In this episode of The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast, hosts Nick Ferguson and Stephen Cieslewicz sit down with Floyd Hardin of Salt River Project (SRP) to explore how one of the nation’s largest public power utilities is navigating wildfire risk in the unique landscapes of the desert Southwest.

Floyd shares how SRP is learning from the wildfire experiences of states like California and Oregon, adapting those lessons to its own operations. The conversation dives into the challenges of managing invasive grass species across desert grasslands, and the balance between fuels reduction and fuels removal in high-risk areas.

The discussion also highlights the respectful and collaborative work SRP does on tribal lands, including cultural and regulatory considerations. Floyd explains SRP’s “no-reclose” policy during fire season—a bold step in wildfire mitigation—and discusses its practical implications for system reliability and public safety.

Listeners will also hear about SRP’s innovative defensible space program around distribution poles, its measurable impact on reducing outages and ignition risks, and what the future holds for wildfire prevention efforts.

Key Topics Covered:

• Lessons learned from Western wildfires
• Wildfire risk in desert ecosystems
• Managing invasive species as fuel sources
• SRP’s approach to fuels reduction vs. removal
• Collaborating with tribal nations
• Implementing a no-reclose policy
• Defensible space for distribution poles
• Future innovations in vegetation management

Whether you’re in a utility, land management, or policy role, this episode offers actionable insights into proactive wildfire mitigation in diverse environments.

A huge thank you to the sponsor of this season and episode, Clear Path Utility Solutions.