Helicopter Tree Trimming Planned Across Wisconsin Counties in March
3-Bullet Brief:
- Helicopter and aerial trimming work begins March 2 in several Wisconsin counties
- Residents asked to stay at least 300 feet away from aircraft and crews
- Work supports electric reliability and public safety across 10,000 miles of lines
A helicopter equipped with a heavy-duty air saw will soon take to the skies over parts of Wisconsin as part of routine power line maintenance.
American Transmission Co. announced aerial tree trimming will begin March 2, 2026, in several counties statewide, with work expected to wrap up by the end of the month.
According to the media alert, “A helicopter and heavy-duty air saw will be used to trim trees along ATC power lines beginning March 2, 2026, in several Wisconsin counties.” All work is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026.
How the aerial trimming works
ATC has contracted Aerial Solutions, Inc. to manage vegetation growth along its power line corridors. The trimming will be done using specialized equipment suspended from a helicopter.
“This work will be accomplished using an aerial power saw with rotary blades that is suspended from a helicopter on a 90-foot vertical boom,” the release states.
Officials are urging the public to give crews space while work is underway.
“We ask anyone in the area to stay a minimum of 300 feet away from the helicopter, trucks, and ground crews.”
Aerial saw work is considered more efficient than traditional ground-based trimming.
“It takes just a few hours for an aerial saw to complete what typically takes ground crews several days to accomplish,” said Darren Throop, ATC senior vegetation management specialist. “However, the aerial work is weather-dependent so the duration of the work could fluctuate.”
Counties and substations impacted
The work will take place along specific transmission corridors, including:
- Columbia to Rockdale, crossing Columbia and Dane counties
- Dam Heights Substation to the Dane Substation and Lodi Substation in Columbia and Sauk counties
- La Pointe Substation to the Bloomington Substation in the village of Bloomington in Crawford and Grant counties
- Ria Pumping Station to the Academy Substation in Columbia and Dodge counties
- Gardner Park Substation in Wausau to the Rocky Run Substation in Stevens Point in Marathon and Portage counties
- Deer Trail Substation to Whitcomb Substation to Birnamwood Substation in Shawano County
Landowners near the affected corridors have been notified by mail. ATC also noted that work may be postponed with little or no notice due to weather.
In the interest of safety, the company is asking residents not to stop along roadways to view or photograph the operation.
Why this work matters
Vegetation management plays a critical role in keeping the power grid reliable and safe.
“Managing the growth of trees and other vegetation near power lines is important to help ensure public safety and electric system reliability,” the release states.
ATC performs routine vegetation management on more than 10,000 miles of power lines in five-year cycles.
A map of the work areas and video footage of similar operations are available through ATC’s website and YouTube channel.
About ATC
ATC is a Wisconsin-based company that operates the regional electric grid in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, serving more than 5 million electric consumers. The company plans, maintains and protects the transmission system and is working to modernize infrastructure as renewable energy sources expand across the region.
