Helicopter to be used to install bird diverters along transmission lines in Columbia, Dane, Sauk, Waupaca and Waushara counties
Work slated for first week of March
PEWAUKEE, Wis. – Beginning the week of March 1, American Transmission Co. will install more than 1,800 bird diverters on the wires of five transmission lines in Columbia, Dane, Sauk, Waupaca and Waushara counties.
Using a light-duty helicopter from Winco Powerline Services, ATC’s construction partner M.J. Electric, LLC will install the bird diverters to help keep birds safe while also ensuring the reliability of the transmission system.
“The diverters increase visibility of the wires and help protect birds from contacting the transmission lines while in flight,” said Michael Warwick, ATC senior environmental project manager. “Most of the diverters will be installed over or adjacent to wetlands and bodies of water to help protect larger, heavy-bodied species that do not maneuver easily such as geese, swans, pelicans, cranes and other waterfowl.”
Local officials, along with local law enforcement, have been notified of the work. Diverters will be installed in the following locations:
- Columbia County along portions of a 138,000-volt line (east of Portage, Wis.)
- Within a wetland area east of County Road F and west of County Road EE
- Over a wetland northwest of the intersection of Military and Quarry Roads
- Within the Becker Waterfowl Production Area near Highway 22
- Across the Fox River, north of Pardeeville and west of State Highway 44
- Dane County along a portion of a 69,000-volt line
- Near wetland areas running along a railroad track, starting at Dunkirk and Veterans Road and ending just past Collins Road outside of Stoughton, Wis.
- Sauk County along a portion of a 138,000-volt line (west of Portage, Wis.)
- South of the Pine Island State Wildlife Area, running southwest from I-90 across County Roads U and T and ending north of Back Road
- Waupaca County along a portion of a 69,000-volt line
- Across Hartman Lake within Hartman Creek State Park
- Waushara County along a portion of a 69,000-volt line
- Across the Pine River north of County Road A in Wild Rose, Wis.
Note to editors: View maps of the work area: Columbia and Sauk Counties Dane County Waupaca and Waushara Counties. Information about ATC’s avian protection program can be found here. Helicopter flight schedules may vary and are subject to change, based on weather. In the interest of safety, please refrain from stopping, viewing and photographing the work from roadways.
