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Abstract. The State Game Lands 33 Research and Demonstration Project (or the Bramble and Byrnes Study) was initiated in Pennsylvania, U.S., in 1952, which makes this project the longest continuous study documenting the effects of mechanical and herbicidal maintenance on wildlife and plants along an electric transmission right-of-way (ROW). The project has provided hands-on, scientific information on the effects of ROW maintenance for use by the scientific community, public, and utility companies. This paper briefly describes treatments, vegetation, and wildlife studies conducted on this ROW. In addition, the possible impact of highway development on the future of this study is discussed.
Key Words. Herbicides; Pennsylvania; rights-of-way; vegetation; wildlife.
The State Game Lands 33 Research and Demonstration Project (often called the Bramble and Byrnes Study) was initiated Pennsylvania, U.S., in 1952, whrch makes this 51year-old project the longest continuous study documenting the effects of mechanical and herbicidal maintenance on wildlife and plants along an electric transmission right-ofway (ROW). This project has provided hands-on, scientific information on the effects of ROW maintenance for use by the scientific community, public, and utility companies. From the start, this project has been interdisciplinary, involving the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Asplundh Tree Expert Company; other current cooperators are Dow AgroSciences and FirstEnergy Corporation. Researchers on the project have included Dr. Bill Bramble, Dr. Dick Byrnes, Dr. Rich Yahner, Dr. Russ Hutnik, and Mr. Steve Liscinsky (e.g., see Yahner et al. 2003).
The project began in response to hunters' concerns about the effects of herbicides on game species. Hence, the initial objectives of the project, which have continued over the years, have been to (1) compare the effectiveness of commonly used mechanical and herbicidal maintenance treatments on control of target trees and development of tree-resistant plant cover types, and (2) determine the effect of mechanical and herbicidal maintenance on wildlife habitat and selected wildlife species of high public interest. Results of these studies over the years have resulted in numerous publications, presentations, and videos directed at scientists, the public, and ROW managers.
An important feature of this project since the mid-1980s is the creation of a diverse wildlife habitat along the ROW by using a management technique known as the wire zoneborder zone method (e.g., see Bramble and Byrnes...