Clearing the Way on the Islands
Ongoing maintenance keeps the lights on and reduces wildfire risk across San Juan County
Right of Way (ROW) trimming is the practice of trimming and/or removing vegetation under and around powerlines and electrical infrastructure, in order to maintain a safe and reliable electrical system. ROW maintenance and vegetation management is an essential part of OPALCO operations and is performed regularly to reduce the frequency of power interruptions and create better and safer access to power equipment for OPALCO crews.
Why is ROW maintenance important?
OPALCO maintains an aggressive right-of-way clearance program to create a more reliable electric system for San Juan County. Additionally, a strong ROW program plays a big role in reducing fire danger. Wildfires are a big threat to our island ecosystems and the region. Doing what we can to mitigate wildfire risk is one of the best ways we can work to keep our county safe. Unmaintained power line right of way passages can pose a huge fire risk – low hanging branches, overgrown brush and shrubs, and dry or dead trees along the powerline corridor can all become a spark point if not cleared around and underneath powerlines.
In the case of a power outage or an equipment failure, a clear right-of-way corridor and equipment access points allow the crews to respond more quickly and safely. When crews cannot access a pole, an underground section of line, or a transformer due to overgrown vegetation, they have to first clear a path of access to the equipment before they can begin to investigate and repair. ROW maintenance is an invaluable part of OPALCO’s daily operations and processes.
Regional and National ROW Standards
All across the country, electric utilities are regularly trimming or removing vegetation that encroaches on power line corridors and other utility infrastructure. Right of way trimming is not unique to OPALCO and is a standard practice anywhere the vegetation meets electric equipment. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has set the national guidelines for electric utilities to follow in the Electric Reliability Standard FAC-003-4, which requires that “trees and other vegetation growing in or adjacent to the power line right-of-way be trimmed to prevent power outages caused by tree contact with a transmission line”.
OPALCO’s ROW practices are built upon the national and regional best practices. The co-op regularly adjusts its right of way program to fit with the utility operations and make things work for the community the best it can.
OPALCO’s ROW Practices
OPALCO maintains a minimum of 10 feet of right-of-way clearance on both sides of power poles, with high voltage transmission lines having a clearance of up to 50 feet on both sides.
More than 89% of OPALCO’s system is underground. The underground portions of line still require proper ROW clearances, as crews need to be able to access all the undergrounded areas in the case of faults and equipment failure. While undergrounding spans of line reduces the visual impacts of electrical infrastructure, it does not remove the necessity for vegetation management and right-of-way clearances.
Any trees removed for right-of-way clearances belong to the property owners and are left for them to use, unless other arrangements are made. In some cases, brush and limbs can be chipped and left for the property owners as well.
In 2026, OPALCO is working with San Juan Islands Conservation District to help eradicate noxious weeds as part of the maintenance side of the ROW responsibilities. The Conservation District team will add another layer of support beyond trimming and mowing that OPALCO does in ROW areas. OPALCO also works closely with San Juan County Noxious Weed Control Department. Additionally, OPALCO is working on vegetation restoration to ensure trimmed areas are reestablished with native species. Some of the partners OPALCO is working with this year include Black Cap Restoration, Cedar & Salt, Green Man Inc, Salish Seeds, and Ferry Boat Seeds.
“This program is critical to our work here at OPALCO,” says Ed Lago, ROW project manager and engineering technician. “We are so grateful for our renewed partnerships throughout the county to ensure our pristine island has safe and sustainable power corridors.”
Working together to maintain ROW
If you see trees or overgrown shrubs close to power lines, call OPALCO. Our team will come out and assess the area and assist in any necessary trimming or removal. We ask that members do not attempt to remove dead trees or overgrown vegetation that is a hazard to the electrical system. OPALCO partners with a variety of different contractors to safely conduct the seasonal ROW trimming, and we can call on those partners to assist in the case of a hazard tree near power lines. When in doubt, give us a call! Reach out to us at 360-376-3500 or email engineering@opalco.com if you are concerned about trees too close to power lines near you.
