Verde Valley, AZ (November 11, 2011) – Arizona Public Service (APS) will be conducting routine vegetation maintenance along several 69 KV utility corridors on the Coconino National Forest located in the National Forest in and around Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, and south to the Village of Oak Creek. According to APS Forestry and Special Programs manager, Jeff Spohn, “the purpose of this routine vegetation treatment is to create a safety zone and to remove hazard trees and heavy fuel vegetation in and around these power lines”. He also mentions that APS contract crews will be working along these power line corridors over the next several months and asks the public to please avoid these areas during maintenance operations.
A Corridor Management Plan (CMP) was created in cooperation with the Coconino National Forest to address natural resource objectives. This plan describes the procedures proposed by APS for the management of vegetation over the next 10 years, the conservation measures to be implemented for these activities, the vegetation clearance standards for the power line, and the specialist reports. Vegetation maintenance would be scheduled approximately every five years.
Under the CMP, the full right-of-way area will be treated with attention placed on meeting the visual quality objectives. Historically, the vegetation has been maintained primarily on a reactive basis, where only immediate problems have been treated. Some of the hazards of an unmaintained corridor include: the potential of trees growing into the line or falling into the line; arcing of the line or creating a fire hazard to the line and structures; and the need for a thorough vegetation treatment plan.
For more information concerning this APS vegetation management project and to follow the APS maintenance progress, please contact Coconino National Forest Realty Specialist, Beth Dykstra, at 928-527-3417.