SAFETEA-LU: Wildlife and Highways

SAFETEA-LU: Wildlife and Highways

Sandra L. JacobsonWildlife Biologist

USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station

Redwood Sciences LabArcata CA

Sandra L. JacobsonWildlife Biologist

USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station

Redwood Sciences LabArcata CA

Loss of Open SpaceLoss of Open Space

• One of “Four Threats” to National Forest System lands identified by Chief

• Results in wildlife habitat fragmentation

• One of “Four Threats” to National Forest System lands identified by Chief

• Results in wildlife habitat fragmentation Tom Iraci USDA Forest Service

Loss of Open SpaceLoss of Open Space

• Integration of wildlife issues in transportation planning helps alleviate impacts

• Integration of wildlife issues in transportation planning helps alleviate impacts

Tom Iraci USDA Forest Service

3 million people live within 20 miles of the San Bernardino and Angeles National Forests

Open Space Conservation is Tied to Transportation Planning

We Can’t Manage Wildlife Only Within Our Administrative

Boundaries

We Can’t Manage Wildlife Only Within Our Administrative

Boundaries

Dave Romero, USDA Forest Service, Bitterroot National Forest

• Public land management agency

• State Department of Transportation

• Private landowners

• Hunters and state wildlife agency

• Public land management agency

• State Department of Transportation

• Private landowners

• Hunters and state wildlife agency

Heidi Birkley, Black Hills National Forest

Example: Migratory Deer Stakeholders

Example: Migratory Deer Stakeholders

Highways are Permanent Gateways to Public LandsHighways are Permanent Gateways to Public Lands

George Wuerthner, USDA Forest Service

John Romanowski, USDA Forest Service

Mike Delasaux, UC Davis Ag Extension

SAFETEA-LU Provides Opportunities to Integrate

Natural Resource Management with

Transportation Planning

SAFETEA-LU Provides Opportunities to Integrate

Natural Resource Management with

Transportation Planning

DOTs Value Public Lands for Highways

DOTs Value Public Lands for Highways

• Few houses destroyed

• Usually fewer 4f issues

• Land relatively unemcumbered

• In most cases, DOTs do not pay for easements

• Few houses destroyed

• Usually fewer 4f issues

• Land relatively unemcumbered

• In most cases, DOTs do not pay for easements

Stephen Peel

Some Highway Impacts to Wildlife

Some Highway Impacts to Wildlife

Direct Habitat Loss

Vehicle-caused

Mortality

Some Highway Impacts to Wildlife

Some Highway Impacts to Wildlife

Habitat Fragmentation

Pollution

Terry Spivey, USDA Forest Service www.forestryimages.org

SAFETEA-LU Can Help Mitigate Impacts

SAFETEA-LU Can Help Mitigate Impacts

• Better collaboration

• Funding people

• Funding research

• Better collaboration

• Funding people

• Funding research

Statewide Connectivity

Plans

Statewide Connectivity

Plans

• Efficient • All stakeholders• Identify and

prioritize important wildlife linkage areas

• Efficient • All stakeholders• Identify and

prioritize important wildlife linkage areas

State Transportation Improvement Plans and

SAFETEA-LU

State Transportation Improvement Plans and

SAFETEA-LU • State connectivity

plans help partner agencies propose and support projects

• SAFETEA-LU authorizes funding for – agency

personnel – research – training in best

practices

• State connectivity plans help partner agencies propose and support projects

• SAFETEA-LU authorizes funding for – agency

personnel – research – training in best

practices

Can We Mitigate Impacts from Highways?

Can We Mitigate Impacts from Highways?

• Research can help develop tools and processes to minimize impacts

• Research can help develop tools and processes to minimize impacts

Sierraville Highway 89 Stewardship Team, TahoeNational Forest

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned• Diversion fencing combined with wildlife

crossing structures are the most effective tool to reduce mortality and maintain habitat connectivity (96-100%)

• Resources module has more info

• Diversion fencing combined with wildlife crossing structures are the most effective tool to reduce mortality and maintain habitat connectivity (96-100%)

• Resources module has more info

Underpasses on the Tonto National Forest

Safety and Wildlife CollisionsSafety and Wildlife Collisions

• The most common rural accident is animal/vehicle collision

• Employee safety: Most common forward-moving accident in some FS regions

• The most common rural accident is animal/vehicle collision

• Employee safety: Most common forward-moving accident in some FS regions

Colorado DOT

It’s Our Choice—and Opportunity!—to Get Involved

Early and Often in Transportation Planning

It’s Our Choice—and Opportunity!—to Get Involved

Early and Often in Transportation Planning

Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.forestryimages.org