ITC Transmission Line Right-of-Way at Tomlinson Arboretum

About the Program
The ITC Transmission Line Right-of-Way is a right-of-way that has been converted into a native grassland and prairie. It's located in eastern Michigan in Clinton Township, only 28 miles northeast of Detroit. The right-of-way is just due west of Lake St. Clair and the Saint Clair River, and just shy of the Canadian border. The transmission right-of-way consists of 1.25 acres of native grassland habitat where avian surveys are conducted and submitted to eBird and pollinator presence is monitored. Members of the community participate in planting events, clean-ups and monitoring efforts to maintain this right-of-way and learn about the importance of native species. 

Practices and Impacts

• Grassland vegetation is monitored and maintained through the use of mowing, trimming and spot herbicide treatment. Monitoring has showed an increase in native plant species over the past few years, and invasive species continue to be kept at bay so these native plants can flourish.
• Bird surveys are conducted by community members at will and submitted to eBird to provide local data to this international bird population database. In the last two years alone, more than 14 new avian species were noted as present in this right-of-way. 
• Pollinator species are monitored during nearly every grassland maintenance event, with an increased diversity of native bee species evident over the past years. A mix of native forbs and grasses were planted in 2020 in problematic areas on-site with the hopes of providing more foraging opportunities for these native pollinators. 
• There are several maintenance and education planting events hosted throughout the year to educate the community on the importance of native grasslands. These events allow community members to give back to their local environment by planting native species in this right-of-way while also learning about plant identification.