Recent jmie_roadeco_rw items

Valuation and Crediting Approaches for Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Agencies

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Ecosystem services measurement and crediting tools are recognized as important to the transportation planning and project implementation process because they can aid the process of mitigating environmental impacts by reducing transaction costs, improving environmental outcomes, and shortening the time needed to implement projects. Because of this, they have been identified as a key step in the Eco-Logical framework integrating transportation and conservation planning, characterized by a SHRP2 Capacity Program Study as the Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF). Currently, there is not a straightforward methodology for creating a transportation-centric crediting program available throughout much of the US. However, successful programs in California, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington have all developed approaches cooperatively with the regulatory agencies, state and non-governmental conservation programs, those actively involved in mitigation banking, and agencies or organizations...

Adaptive Planning for Transportation Corridors Threatened by Sea Level Rise

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

This paper describes a generalizable planning and assessment process for

transportation planning adaptive to sea level rise (SLR). State Route 37

(SR-37) is the California highway most vulnerable to temporary flooding

and permanent inundation as a result of SLR. Like many other coastal highways

in the United States, SR-37 is adjacent to protected coastal systems

(e.g., beaches, tidal wetlands), meaning that any activity on the highway is

subject to regulatory oversight. Both SR-37 and the surrounding marshes

are vulnerable to the effects of SLR. Because of a combination of congestion

and threats from SLR, planning for a new highway adaptive and resilient

to SLR impacts was conducted in the context of stakeholder participation

and Eco-Logical, a planning process developed by FHWA to better integrate

transportation and environmental planning. To understand which

stretches of SR-37 might be most vulnerable...

Wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots at US highway extents: scale and data source effects

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Highways provide commuter traffic and goods movement among regions and cities through wild, protected areas. Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) can occur frequently when wildlife are present, impacting drivers and animals. Because collisions are often avoidable with constructed mitigation and reduced speeds, transportation agencies often want to know where they can act most effectively and what kinds of mitigation are cost-effective. For this study, WVC occurrences were obtained from two sources: 1) highway agencies that monitor carcass retrieval and disposal by agency maintenance staff and 2) opportunistic observations of carcasses by participants in two statewide systems, the California Roadkill Observation System (CROS; http://wildlifecrossing.net/california) and the Maine Audubon Wildlife Road Watch (MAWRW; http://wildlifecrossing.net/maine). Between September, 2009 and December 31, 2014, >33,700 independent observations of >450 vertebrate species had been recorded...

Wildlife/roadkill observation and reporting systems

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Wherever wildlife habitat and roadways overlap, roadkill seems inevitable. Observing and recording carcasses

resulting from wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVC) provides data critical for sustainable transportation

planning and species distribution mapping. Across the world, systems have been created to record WVC

observations by researchers, highway maintenance workers, law officers, wildlife agency staff, insurers and

volunteers. These wildlife/roadkill observation systems (WROS) can include mobile recording devices for

data collection, a website for data management and visualisation and social media to reinforce reporting

activity.

62.1 The specific purpose and goals of the WROS may vary among systems but should always be clearly

defined.

62.2 Extensive social networks are needed for comprehensive observation systems.

62.3 Adopt a methodical approach to developing a wildlife/roadkill observation system.

62.4...

Traffic Volume as a Primary Road Characteristic Impacting Wildlife: A Tool for Land Use and Transportation Planning

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Based on an analysis of current literature, we developed a Traffic Volume Wildlife Tool that identifies different levels of traffic volume as a means to assess risk to various wildlife species groups, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Each level includes an assessment of when impacts to different species groups begin and when they become a serious threat. Traffic volume, or the amount of traffic using a road, poses substantial negative consequences for many wildlife species, especially as traffic levels increase. Road location and traffic volume are the two most important factors to assess when evaluating a road‘s potential impacts. Increases in traffic volume alter species composition, impedes animal movement, causes direct mortality, and fragments habitat. Based on the existing studies that quantify traffic volume and measure impacts to wildlife, we developed guidelines for use in planning. We discuss how changes in traffic volume affect habitat quality...

Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Urban Flooding: Implications for Transportation Infrastructure and Travel Disruption

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change in the Pacific Northwest of America is likely to bring more frequent, heavier winter precipitation as temperature rises. These changes in precipitation patterns have significant implications in hydrology and socioeconomic sectors that could be affected by changes in hydrology. Transportation infrastructure and travel patterns are also vulnerable to potential changes in runoff regimes and stream geomorphology. The 2006 and 2007 winter storms resulted in massive flooding, causing several major road failures in Oregon. While the probability of these extreme events is projected to rise under the global warming scenarios, there is no study investigating this issue in Oregon.

The objectives of the project are threefold. First, we investigate the changes in the frequency and magnitude of winter runoff under climate change scenarios. Second, we determine the probability of road closure for representative road bridges under climate change scenarios. Third, we quantify...

Integrating Conservation and Long-Range Transportation Planning Using a Strategic Assessment Framework

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Moving Forward metropolitan transportation planning process introduced a Strategic assessment planning framework to the Pikes Peak region. This framework was selected because it integrates multi-disciplinary qualitative and quantitative information from technical experts and regional stakeholders to determine and weight objectives and indicators within the evaluation process. In order to implement this framework the regional modeling system was updated and several new technical tools added; including Natureserve‟s Vista forhabitat conservation, and Placeways‟ CommunityViz for community impact evaluation. PPACG received funding from the FHWA to investigate integration and initial application of these planning tools at the regional level.

Both the biological impacts of potential transportation investments and potential locations of regional mitigation sites were determined by integrating conservation planning concepts, planned...

An Analysis of the Efficacy and Comparative Costs of Using Flow Devices to Resolve Conflicts with North American Beavers Along Roadways in the Coastal Plain of Virginia

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Road damage caused by beavers is a costly problem for transportation departments in the U.S. Population control and dam destruction are the most widely used methods to reduce road damage caused by beavers, but the benefits of such measures in some situations are often very short-term. At chronic damage sites, it may be more effective and cost-beneficial to use flow devices to protect road structures and critical areas adjacent to roads. To determine the potential benefits of using flow devices at chronic beaver damage sites, from June 2004 to March 2006 we installed 40 flow devices at 21 sites identified by transportation department personnel as chronic damage sites in Virginia’s Coastal Plain. Following installations, study sites were monitored to determine flow device performance and any required maintenance and repairs. Between March 2006 and August 2007, transportation department personnel were surveyed to collect data on flow device efficacy and comparative costs. As of...

A SUMMARY OF THE WILDLIFE LINKAGE AND HIGHWAY SAFETY ASSESSMENT: A PRIORITIZATION AND PLANNING TOOL FOR WESTERN MONTANA

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Protecting habitat connectivity for wildlife is a management imperative facing agencies and wildlife organizations across the United States. To maintain connectivity and improve highway safety across transportation routes in western Montana, American Wildlands conducted a rapid wildlife linkage and highway safety assessment. This analysis had two primary objectives: 1) to provide a planning tool to direct American Wildlands’ conservation efforts for protection of habitat connectivity across transportation routes; and 2) to provide data and information useful to agencies and other conservation partners. This assessment used four criteria to identify priority areas: i) road kill concentration areas, ii) important wildlife linkage areas, iii) planned transportation projects, and iv) land ownership as an indicator of the likelihood of conservation success. To complete the analysis, kernel density estimation and percent volume contours were used to identify high concentration areas...

REGENERATIVE STORMWATER CONVEYANCE (RSC) AS AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE STORMWATER PLANNING ON LINEAR PROJECTS

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Stormwater conveyance practices are grounded in industrial design that neglects integration with system processes, economics, and aesthetics. As a result, the greater volume of runoff from impervious surfaces, coupled with smooth and hardened conveyance systems (e.g., pipes and trapezoidal concrete channels), magnifies and transfers energies to the discharge or outfall. Conventional stormwater outfalls cause erosion, conveyance structures fail, stream channels are degraded, in-stream sedimentation increases the influence of localized erosion upstream and downstream of the outfall, and an increasing spiral of degradation results. Local governments are forced to spend scare public funds on remediation measures. Alternatively, the technique of using stream restoration techniques to create a dependable open channel conveyance with pools and riffle-weir grade controls is a regenerative design since the use of these elements result in a system of physical features, chemical processes,...

EFFECTIVENESS OF MITIGATION MEASURES TO REDUCE ROAD MORTALITY IN THE NETHERLANDS: BADGER MELES MELES

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

In the 1900‘s, the badger population of the Netherlands was estimated to count 2500 to 3000 setts with over 4000 individuals. Between then and the 1960‘s, the number declined drastically and stayed low until the mid-1980‘s with about 400 setts in the whole of the Netherlands. In the 1980‘s a high percentage of the population, locally up to 25%, was killed yearly by road traffic. For this reason the Dutch government implemented mitigation measures such as fauna tunnels and fences. It was easy to monitor the use of such measures. By census we know that the population increased to around 5000 individuals in 2006. But were these “badger tunnels” effective: did the number of traffic victims at these tunnels decrease?

To answer this question we analyzed data on badger traffic victims gathered by NGO Das & Boom and the Center for Transport and Navigation (Rijkswaterstaat) between 1990 and 2006. First, we determined the distribution of victims over motorways, provincial roads...

RE-EVALUATING THE NEEDS FOR ANIMAL PASSAGES IN ISRAEL: TOWARDS A LONG-TERM MONITORING SCHEME

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Centralized planning framework, accelerating habitat fragmentation and growing awareness to animal-transportation issues in Israel have lead to increased demand for ecological considerations during road construction and maintenance. Several governmental bodies have upgraded their requests regarding fauna passages and monitoring, with substantial budget implications. Planning and management decisions on local and regional scale need to consider changes and adaptations required with time. Current project-oriented planning and budgeting make it difficult to maintain a regional, long-term view. Most existing fauna passages were not specifically designed for animals. Guidelines for animal passages are derived from European countries, which differ from Israel in climatic-ecological aspects and in some human activity patterns. Adapting these guidelines to local conditions in order to rationalize and optimize planning, expenditure and results requires more accurate reevaluation of...

ECO-LOGICAL: AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO DEVELOPING TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The development of infrastructure facilities can negatively impact critical habitat and essential ecosystems. There are a variety of techniques available to avoid, minimize, and mitigate negative impacts of existing infrastructure as well as future infrastructure development. However, such techniques may not always provide the greatest environmental benefit or may do very little to promote ecosystem sustainability. Concern for ecosystem protection, along with legislation and policy initiatives aimed at fostering an ecosystem-based approach, led an Interagency Steering Team to collaborate over a three-year period to write Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects. The Steering Team shared a vision of an enhanced and sustainable natural environment combined with the view that necessary infrastructure can be developed in ways that are more sensitive to terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Eco-Logical encourages all partners involved in infrastructure...

Responses of Small Terrestrial Vertebrates to Roads in Coastal Sage Scrub Ecosystem

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I assessed the activity pattern of small mammals and lizards in relation to three types of roads transecting coastal sage scrub habitats. The bulk of data were generated for three small mammal species (Chaetodipus fallax, Peromyscus eremicus, and Peromyscus maniculatus) and two lizard species (Sceloporus occidentalis and Cnemidophorus hyperythrus). I characterized both relative abundance at two distances from each road and individual movement patterns in relation to each road in order to explore the effects of roads on species spatial and movement dynamics. The two habitat specialists exhibited decreased abundance next to different road types. The three habitat generalists either showed no difference or increased abundance by a road. These data generally support previous studies that suggest habitat specialists are more sensitive to edges. All species exhibited decreased permeability to improved roads. The unimproved dirt road did not impede movement, while the primary highway...

Scaling roads and wildlife: the Cinderella principle

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

It is clear that a reduction in both direct and indirect effects of roads and road networks must be the goal of management agencies. However, increased permeability of roaded landscapes can only be achieved by up-front planning and subsequent mitigative actions. The key is to understand that roads must be made permeable to the movement of animals. More profoundly, ecosystem services, i.e., clean water, clean air, uncontaminated soil, natural landscapes, recreation opportunities, abundant wildlife, and life sustaining ecological processes must not be seriously impacted. In other words, quality of life as measured by ecosystem services should be a major component of the planning process when roads are constructed or improved.

Mitigative structures exist to increase permeability of roads. Wildlife overpasses and underpasses, often referred to as ecoducts or green bridges, with associated structures to enable larger animals to exit the road right of way, e.g., earthen escape...

Locations of Deer–vehicle Collisions are Unrelated to Traffic Volume or Posted Speed Limit

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Consensus is lacking regarding the influence of vehicle speed and traffic volume on deer–vehicle collision (DVC) rates. Yet, annual average daily traffic fl ow (AADT) and posted speed limit (PSL) typically are used to measure these variables. To resolve this confl ict, we studied the effects of traffic volume and vehicle speed on DVCs in Utah. Our results showed no relationship between AADT or PSL and DVC occurrence. There are at least 3 explanations for our results: (1) no causal relationship exists; (2) AADT and PSL, as measured, actually explain little of the variation; and (3) data quality problems exist. We discuss the likelihood for each explanation. We argue that even though traffic speed and volume have been used to predict DVC occurrence and may be useful explanatory variables, the metrics AADT and PSL are poor surrogate variables. Thus, uses of these variables to predict risk will likely provide unreliable results.

Restoring Habitat Permeability to Roaded Landscapes with Isometrically-scaled Wildlife Crossings

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Globally, human activities impact from one-third to one-half of the earth’s land surface; a major component of development involves the construction of roads. In the US and Europe, road networks fragment normal animal movement patterns, reduce landscape permeability, and increase wildlife-vehicle collisions, often with serious wildlife population and human health consequences. Critically, the placement of wildlife crossing structures to restore landscape connectivity and reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions has been a hit-or-miss proposition with little ecological underpinning, however recent important developments in allometric scaling laws can be used to guide their placement. In this paper, we used cluster analysis to develop domains of scale for mammalian species groups having similar vagility and developed metrics that reflect realistic species movement dynamics. We identified six home range area domains; three quarters of 102 species clustered in the three...

Effectiveness of Earthen Return Ramps in Reducing Big Game Highway Mortality in Utah

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Conventional wisdom and highway practice across many states seemed to suggest that high (~2.4 m) ‘deer-proof’ fencing, coupled with underpasses are the mitigation of choice to prevent deer (and other ungulate) mortalities on U.S. highways. Our observations here in Utah and those elsewhere in the U.S. strongly suggested that few, if any, so called ‘deer-proof’ fences totally eliminated deer from accessing the Right-of Way (ROW) on fenced roads. In Sardine Canyon (US 91) in northern Utah, more than 50 deer were killed in one year on the road in a short section (MP 6.0- MP10) after the road was widened and fenced. This suggested to us that highway mitigation aimed at reducing deer-vehicle collisions needed to take into consideration measures that allowed deer to readily exit the highway ROW. We conducted a two-year study (October 1997- November 1999) to examine the effectiveness of earthen escape ramps in allowing deer to escape the highway ROW. We compared their performance with...

Assessment of costs associated with deer–vehicle collisions: human death and injury, vehicle damage, and deer loss

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Collisions between large vertebrates and vehicles along roadways are an increasing concern, not only because of ecological consequences, but also because of associated economic and social costs. We used a large-scale, long-term data set comprising several databases from Utah to summarize and analyze these costs. The overall cost for 13,020 collisions from 1996 to 2001 in Utah was approximately $45,175,454, resulting in an estimated average per year cost of about $7,529,242 and a mean collision cost of $3,470. These figures include human fatality costs of $24 million (53% of total costs); vehicle damage costs of $18 million (39%); loss of deer, valued at $2.7 million (6%); and human injury costs of $1 million (2%). Cost-benefit analyses have shown that mitigation efforts, which are prioritized based on road-kill data, can produce positive net economic gains and also increase driver safety.

A Summary of the 2006 Linking Conservation and Transportation Workshops

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

To improve the linkage between conservation and transportation planning, emphasize the use of information, tools and methods that can be shared between the transportation, resource and regulatory agencies.

Simulation-Optimization Framework to Support Sustainable Watershed Development by Mimicking the Pre-Development Flow Regime

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A new approach is presented to achieve a more aggressive sustainability objective for designing transportation infrastructure and land use planning: to design BMPs to continuously mimic the natural flow regime and ensure that ecosystems downstream of development would not be adversely affected.

As the land uses are changed for development of urban areas and transportation infrastructure, ecosystems in receiving water bodies are significantly affected by the changes in duration, peak, and minimum flows. Though Best Management Practices (BMPs) are typically designed to not exceed some peak flow during a design storm and perhaps maintain a minimum flow at low-flow periods, downstream conditions are altered, potentially harming ecosystems. A new approach is presented to achieve a more aggressive sustainability objective: to design BMPs to continuously mimic the natural flow regime and ensure that ecosystems downstream of development would not be adversely affected. This objective...

Relating Vehicle-Wildlife Crash Rates to Roadway Improvements

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Animal-Vehicle Crashes are a growing trend in America, and Wyoming in particular. The focus of this research effort is to determine the effect of road reconstruction on the number of animal-vehicle crashes using changes in the reported animal-vehicle crash rates. Using GIS tools, the entire Wyoming highway system was analyzed using 10 years of reported crash data to determine both the frequency and crash rate of animal-vehicle crashes on each roadway segment. Seven reconstruction projects were selected for the study. Statistical analyses were performed with a focus on crash rates. The seven sections were analyzed as an aggregate data set, and it was determined that wild animal-vehicle crash rates experienced increases following reconstruction. During this same period, those crash rates not associated with animal-vehicle crashes, as well as the overall crash rate, were generally observed to decrease. An analysis of changes in roadway design attributes was performed, and the...

Road-Crossing Structures for Amphibians and Reptiles: Informing Design through Behavioral Analysis

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Seasonal movements are fundamental to the life cycles of many species of amphibians and reptiles. These patterns of migration can be compromised by the presence of roads. Roads negatively impact many amphibian and reptile populations in various ways, such as obstructing movement, fragmenting and degrading habitats and causing increased mortality through vehicular contact. Road crossing structures provide one possible way to mitigate the negative effects of roads and facilitate safe passage for these organisms. However, if crossing structures are to be effective, animals must be willing to use them. Through a series of behavioral choice experiments, we examined whether certain aspects of structural design might influence animal preferences for particular crossing structures. We tested four qualities of possible under-road crossing structures: aperture size, substrate material, length, and light availability. For these quali¬ties, we evaluated the responses of individuals from...

Riparian Restoration Plan for Stormwater Flow Control Management

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

WSDOT is proposing riparian restoration as an alternative to the construction of large stormwater detention facilities for the State Route 167 Extension Project.

WSDOT is proposing riparian restoration as an alternative to the construction of large stormwater detention facilities for the State Route 167 Extension Project. Buildings, roads, culverts, and other infrastructure will be removed and the land use will be converted back to a riparian forest. Within the 189 acres proposed for riparian restoration: approximately 30 acres of existing impervious surface will be removed; 63 acres of existing wetlands will be restored; 19 stream crossings will be removed or improved; fill materials in the floodplain will be removed; 13,000 feet of stream channel will be protected; 9,350 feet of stream channel will be created; and the area will be replanted with native vegetation.

The RRP is expected to prevent property damage caused from flooding by removing buildings, roads,...

Linking Transportation and Conservation: How the State Wildlife Action Plans can Help Protect Wildlife from Road Development

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

We reviewed all 51 State Wildlife Action Plans to glean a set of cross-cutting recommendations for future collaboration between wildlife and transportation agencies.

As of October 1, 2005, every state wildlife agency, in conjunction with numerous partners, completed a comprehensive state wildlife action plan. Each plan is unique, but all plans were required to identify 1) declining species, 2) key habitats, 3) threats to those species and habitats and 4) actions to prevent further species decline. We reviewed the plans from all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine the extent to which the plans identify and address transportation planning and development impacts. To do this we searched every plan for references to roads, transportation, transportation agencies, vehicles, and highways. From these searches we created a compilation of threat and action references and categorized each reference to identify common issues and strategies among the plans.

We...

Citizen Monitoring Along Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Interstate 90 over the Cascades is significant barrier to over 250 species of wildlife, including cougar, elk, deer, mustelids (otters, fishers, badgers, etc.), amphibians and reptiles. In the vicinity of Snoqualmie Pass, urban development to the west and agriculture and resort development on the east has shrunk the forest connecting north and south Cascades to less than 64.6 kilometers wide.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is proposing to expand a 24.15-kilometer stretch of Interstate 90 just east of Snoqualmie Pass through a particularly critical zone for north-south wildlife corridors. These corridors have been identified through numerous studies, and the state has made ecological connectivity a project goal, along with increasing capacity, straightening curves, and repaving. A preferred alternative design for this project was chosen in summer 2006 that includes numerous high quality crossing structures, and was endorsed by the I-90 Wildlife...

Wildlife Connectivity Across Utah’s Highways

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Utah Department of Transportation sponsored a workshop to identify major sections of Utah’s highways that disrupt wildlife connectivity. This workshop was attended by representatives from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and several private consulting and conservation groups.

During the workshop, and subsequently in some of the UDWR offices, 64 separate connectivity zones were identified. These were prioritized based on professional opinions and experience of biologists who were familiar with the linkage areas. From this, it was estimated that 222 miles of Utah’s roads and freeways cross through critically important connectivity zones, 287 miles of roads cross through highly important zones, and 754 miles cross through moderate priority areas.

Examples of regional connectivity maps and tabulated descriptions are in the Appendix.

Behavioral Responses of White-tailed Deer to Vehicle Mounted Sound-Producing Devices

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Deer-vehicle collisions are on the rise and are a costly side-effect of increasing deer populations and expanding transportation systems. We evaluated the efficacy of sound as a deterrent for reducing deer-vehicle collisions by observing the behavioral response of captive and free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to 5 pure-tone sound treatments: 0.28 kHz, 1 kHz, 8 kHz, 15 kHz, and 28 kHz. We conducted preliminary trials with semi-tame deer at the University of Georgia Captive Deer Research Facility. We exposed 8 deer in a 0.25-ha outside paddock and 5 deer in individual stalls (2.7 m x 4.8 m) to the various treatments at >70 dB Sound Pressure Level. We recorded 406 observations and determined that the behavior of captive deer did not change when presented with any of the 5 pure-tone sound treatments. We also conducted field trials at Berry College Wildlife Refuge, Georgia and gathered 319 behavioral observations of free-ranging deer relative to a moving...

Justifying Environmental Stewardship: Oregon Department of Transportation’s Wildlife Collision Prevention Plan Case Study

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Although there is widespread knowledge of the effects of roads on wildlife populations and driver safety, many transportation departments are reluctant to expend state or federal funds to research and address wildlife movement problems on their highways. For many years, Oregon lacked direction on this issue from natural resource, regulatory, and highway agencies. All groups were at the proverbial standstill for years: the natural resources and regulatory agencies urged ODOT to address the problem of highways as wildlife movement barriers, and ODOT sought guidance from natural resources and regulatory agencies to define the scope of the problem. Additionally, ODOT faced internal resistance to collecting baseline information because of the perception that it was another unfunded environ¬mental mandate. Before the ODOT Geo-Environmental Section proposed a statewide mitigation program for wildlife movement and transportation conflicts, it was necessary to obtain direct support...

Is Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) an Effective Tool to Conserve Biodiversity Against Transport Infrastructure Development?

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The European Union is at the threshold of a new development period. Hungary as a Member State of the EU was given an opportunity to frame its comprehensive development programs for the next seven years (2007-2013). One of these programs is the Transport Operative Program, which focuses on large-scale, large-volume national trans¬port infrastructure developments including road, air, inland water, rail, and combined transport. The Program cover a defined period, however, it will assign the direction of developments for a longer time and foreshadow the vision of the whole transport system in future.

Under the related EU legislation a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) must be accomplished for these kinds of programs. SEA is a specific procedure to identify and control environmentally harmful processes at the earliest and highest level of planning. SEA covers all fields of environmental issues including wildlife conservation and biodiversity maintenance.

In the...

Regulatory Compliance and Ecological Performance of Mitigation Wetlands in an Agricultural Landscape

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The success of wetland mitigation projects nationwide is typically assessed by comparing the total number of wetland mitigation acres attained to the total number of mitigation acres required by Section 404 permits. In the absence of performance measurements on mitigation wetlands, the success of compensatory mitigation in replacing the ecological values of impacted wetlands is increasingly questioned by wetland scientists. This study focuses on evaluating regulatory compliance and ecological performance of mitigation wetlands in Iowa. Regulatory compliance was determined by comparing delineated wetland areas to permitted losses and by evaluating completeness of permit conditions at 24 randomly selected Iowa Department of Transportation wetland mitigation sites. In a separate study, intensive biological inventories were used to evaluate ecological performance at 12 mitigation and three reference wetlands. Species richness and abundance data were collected on algae, protozoa,...

Limitations to Wildlife Habitat Connectivity in Urban Areas

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) conducted an evaluation of existing wildlife habitat and movement corridors within southeast Portland, where a new section of highway (the Sunrise Corridor) is proposed. The purpose was to develop a comprehensive strategy to preserve and enhance connections for wildlife passage potentially impacted by the Sunrise Corridor project. The evaluation illustrates limitations to urban wildlife protection that are not typically considered. The proposed alignment and alternatives for Sunrise Corridor project are located in an area that is rapidly growing with urban development but still retains some relatively large natural habitat areas. According to local naturalists, wildlife use of both areas is still fairly high within the context of the urban surroundings. We identified key wildlife movement corridors between the remaining large habitat patches as well as existing and potential barriers to wildlife passage. Larger mammals (e.g., coyote...

Juvenile Salmon Passage in Sloped-Baffled Culverts

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The connectivity of river drainages has been decreased by the installation of roadway culverts, particularly for the salmonids of the Pacific Northwest. Thousands of culverts within the State of Washington have been designated by the state DOT as fish passage barriers. Though it is well known that the anadromous salmon travel upstream to spawn, recent evidence suggests that juvenile salmon also travel upstream to seek preferred habitats for feeding, which may ultimately improve their survival at sea. Retrofitting culverts is an economical solution that has been initially implemented to improve adult salmon passage. Baffles increase water depth for low flow conditions and reduce velocities for higher flowrates. To determine the effect of baffles on upstream passage of juveniles, sloped-baffles were studied at a culvert test bed near Tenino, Washington. Using an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV), 3-D velocity fields were collected in a full-sized 12.2 m (40’) long, 1.8 m (6’)...

Impacts of Ferry Terminals on Juvenile Salmon Movement along Puget Sound Shorelines

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

This study was sponsored by the Washington State Department of Transportation and conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.

This study used both standardized surveys and innovative fish tagging and tracking technologies to address whether WSF terminals alter the behavior of migrating juvenile salmon, and if so, which attributes mediate abundance patterns or behavioral changes. Results showed that juvenile salmon were observed most frequently adjacent to ferry terminals, but were also observed far from and underneath the terminals. In some situations, juvenile salmon aggregated near the edge of the ferry terminal OWS. Variations in habitat, as mediated by tidal stage (affecting current magnitude and direction, light under structures, water level) and time of day (light level, sun angle, cloud cover), likely affect salmonid movement. Juvenile chum were observed to remain on the light side of a relatively sharp light-dark...

The Establishment Success of native Versus Non-Native Herbaceous Seed Mixes on a Revegetated Roadside in Central Texas

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Revegetation is an essential component of roadside and building site construction and improvement. In the southern United States non-native grass species are frequently included in revegetation seed mixes used by highway authorities. Non-native species are frequently selected for aggressive growth characteristics, however these same traits also render them potentially invasive, and subsequently hazardous to, adjacent plant communities. Although the use of pure native seed mixes have been rejected in the past due to perceived inferior establishment characteristics, there have been few comparative quantitative field studies that justify this belief. The establishment characteristics of three seed mixes: one containing non-native species and two with native grass and forb species only, were compared in a randomized-block design along a Texas roadside following spring and summer sowing. After 60 days following the spring sowing, the two native-only seed mixes demonstrated 180%...

A Multi-Scale and Context Sensitive State-Wide Environmental Mitigation Planning Tool for Transportation Projects in California

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The University of California Information Center for the Environment (ICE) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) are developing a GIS-based analytical framework to improve the effectiveness of biological mitigation throughout California. Goals include incorporating the best available sets of mapped natural resource data into the early project planning and preliminary environmental assessments for single and multiple projects. Incorporation of these data will facilitate early and more strategic identification of mitigation requirements and op¬portunities, for both single-project and regional mitigation efforts.

The cost of delays and over-runs due to late and fragmented project-by-project environmental planning and mitigation in California is estimated at $75 million per year. Developing systematic GIS-based decision-support tools to identify important species and habitats, both those impacted directly by Caltrans activities and those that might contribute...

Bats and Bridges: promoting Species Conservation through Early Multi-Agency Planning

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this process is to promote species conservation and environmental enhancements for the OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program. Bat habitat enhancements applied in the field throughout the state will be presented as an example of these efforts.

The OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program is part of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s 10-year, $3 billion Oregon Transportation Investment Act program. OTIA funds will repair or replace hundreds of bridges, pave and maintain city and county roads, improve and expand interchanges, add new capacity to Oregon’s highway system, and remove freight bottlenecks statewide. About 17 family-wage jobs are sustained for every $1 million spent on trans¬portation construction in Oregon. Each year during the OTIA program, construction projects will sustain about 5,000 family-wage jobs.

Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners (OBDP) is a private-sector firm that has contracted with the Oregon Department of Transportation...

Road Effects on a Population of Copperhead Snakes in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, K.Y.

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

With increasing human development encroaching on wild areas, an understanding of the interactions of wildlife in their natural surroundings is becoming imperative. Over the past few decades, a concern for the conserva¬tion of herpetofauna throughout the world has become prevalent. Lack of information on reptiles and amphibians have raised many questions on the effects of roads on their populations. In this study, snake movements on roads in a mostly natural area were examined. Individuals of the copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) were studied in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) in Kentucky. LBL is a 170,000-acre federally protected area between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in Western Kentucky and Tennessee. On a typical night of road cruising, over 60 percent of the snakes captured are copperheads in this area. Over two hundred individual copperheads, both alive and dead, were observed during this study from April 2002 through October 2003....

Wildlife Use of Open and Decommissioned Roads on the Clearwater National Forest, Idaho