ODOT Wildlife Program_RTL_6-2 007 Initiating the Oregon Wildlife Movement Strategy Melinda Trask, ODOT Geo-Environmental Section, [email protected]ODOT Concerns: National & FHWA attention Lack of basic information on wildlife movement and problem areas Stale-mate with ODFW and USFWS over leadership Non-regulatory so needed obvious external support before seeking internal support Break-Through: CETAS ODFW Director's Letter Oregon Conservation Strategy First 2 Meetings between ODOT and ODFW, August & September 2006, developed the Wildlife Movement Strategy Working Group
Transcript
ODOT Wildlife Program_RTL_6-2007
Initiating the Oregon Wildlife Movement StrategyMelinda Trask, ODOT Geo-Environmental Section, [email protected]
ODOT Concerns: National & FHWA attention Lack of basic information on wildlife movement and problem areas Stale-mate with ODFW and USFWS over leadership Non-regulatory so needed obvious external support before seeking internal
support
Break-Through: CETAS ODFW Director's Letter Oregon Conservation Strategy First 2 Meetings between ODOT and ODFW, August & September 2006,
developed the Wildlife Movement Strategy Working Group
roadkill surveys, anecdotal reports. Crash records, National: 725,000-1,500,000 animal-vehicle collisions in the U. S.
annually, over 200 human fatalities, over 29,000 human injuries, & over $1 billion in property damage per year (2003 statistical summary).
Crash records, Oregon: avg. 395 collisions/yr with wildlife, past 12 years. Less than 3% of all crash reports in Oregon. Approx. 1 to 2 deaths and 8-10 serious injuries per year.
Proportions of deer-vehicle crash records are much higher in the NE states. In 2003, the Northern Midwest states avg 12.1% of all crashes involving
collisions with deer (Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin). Crash records represent only a small portion of actual animal-vehicle collisions
nationally (less than 10% of actual deer-vehicle collisions). Current GES project to map collision hot spots using carcass
pick-up records.
ODOT Wildlife Program_RTL_6-2007
Road Kill ≠ (always) Wildlife Movement Area
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ODOT Wildlife Program_RTL_6-2007
ODOT Wildlife Collision Prevention Program
Addressing wildlife passage is supported by ODOT’s current mission and goals, and particularly within the values of safety, accountability, and environmental stewardship.
Current lack of information - we cannot adequately address the problem.
Do we have a significant statewide road kill problem or just some areas?
Need to prioritize wildlife movement corridors and highway barrier problem areas to make science-based decisions and cost-effective, versus ad-hoc.
ODOT Regions need better tools to adequately address wildlife passage concerns.
Non-regulated but supported by FHWA, ODFW, USFWS, CETAS, nationwide attention.
ODOT Wildlife Program_RTL_6-2007
Recommendations for Transportation Projects Evaluate wildlife passage conditions at early project scoping, when
relevant. When is it relevant?
"Easy" wildlife passage solutions Ideas?
Wildlife fencing - restrict access or allow access?? Constraints? Best types of fencing?
Consider impacts of median barriers and guardrail. Solution more complicated.
ODOT Bios, ODFW Liaisons, ODOT Designers need training on design considerations.
Two-day workshop possibly combined with road ecology conference being proposed for Portland in May 2006.
ODOT manual being developed for scoping, funding, and design considerations.
ODOT Wildlife Program_RTL_6-2007
Keeping It Simple - Easy Ways to Help Wildlife Along Roads
Critter CrossingsLinking Habitats and Reducing Roadkill
Wood toprail along barbed wire fence protects deer
Bark mulch berm for stormwater treatment
Amphibian/reptile crossing
ODOT Wildlife Program_RTL_6-2007
ODOT Wildlife Program_RTL_6-2007
Summary ODOT is Just beginning Tier 1. Need well-informed
decisions! To save $, best to provide wildlife crossings where needed and
prioritize. We do not know yet the "state of the problem." Crash data indicate low priority from a "safety" standpoint relative to
other safety hazards (esp. human deaths and injuries). There may be localized hot spots that would be considered a safety
hazard. Problem likely to increase as ADT, highway width, human
population, deer populations grow. This is non-regulated and currently not well funded. Design solutions are for environmental, public interest, or safety
