RECONNECTING THE ROCKIES Keeping People Safe and Wildlife ... · Roads and Wildlife: a Deadly Mix...
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RECONNECTING THE ROCKIES Keeping People Safe and Wildlife Connected 3 3 Hosmer B.C. AB ALEXANDER–MICHEL (UP) ALEXANDER–MICHEL (OP) ALEXANDER CREEK BRIDGE (UP) CARBON BRIDGE (UP) LOOP BRIDGE (UP) FUTURE PROJECT FUTURE PROJECT FUTURE PROJECT FUTURE PROJECT COMPLETED (LIZARD CREEK) COMPLETED (EMERALD LAKE) OLD TOWN BRIDGE (UP) MICHEL MOUTH BRIDGE (UP) WEST SPARWOOD (UP) CP OVERHEAD (UP) Sparwood Fernie Crowsnest Communities 43 3 3 Hosmer B.C. AB ALEXANDER–MICHEL ALEXANDER–MICHEL ALEXANDER CREEK BRIDGE CARBON BRIDGE LOOP BRIDGE LIZARD CREEK EMERALD LAKE OLD TOWN BRIDGE MICHEL MOUTH BRIDGE WEST SPARWOOD CP OVERHEAD Sparwood Fernie Crowsnest Communities WILDLIFE DETECTION SYSTEM References 1. S. G. Hesse, “COLLISIONS WITH WILDLIFE: AN OVERVIEW OF MAJOR WILDLIFE VEHICLE COLLISION DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE” (2006). 2. T. Lee, T. Clevenger, C. T. Lamb, “Amendment: Highway 3 Transportation Mitigation for Wildlife and Connectivity in Elk Valley of British Columbia” (Fernie, BC, 2019). 3. M. F. Proctor, B. N. Mclellan, C. Strobeck, Population Fragmentation of Grizzly Bears in Southeastern British Columbia , Canada. Ursus. 13, 153–160 (2002). 4. A. Clevenger et al., “Highway 3: Transportation Mitigation for Wildlife and Connectivity” (Fernie, BC, 2008), (available at https://www.rockies.ca/files/reports/H3%20Final%20Report%200607_June8.pdf). 5. Center for Large Landscape Conservation, “Reducing Wildlife Vehicle Collisions by Building Crossings : General Information , Cost Effectiveness , and Case Studies from the U.S.” (The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2020). Roads and Wildlife: a Deadly Mix In British Columbia, there are roughly 10,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions each year, which cost upwards of $25 million. 1 The economic and physical cost of these accidents on humans is well-known, but the effect on wildlife populations is more complex and goes beyond just roadkill. The good news is there are proven solutions to this growing problem. UNDERPASS PROJECT OVERPASS PROJECT COMPLETED PROJECT FUTURE PROJECT CONNECTIVITY ZONE AB B.C. USA Reconnecting the Rockies Reconnecting the Rockies involves developing a system which keeps wildlife off the road and allows them to move safely via a series of underpasses and overpasses connected with fencing. In 2019, a diverse group of stakeholders including provincial and local government, industry, conservation organizations, and scientists gathered to update highway mitigation plans. These plans were evaluated using updated wildlife tracking data, road kills, and local knowledge. 2,4 Mitigation projects elsewhere have reduced collisions by 80-90% and with these roadkill reductions, the BC government expects the mitigation work to pay for itself in 10-20 years. 5 Highway 3: A “Collision Course” for Wildlife Populations The Elk Valley is home to iconic, wide-ranging animals such as grizzly bear and wolverine, elk and bighorn sheep. For many of the area’s large mammals, this highway is a mortality source and blocks movement at a local (Elk Valley) and continental (Canada/USA) scale. Approximately 200 collisions with large mammals occur each year on Highway 3 between Hosmer, BC and the Alberta border. This costs society $2.8 million annually. 1,2 If this continues, wildlife populations will continue to be at-risk of severe declines and connections between populations could be permanently severed. 3 The safe passage system consists of nine building or enhancement projects to be completed over the next five years. Phase One consists of retrofitting existing bridges to act as wildlife underpasses. The areas underneath bridges will be landscaped to increase movement potential for species such as grizzly bear, elk and deer. We will then fence the highway in between these structures to keep wildlife off the road and guide them to crossings. While this works takes place, partners are working to secure funding for Phase Two: BC’s first major wildlife overpass. COLLISIONS X 200 / YR COSTS SOCIETY $ 2.8 MILLION / YR POPULATIONS SEVERED COLLISIONS MORTALITY CONNECTIVITY COST IN THE VALLEY HIGHWAYS CAUSE CONTACT INFO
Transcript of RECONNECTING THE ROCKIES Keeping People Safe and Wildlife ... · Roads and Wildlife: a Deadly Mix...
RECONNECTING THE ROCKIESKeeping People Safe and Wildlife Connected43
3 3
Hosmer
B.C. AB
ALEXANDER–MICHEL (UP)ALEXANDER–MICHEL (OP)
ALEXANDER CREEK BRIDGE (UP)CARBON BRIDGE (UP)
LOOP BRIDGE (UP)
FUTURE PROJECT
FUTURE PROJECT
FUTURE PROJECT
FUTURE PROJECT
COMPLETED (LIZARD CREEK)
COMPLETED (EMERALD LAKE)
OLD TOWN BRIDGE (UP)
MICHEL MOUTH BRIDGE (UP)
WEST SPARWOOD (UP)
CP OVERHEAD (UP)
Sparwood
Fernie
Crowsnest Communities
UNDERPASS PROJECT
OVERPASS PROJECT
COMPLETED PROJECT
FUTURE PROJECT
CONNECTIVITY ZONE
43
3 3
Hosmer
B.C. AB
ALEXANDER–MICHELALEXANDER–MICHEL
ALEXANDER CREEK BRIDGECARBON BRIDGE
LOOP BRIDGE
LIZARD CREEK
EMERALD LAKE
OLD TOWN BRIDGE
MICHEL MOUTH BRIDGE
WEST SPARWOOD
CP OVERHEAD
Sparwood
Fernie
Crowsnest Communities
WILDLIFE DETECTION
SYSTEM
ABB.C.
USA
References1. S. G. Hesse, “COLLISIONS WITH WILDLIFE: AN OVERVIEW OF MAJOR WILDLIFE VEHICLE COLLISION DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE” (2006).2. T. Lee, T. Clevenger, C. T. Lamb, “Amendment: Highway 3 Transportation Mitigation for Wildlife and Connectivity in Elk Valley of British Columbia” (Fernie, BC, 2019).3. M. F. Proctor, B. N. Mclellan, C. Strobeck, Population Fragmentation of Grizzly Bears in Southeastern British Columbia , Canada. Ursus. 13, 153–160 (2002).4. A. Clevenger et al., “Highway 3: Transportation Mitigation for Wildlife and Connectivity” (Fernie, BC, 2008), (available at https://www.rockies.ca/files/reports/H3%20Final%20Report%200607_June8.pdf).5. Center for Large Landscape Conservation, “Reducing Wildlife Vehicle Collisions by Building Crossings : General Information , Cost Effectiveness , and Case Studies from the U.S.” (The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2020).
Roads and Wildlife: a Deadly Mix In British Columbia, there are roughly 10,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions each year, which cost upwards of $25 million.1 The economic and physical cost of these accidents on humans is well-known, but the effect on wildlife populations is more complex and goes beyond just roadkill. The good news is there are proven solutions to this growing problem.
UNDERPASS PROJECT
OVERPASS PROJECT
COMPLETED PROJECT
FUTURE PROJECT
CONNECTIVITY ZONE
ABB.C.
USA
Reconnecting the RockiesReconnecting the Rockies involves developing a system which keeps wildlife off the road and allows them to move safely via a series of underpasses and overpasses connected with fencing. In 2019, a diverse group of stakeholders including provincial and local government, industry, conservation organizations, and scientists gathered to update highway mitigation plans. These plans were evaluated using updated wildlife tracking data, road kills, and local knowledge.2,4
Mitigation projects elsewhere have reduced collisions by 80-90% and with these roadkill reductions, the BC government expects the mitigation work to pay for itself in 10-20 years.5
Highway 3: A “Collision Course” for Wildlife Populations The Elk Valley is home to iconic, wide-ranging animals such as grizzly bear and wolverine, elk and bighorn sheep. For many of the area’s large mammals, this highway is a mortality source and blocks movement at a local (Elk Valley) and continental (Canada/USA) scale. Approximately 200 collisions with large mammals occur each year on Highway 3 between Hosmer, BC and the Alberta border. This costs society $2.8 million annually.1,2 If this continues, wildlife populations will continue to be at-risk of severe declines and connections between populations could be permanently severed.3
The safe passage system consists of nine building or enhancement projects to be completed over the next five years. Phase One consists of retrofitting existing bridges to act as wildlife underpasses. The areas underneath bridges will be landscaped to increase movement potential for species such as grizzly bear, elk and deer. We will then fence the highway in between these structures to keep wildlife off the road and guide them to crossings. While this works takes place, partners are working to secure funding for Phase Two: BC’s first major wildlife overpass.
COLLISIONSX 200 / YR
COSTS SOCIETY$ 2.8 MILLION / YR
POPULATIONS SEVERED
COLLISIONS
MORTALITY
CONNECTIVITY
COST
IN THE VALLEY
HIGHWAYS CAUSE
CONTACT INFO
