Transmission Right-of-Way

About the Program
The PEPCO Transmission Right-of-Way (ROW) is a utility corridor managed for grassland habitat conservation. The ROW is located along an electricity transmission line running through the Patuxent Research Refuge. The refuge is a large wooded conservation area managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that is located halfway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. Through vegetation management, the habitat along the corridor is maintained as a low-growing grassland. This created habitat diversity within the forest refuge and provides important habitat and forage for pollinators and other wildlife. 

Practices and Impacts

• The Exelon team worked with the refuge to construct an osprey hacking tower at the National Wildlife Visitor Center near the Transmission Vegetation Management demonstration area.
• The team installed super silt fences around bog areas for protection, added signs to preclude accidental intrusion and is managing the site to prevent additional losses.
• Sensitive areas are identified as no-mow zones, with appropriate signage.
• The team works to stabilize soils to prevent erosion and sediment transfer into streams, select the best sites for riparian enhancement and plant approximately 250 low-growing trees and plants alongside streams.
• Aerial inspections occur twice a year during the spring and winter for unauthorized activity, erosion and vegetation problems.
• Mowing, brush hogging and herbicide treatments of invasive plants are conducted at appropriate times of year.