An Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP) outlines the methods used to manage vegetation like invasive plants around power poles, noxious weeds within substations and underneath powerlines, and pests that rot and erode the functional integrity of wooden power poles.

Nelson Hydro is required by the Ministry of Environment and Parks to file a IPMP every five years. Nelson Hydro's previous five year PMPs ran from 2015 to 2020 and from 2020 to July 15th 2025. They are now being updated for another five years. Nelson Hydro uses 3 Pest Management Plans; one for facilities like substations, one for rights of way under powerlines, and one for wooden power poles.

The PMPs ensure that:

• all work within the Nelson Hydro service territory complies with the Integrated Pest Management Act (IPMA) and Integrated Pest Management Regulation (IPMR), as well as all applicable federal, provincial, and regional laws and regulations;
• strategies are developed and implemented to protect domestic and agricultural wells, endangered wildlife, riparian areas, fish, water intakes, and other sensitive ecosystems;
• protocols for the responsible use of pesticides, public notification, and record-keeping are followed; and
• only products approved by Health Canada are used.

Nelson Hydro owns power stations and substations that help deliver electricity. These places are fenced off and not open to the public.

Keeping plants under control inside these facilities is very important for safety. If lightning strikes or there’s an electrical problem, electricity can travel through the equipment into the ground. If weeds or plants are in the way, they can catch fire or carry electricity. This could shock workers and cause serious injury or even death.

To keep facilities safe, Nelson Hydro uses different methods to stop plants from growing:

• Gravel surfaces to block plant growth
• Clear fences with no plants around them
• Brushing, mowing, trimming, or pulling weeds by hand
• Planting short native plants or grass
• Using natural controls like insects or plant diseases to reduce weeds
• Carefully applying chemicals (herbicides or pesticides) with sprayers or paste

The best way to control plants depends on several things:

• Meeting electrical safety rules
• What kind of land is nearby (public, private, or farmland)
• How close water or sensitive habitats are
• Possible effects on wildlife, fish, workers, and neighbors
• Safety, security, and cost concerns
• Soil type and the kinds of unwanted plants present

Nelson Hydro looks at all these factors before deciding which method to use. We also think about how easy the site is to reach and what could happen if plants aren’t controlled.

Nelson Hydro owns wooden power poles that can be found along power line corridors, roads, and inside power stations. These poles are placed on private, city, and Crown land.

Taking care of wooden poles is very important for safety and reliable electricity. Strong poles help prevent power outages and lower the risk of pole fires.

To protect poles from damage caused by insects (like termites, ants, and beetles) and fungi, Nelson Hydro uses several methods:

• Buying new poles that are pre-treated so chemicals don’t leak into the ground
• Checking poles visually every 8 years
• Inspecting inside the poles (above and below ground) every 8 years using tools like probes and drills
• Treating only poles that pass tests

If a pole is still strong enough to meet safety standards, workers may apply wood preservatives directly to fight insects or fungi. If the pole is too weak, it is replaced.

If a pole fails testing, Nelson Hydro may stub the pole (add support to the base) or replace the pole entirely.

A right-of-way is land used for power lines and utility equipment. It includes corridors, roads, and areas where poles, wires, substations, and other power facilities are located.

Managing plants in these areas is very important because it:

• Keeps workers and the public safe
• Prevents trees from touching power lines and causing outages
• Reduces the risk of fires near equipment
• Makes it easier to see and inspect power lines before work begins
• Meets safety rules set by WorkSafeBC
• Follows the BC Weed Control Act, which requires stopping harmful weeds

Nelson Hydro uses different methods to control plants in rights-of-way:

• Physical treatments like brushing, mowing, trimming, and pruning
• Encouraging grass and short native plants that don’t interfere with power lines
• Planting low-growing trees that are safe near electrical equipment
• Biological controls like fungi or insects to target problem weeds
• Careful chemical treatments applied directly to leaves or stumps

The best method depends on:

• How much clearance is needed for safety
• The type, size, and amount of vegetation
• Where the plants are located (near homes, farmland, or waterways)
• How easy the area is to reach (terrain, slope, or remoteness)
• Weather conditions
• Safety concerns for workers, the public, and fire risk
• The overall goals of vegetation management

When managing vegetation in rights-of-way, Nelson Hydro follows strict safety and environmental rules to protect people, wildlife, and the land.

• No Treatment Zones (NTZ): At least 15 meters around streams, fish, wildlife, and sensitive habitats
• Pesticide Free Zones (PFZ): Boundaries are marked before any pest control work begins
• Safe pesticide use: Chemicals are applied carefully so endangered species and habitats are not harmed
• Protecting shrubs and plants: Low-growing plants used by wildlife for food or shelter are not treated
• Equipment safety: No cleaning, fueling, or refilling machines within 15 meters of an NTZ
• Wildlife protection: PFZs are set up around bird nests (raptors, herons), wildlife trees, and mineral licks
• Food safety: PFZs are mapped around gardens, berry patches, and beekeeping areas
• Agriculture buffer: 100 meters around farmland (Agriculture Land Reserves)
• Water safety: 30 meters around wells and water intakes
• Weather rules: All treatments stop if wind is stronger than 8 km/h or if it starts raining

Nelson Hydro only hires contractors that are trained and certified to use pesticides. They must have a Pesticide Applicator Certificate and a valid BC Pesticide User License.

The plan includes rules to make sure pesticides are used safely. These cover:

• Who can apply pesticides and what their responsibilities are
• How to safely transport pesticides
• How to store pesticides properly
• How to mix, load, and apply pesticides safely
• How to dispose of empty or unused containers
• What to do if a pesticide spill happens

Your voice matters.

Integrated Pest Management Plans (IPMPs) are mandated by the Ministry of Environment and Parks. They ensure that Nelson Hydro follows legislation outlined in the Integrated Pest Management Act. Without an IPMP, there is no accountability.

These proposed options for the 2025-2030 IPMPs have pros, cons and costs that may impact electrical rates.

1. Only use pesticide for control of invasive species in the Rights-of-Way IPMP*
2. Remove specific chemicals from the Rights-of Way IPMP*
3. Remove all chemical treatments from the Rights-of-Way IPMP*

Click the tabs below to read each of the options listed below.

*Note: Facilities IPMP and the Pole IPMP are proposed to remain as-is to ensure safe and reliable electricity.

Only use pesticide for control of invasive species in the Rights-of-Way IPMP

In this option, the IPMP is modified to:

• include a more robust consultation process with individual landowners
• remove language for the use of chemicals to treat vegetation interfering with utility structures

This option promotes the use of manual, cultural or biological treatments for managing vegetation interfering with utility structures.

Remove specific chemicals from the Rights-of-Way IPMP

In this option, specific named chemicals (like glyphosate) would be removed from the Rights-of-Way IPMP to eliminate its use going forward.

Manual, cultural and biological treatments would be used as the primary treatment methods. This includes:

• brushing, slashing, mowing, frilling, girdling, grooming, trimming and pruning
• planting low-growing trees and shrubs
• planting compatible tree species that are low growing like juniper and other dwarf varieties of local vegetation
• using agents such as fungi or insects (beetles, weevils, moths, and flies) specifically targeting problem weed species
• using a biological paste to inhibit the re-sprouting and re-growth by applying it through a squeeze bottle on freshly cut stumps. The common name for this product registered in Canada is Chontrol Paste®

The downside of this option includes spending more on vegetation management, including hiring more staff or contractors. Increasing the vegetation management budget directly impacts and increases electrical rates.

Remove all chemical treatments entirely from the Rights-of-Way IPMP

In this option, only manual, cultural, and biological treatments would be used to manage vegetation with Nelson Hydro rights-of-way.

This is the most expensive option for Nelson Hydro as additional staff and contractors will be required to perform more vegetation management every year. As this is our current practice, we are noticing that the regrowth rates are increasing for specific species of vegetation. What once was trimmed every 3-years has now decreased to every year. Increasing Nelson Hydro's vegetation management budget also increases electrical rates.

Controlling the spread of invasive species may become a challenge for things like Knotweed, for example, that can only practically be treated using herbicide as mechanical removal requires large scale excavation and risks spreading plants through contaminated soil. Knotweed is the number one Provincial priority for management on public lands due to its negative ecological and economic impacts.