Right-of-Way
Our Integrated Vegetation Management Program helps balance the need for safe, reliable service by keeping our right-of-ways clear of trees and overgrown vegetation with respect for the natural environment.
Integrated Vegetation Management Program
Tree clearing, pruning, mowing, and herbicide application are necessary steps we take to ensure greater safety for our workers and the public, and to provide more reliable service for our members. We can do this by keeping the power lines free from obstruction. Per Missouri Statute 537.340, any vegetation within 15 feet of the center power line will be removed.
Goals of the program
- Provide electric power to members safely
- Protect the electric system and reduce power outages
- Minimize negative impacts on the environment
- Comply with federal, state, and local regulations
- Work safely and efficiently
- Foster positive working relationships with our communities
WRVEC’s Right-of-Way Supervisor is available throughout the process, to respond to any questions or concerns you might have.
Tips for planting:
A. If landscaping is needed near right-of-way areas or in the wire zone, choose low growth shrubs under 5′ height.
B. Smaller trees should be 20′ away from power lines.
C. Medium trees need to be planted at least 35′ away from lines.
D. Large trees need to be planted at least 45′ away from overhead lines.
E. Trees planted too close to the lines will always be misshapen by unavoidable pruning of limbs to prevent interference with power lines.
2022 Integrated Vegetation Management Projects
The following integrated vegetation management projects are tentatively scheduled for 2021. Please use caution if near these areas. Clearing involves the mechanical and manual cutting, trimming and mowing of vegetation. Herbicide application is used to control the growth of unwanted plants. We thank you for your cooperation while we continue to maintain our electric system.
For integrated vegetation management projects, we contract with the following companies: Southern Construction Inc, Tom’s Tree Service, Southwest Tree LLC, T&S Growth Solutions, Apex ROW, Edwards Stump Grinding, and Asplundh Tree Expert LLC.
Only WRVEC and above contractors are approved to work on your property. Any other person or company representative is not an authorized representative of the Cooperative. Please contact your local authorities if you suspect suspicious behavior.
LOCATION |
CONTRACTOR |
PROGRESS |
| Branson- Application | TBA | Sept-Oct |
| Bear Creek- Application | TBA | Sept-Oct |
| Cedar Creek- Application | TBA | Sept-Oct |
| Compton Rdg- Application | TBA | Sept-Oct |
| Paradise- Application | TBA | Sept-Oct |
| Protem- Application | TBA | Sept-Oct |
| Riverdale- Clearing | Southwest Tree | April-August |
| Rockaway- Clearing | Southwest Tree | January-April |
| SDC- Application | TBA | Sept-Oct |
| Selmore- Application | TBA | Sept-Oct |
| Stultz- Clearing | Tom’s Tree | July- September |
| Sweden- Clearing | Southern Construction | August- December |
| Theodosia- Clearing | Southern Construction | January- August |
Introducing WRVEC's TGR Program
The WRVEC Tree Growth Regulator (TGR) program is a way for us to reduce the amount of pruning needed in targeted parts of the right-of-way throughout the service territory. TGR consists of highly trained TGR experts and applicators identifying and treating specific trees with a growth reduction tool called paclobutrazol. This tool will gently slow the branch growth of the treated tree, promote fibrous root production, and contribute to a healthier and more durable tree overall. Implementing this new tool allows us to treat trees that are in hard-to-access areas where trimming crews might not be able to operate safely. TGR also allows us to more effectively serve members that live in denser populated areas by making sure that the trees trimmed and treated do not grow back at a faster rate than our scheduled trimming cycle. That means if our trim cycle determines that we cut the right-of-way on your property every three years, ideally, we shouldn’t have to come back and cut again before the end of that three-year cycle.
State Statute
Missouri legislators passed revised statute 537.340 on August 28, 2009. This statute allows electric suppliers the authority to maintain power line right-of-way by trimming, removing and controlling trees and other vegetation within 15 feet of either side of the centerline of electric lines. All potentially energized at or below 34.5 kilovolts, will be removed per the statute. While the bill authorizes a 60 foot removal area, WRVEC chooses to restrain cutting whenever possible to 30 feet. The bill, Senate Bill No. 958, Section 537.340, can be read in its entirety here.