Land Use and Habitat
The Land Use/Habitat subsection is currently focusing on the issue of wildlife and
avian interactions with utility structures. Wildlife and avian interactions with utility
structures can result in electrocutions on poles used for distribution lines (< 60 kV)
and collisions with transmission line conductors or wind turbines and supporting guy wires.
Such interactions can result in negative impacts to birds, costly power outages, and
violations of State and federal laws. The vast network of transmission line systems in the
State (approximately 50,000 linear miles) can cumulatively contribute to habitat loss and degradation,
the primary factors leading to species endangerment and decreased biodiversity.
Transmission line corridors can also contribute to the spread of exotic species.
Conversely, these corridors can serve as refugia for some terrestrial species.
The PIER-EA staff has completed work on three roadmaps, or detailed strategic research plans, to address the issues: avian collision and electrocution with transmission and distribution lines; avian collision with wind turbines. Another roadmap will consider potential effects of transmission line right of ways on terrestrial biota.
The reports are available below:
(Publication # 500-02-072F)
A Roadmap for PIER Research on Avian Collisions with Power Lines in California
(Publication # 500-02-071F)
A Roadmap for PIER Research on Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines in California
(Publication # 500-02-070F)
Highlights
- Annotated Bibliography of Avian Mortality from Collision and Electrocution: contains more than 500 citations, arranged by author, subject, taxonomy, and geography.
- Avian Powerline Interaction Committee Seminar on prevention of utilities-related bird mortality: A two-day training course for industry and regulators dealing with bird protection methods from collision and electrocution with utility structures.
- Evaluation of Wildlife Protective Devices installed on Distribution Poles: 65% of the devices were installed imporperly and 15% were degraded beyond being effective.
- Reducing Wildlife Interactions with Electrical Distribution Facilities: Geographic information system using facility spatial data and wildlife data bases; determine historical loci of bird-caused outages; enable the prediction of the locus of sensitive species and habitats for future siting purposes.
Related Links
See Our Section on the Commission's Environmental Links Page.
Contact:
Linda Spiegel
Email: lspiegel@energy.state.ca.us