The Time is Right to Consider ROW Stewardship Accreditation
Write your awesome label here.
Across the utility industry, expectations for environmental stewardship and intentional vegetation management (VM) are ever-increasing—from the public, investors, executives, regulators, and insurance underwriters. That’s exactly why the Right-of-Way Stewardship Council Accreditation (ROWSCA) has emerged as a defining benchmark for excellence in responsible VM. Established in 2013, ROWSCA is the only accreditation program with standards for sustainable resource management on utility lands. Yet, the benefits of accreditation extend well beyond demonstrating a utility’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
The accreditation provides a third-party verification that your VM program possesses:
- A mature, well-executed integrated vegetation management (IVM) system
- Strong operational discipline, documentation, and demonstration
- Clear alignment with regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations
- A long-term commitment to continuous improvement
To date, nine utilities spanning 20 states and provinces throughout the U.S. and Canada have achieved accreditation. These utilities consistently report stronger internal alignment, improved external credibility, reduced costs, and more resilient VM programs.
Becoming an industry leader doesn’t happen overnight, though. It requires aligning policies, procedures, and practices—all at once.
Becoming an industry leader doesn’t happen overnight, though. It requires aligning policies, procedures, and practices—all at once.
Introducing the ROWSCA Acceleration Program
Grow With Trees has assisted several utilities with the accreditation process. What we have found is that many organizations begin the ROWSCA journey thinking they are closer to accreditation than they actually are, with some of the biggest gaps occurring around documentation, monitoring, and training. Success requires more than good intentions or strong field practices. Accredited ROW Stewards must have:
- Clear documentation that complies with the ROW Steward Technical Requirements
- Evidence-based program design that is audit-ready at every level
- Consistent execution across regions and teams
- Targeted and sustained professional training
This is where many efforts stall. Not because teams lack capability, but because they lack a structured path to achieve and maintain accreditation.
Grow With Trees understands the systems approach to IVM and structures a repeatable, proven framework to prepare prospective ROW Stewards for accreditation. The ROWSCA Acceleration Program is a practical, hands-on approach that provides a clear roadmap:
Grow With Trees understands the systems approach to IVM and structures a repeatable, proven framework to prepare prospective ROW Stewards for accreditation. The ROWSCA Acceleration Program is a practical, hands-on approach that provides a clear roadmap:
Assess
We benchmark your current VM program against ROWSCA standards and identify gaps.
Align
Together, we strengthen policies, procedures, and practices, using established IVM principles that align with your organization’s capacity.
Prepare
Conduct mock audits, deploy strategic training, and position your team for success.
Achieve
Support your organization through the accreditation process—pre-audit, application, audit, and throughout the accreditation lifecycle.
We benchmark your current VM program against ROWSCA standards and identify gaps.
Align
Together, we strengthen policies, procedures, and practices, using established IVM principles that align with your organization’s capacity.
Prepare
Conduct mock audits, deploy strategic training, and position your team for success.
Achieve
Support your organization through the accreditation process—pre-audit, application, audit, and throughout the accreditation lifecycle.
This isn’t theoretical-level consulting. It’s implementation-focused and action-based technical assistance built upon real experience helping utilities navigate the full ROWSCA path.
Learn More at the ROW as Habitat Working Group Meeting Next Month
If you’re exploring ROWSCA—or trying to better understand what it takes—there’s a great opportunity this August. The Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group | UIC Sustainable Landscapes is hosting its next Working Group Meeting on August 17–19 in Utica, NY, which includes a workshop I am facilitating on Monday afternoon specifically designed for prospective ROW Stewards. This interactive session will walk participants through:
- ROWSCA framework and scoring methodology
- Hands-on evaluation of IVM planning documents and field-level practices
It’s designed for VM leaders, supervisors, and specialists looking to move from interest to action. If you want a firsthand look at the value of accreditation, this is a session worth attending—not to mention the other great interactive presentations, roundtables, and field trips at the rest of the meeting. We hope to see you there!
Start Your Accreditation Journey
ROWSCA isn’t just about meeting a standard. It’s about building a program that performs—strategically, operationally, and environmentally.
Whether you’re just beginning to explore accreditation or already working toward it, having the right structure and support can dramatically change the outcome.
If you’re ready to move forward:
Whether you’re just beginning to explore accreditation or already working toward it, having the right structure and support can dramatically change the outcome.
If you’re ready to move forward:
- Explore Grow With Trees’ resources
- Connect with our team at support@growwithtrees.com to discuss your readiness
- Join the conversation with us in Utica this August
We’re here to help you get over the finish line. Let’s grow together!
John Steelman is the Program Manager, Boardroom Branch at Grow With Trees and serves as co-chair of the Right-of-Way Stewardship Council (ROWSC). He leads Grow With Trees' ROWSC accreditation technical assistance service area, helping organizations prepare for and achieve accreditation while advancing their strategic vegetation management programs.
