transmission right-of-way under the wires and extending out both sides to a specified distance. The border zone is the remainder of the right-of-way, where small trees and tall shrubs (under 25 feet [8 m] in height at maturity) are established
Wire-border zone
section of a transmission or pipeline right-of-way that extends from the wire or pipe zone to the right-of-way edge. Is managed to promote a low-growing plant community of forbs, tall shrubs, and low-growing trees below a specified height (e.g., 25 feet [8 m]).
Border zone
in vegetation management, the area outside the right-of-way, where tall-growing species may be allowed, although they need to be monitored for risk.
Peripheral zone
area of a utility pipeline right-of-way over the pipe and extending out both sides to a specified distance
Pipe zone
technique that uses aerial photographs followed by ground checks to determine the nature of plant communities on a site.
Cover-type mapping
at a program or project level, an accounting of all vegetation that could potentially affect management objectives, supplying a complete set of data upon which to base management decisions.
Comprehensive evaluation
acronym for light detection and ranging, technology that uses laser pulses to evaluate field conditions and workloads on rights-of-way, with results depicted in a computer image.
LiDAR
survey of the volume of work. May be done by comprehensive inventories or sampling.
Workload assessment
a systematic process used to identify, analyze, and evaluate tree risk.
Tree risk assessment
method of sampling a geographical area by selecting points in it, especially by choosing points at random on a map or aerial photograph
Point sampling
a point at which the level of incompatible plant species, density, height, location, or condition threatens the stated management objectives and requires implementation of a control method(s)
Action threshold
calculated minimum distance between conductors and vegetation to prevent spark-over, for various altitudes and operating voltages, that is used in the design of transmission facilities.
Minimum vegetation clearance distance (MVCD)
vegetation removal using heavy equipment fitted with power saws or other cutting devices, such as saws mounted on booms or suspended from a helicopter.
Mechanical control method
Mechanical pruning
chemical that slows terminal growth by reducing cell elongation.
Tree growth regulator (TGR)
individual stem treatment in which herbicides are applied to the stump surface around the cambium and topside of the bark.
Stump application
method of herbicide treatment involving herbicide application into cuts in the trunk.
Hack and squirt (frill treatment)
herbicide application made at the bottom 12 inches (30 cm) of the stem and root collar with an herbicide in an oil carrier.
Basal application
ability of some plants, including certain grasses, to release chemicals that suppress other plant species growing around them.
Allelopathy
type of biological control in which a plant community is converted from incompatible to compatible species using selective techniques that provide a competitive advantage to short-growing, early successional plants, allowing them to thrive and successfully compete against unwanted tree species for sunlight, essential nutrients, and water
Cover-type conversion
control method that modifies habitat to discourage incompatible vegetation and establish and manage compatible plant communities.
Cultural control method
document accompanying an herbicide package in a standard format including an ingredient statement, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration and establishment numbers (in U.S.), compatibility with other chemicals, recommendations to prevent overdose, hazards to wildlife, first aid statements, storage and disposal, as well as protective clothing and equipment advisories. Describes the approved uses for the pesticide and directions for its safe application. In the U.S., the law forbids uses inconsistent with this document.
Label
herbicides that are limited to the control of specific kinds of plants when applied according to the label (e.g., synthetic auxins, which are a class that kill broadleaved plants, but do not harm grasses).
Selective herbicides
herbicides that affect a broad range of plant species.
Non-selective herbicide
ability of a substance to damage an organ system, to disrupt a biochemical process or disturb an enzyme system.
Toxicity
adverse effects resulting from exposure to a single dose or exposure to multiple doses of a substance over a short time frame (usually less than 24 hours).
Acute toxicity
damage to an organ system by a substance through disruption of biochemical pathways or enzymes in areas other than the point of contact. The delayed damage resulting from repeated exposure to low amounts of a substance, evolving over a long period or a lifetime.
Chronic toxicity
a substance that damages animals (including humans) at the point of contact.
Corrosive
the quantity of a substance absorbed into the body.
Dose
oral or dermal lethal dose of a substance that kills half the test animals within the two-week test period.
LD50
inhalation concentration of a substance that kills half the subject test animals within two weeks.
LC50
a substance with high acute toxicity. In the U.S., substances that have an oral LD50 fewer than 50 mg per kg or a dermal LD50 fewer than 200 mg per kg of body weight are categorized as such. The labels for these materials are marked with a skull and crossbones. Herbicides commonly used in IVM are not these.
Poison
amount of time it takes half of the quantity of a substance to dissipate, indicating herbicide persistence in this text.
Half-life
specialized chemical substance used to kill plants by interfering with critical botanical biochemical pathways.
Herbicide
botanical biochemical pathways disrupted by herbicides; common types include ALS or AHAS inhibitors, synthetic auxins, EPSP inhibitors, photosystem I inhibitors, photosystem II inhibitors, proton inhibitors, and auxin transport inhibitors.
Mode of action
handling and use of ready-to-use and diluted concentrate formulations in closed delivery systems.
Closed chain of custody
Four critical elements of the closed chain of custody:
1) Container cycle
2) Integrity cycle
3) Documentation cycle
4) Herbicide cycle
container in which custom blends of diluted concentrates, or ready-to-apply herbicides, are provided to applicators. Registered herbicide concentrate is typically provided in returnable, reusable units, while registered and ready-to-use products are typically provided in one-way, disposable units.
Supply containers
chemical container designed for multiple uses, typically made of recyclable, translucent, chemically resistant plastic with a service life of roughly 5 years or 30 return cycles.
Returnable, reusable container (R/R)
The __________ is the section of the transmission right-of-way directly under the wires and extending outward about 10 feet (3 m) on each side. The __________ is the remainder of the active right-of-way.
wire zone
border zone
A __________ is a substance that has an oral LD50 lower than 50 milligrams per kg or body weight, or a dermal LD50 lower than 200 mg per kg of body weight.
poison
The target of IVM is __________, including noxious weeds and invasive species, that pose potentially unacceptable economic, social, or environmental risks.
incompatible plants
SMART objectives for integrated vegetation management are __________, __________, __________, __________, and __________.
specific measurable achievable relevant timely
Level 1 risk assessments review large populations of trees from a specified perspective to identify those that have an __________ or __________ likelihood of failure.
imminent
probable
Vegetation, height, density, or other conditions that trigger specific control methods are called __________.
action thresholds
For clearing dense vegetation during initial establishment or reclaiming neglected or overgrown rights-of-way, __________ control methods are most efficient and cost effective
mechanical
When properly selected and applied, herbicides can enhance __________ diversity and minimize __________ disturbance.
plant and wildlife
soil
__________ toxicity results from a single exposure or exposure over a short period of time. __________ toxicity is the delayed damaging effect resulting from repeated exposure to low amounts of a substance, evolving over a long period.
Acute
Chronic
Mixing of chemicals should be done with a buffer of at least _____ feet (_____ m) from a body of water or wetland.
100
30
__________ is a technique in which non-translocatable herbicides are applied to control specific branches growing toward utility facilities.
Chemical side-pruning
__________ is the management of vegetation by establishing and conserving compatible, stable plant communities using natural competition, animals, insects, or pathogens.
Biological control
The section of a utility transmission right-of-way under the wires and extending out both sides to a specified distance is called the __________.
wire zone
Which of the following steps in an integrated vegetation management program should be completed first?
A) defining action thresholds
B) evaluating the site
C) selecting control methods
D) setting objectives
D) setting objectives
LiDAR technology is precise, and is effective for
A) documenting the distance between trees and conductors
B) calculating fluctuations in the distance between vegetation and conductors under various environmental conditions
C) identifying trees within striking or arcing distance of lines in the event of tree failure
D) all of the above
D) all of the above
Most herbicides used in vegetation management are in which toxicity category?
A) Category I Highly toxic
B) Category II Moderately toxic
C) Category III Slightly toxic
D) Category IV Relatively nontoxic
D) Category IV Relatively nontoxic
What are the three primary climatic factors that influence herbicide and tree growth regulator degradation?
A) moisture, temperature, sunlight
B) moisture, wind, sunlight
C) temperature, wind, sunlight
D) altitude, temperature, moisture
A) moisture, temperature, sunlight
True or false:
The NERC Transmission Vegetation Management Program requires that utilities in North America have transmission vegetation management programs in place, but it does not require them to be documented.
False
Which part of the body most readily absorbs pesticides?
A) eyes
B) feet
C) hands
D) forearms
A) eyes
How far should a tree protection zone be from a mature tree of moderate tolerance to disturbance?
A) one inch (2.5 cm) per inch (2.5 cm) of diameter at breast height
B) six inches (15.2 cm) per inch (2.5 cm) of diameter at breast height
C) one foot (30 cm) per inch (2.5 cm) of diameter at breast height
D) two fee (60 cm) per inch (2.5 cm) of diameter at breast height
C) one foot (30 cm) per inch (2.5 cm) of diameter at breast height
A biological control used to provide a competitive advantage to short-growing, early successional plants is known as
A) subsurface injection
B) pollinator promotion
C) cover-type conversion
D) cut-stump technique
C) cover-type conversion
An example of a cultural control technique in a right-of-way is
A) selective herbicide application
B) grinding roots of suckering tree species
C) relocating lines underground
D) planting of food crops
D) planting of food crops
True of false:
Oil-based pesticides are less easily absorbed through the skin than water-soluble pesticides.
False
Compared to overhead electrical lines, a disadvantage of installing electrical lines underground is
A) potential for increased land disturbance
B) the increased installation cost
C) outages are often more lengthy
D) all of the above
D) all of the above
Within buffer areas near bodies of water
A) herbicides and pesticides cannot be used
B) as much compatible vegetation should be retained as possible
C) cultural control methods are typically the most effective
D) local stakeholders should be contacted prior to scheduling work
B) as much compatible vegetation should be retained as possible
What are the four critical elements of the closed chain of custody concept?
Container cycle
Integrity cycle
Documentation cycle
Herbicide cycle
