22In 2009, five unique methods were used to inspect vegetation-related conditions along Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) rights-of-way (ROW). Some methods were trials that BPA committed to execute as part of a settlement with its regional regulatory organization, the Western Electric Coordination Council (WECC), for violations of reliability standards from vegetation grow-in related outages. A combination of simple, strat...

We show the use of an emerging technology, airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), to assess forest wildlife habitat by showing how it can improve the characterization of California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) nesting habitat. Large residual trees are important elements for many wildlife species and often, apparently, facilitate selection of habitat by spotted owls. However, we currently lack the abilit...