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Dynamic Knowledge and Static InfrastructureWildlife Monitoring and Mitigation in British Columbia
Leonard Sielecki, M.Sc., R.P.Bio, MCIPBritish Columbia Ministry of Transportation
Highway 3 Science WorkshopFernie, British Columbia
January 29, 2008 Copyright © 2008 - All Rights Reserved
British Columbia Highway System
Total System = 84,225 Total Lane Km
BC Highway Infrastructure
Northern Roads: less than 5,000 vehicles per dayInterior Roads: over 30,000 vehicles per dayCommuter Routes: over 100,000 vehicles per day
BCMoT Environmental Staff
BCMoT Environmental StaffHeadquarters (Victoria)
Regional Offices (Kamloops, Prince George, Vancouver)
Major Projects• Sea-to-Sky (Highway 99)• Kicking Horse (Highway 1)• Gateway Program
– Port Mann / Highway 1– South Fraser Perimeter Road– Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange
• William R. Bennett Bridge
Integrated ApproachIntegrated approach to environmental issues:• Regulatory agencies
– Environment Canada, DFO, BCMoE, etc.• Stakeholders
– First Nations, Municipalities, BC Hydro, etc.• Non-government organizations (NGO’s)
– Conservation Societies, Streamkeepers, etc.• Environmental specialists
– Wildlife – Fisheries– Vegetation
Guiding InstrumentsFederal and Provincial Legislation• Canadian Environmental Assessment Act• British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act
Ministry Documents• Highway Environmental Assessment Process (HEAP)• Best Management Practices (BMP’s)
Scoping and Pathway Analysis• Valued Ecosystem Components (VECS) assessment
Constraints• Design Standards• Operational Lifespan of Infrastructure• Safety• Legal• Operational• Financial• Land Use• Environmental• Knowledge Shortfalls• Accountability
British Columbia Terrestrial Mammals
Photo Credits: Bison – Ron Wiebe, BCMoT (copyright); Badger - Government of British Columbia (copyright); Deer, Bear and Moose – BC Parks (copyright); Caribou – US Fish and Wildlife Service; Fox – Tourism BC; Sheep – Leonard Sielecki (copyright); All Others - Tom Hall (copyright)
Bigger than you think!
Public Safety – Priority One
BCMoT Wildlife Mitigation History1950’s
Wildlife mitigation began with rattlesnake underpasses in the Okanagan.
1970’s Comprehensive provincial wildlife accident mortality reporting began with the Wildlife Accident Reporting System (WARS).
1980’sDesign and construction of wildlife exclusion systems for large ungulates began with the Coquihalla Highway and the Okanagan Connector.
2000’sLarge scale construction of small mammal underpasses began with the Vancouver Island Inland Highway.
Deer-Vehicle Collision Comparisons
1.2957.61Kaleden - Drought HillHighway 97
0.75124.01Williams Lake - QuesnelHighway 97
0.8272.73Dawson Creek - Fort St JohnHighway 97
1.2480.45Elko - Alberta BorderHighway 3
1.3571.94Yahk - CranbrookHighway 3
1.3755.23Cranbrook - ElkoHighway 3
3.8142Alberta Border
Crowsnest Pass*Highway 3
Deer Collisions/km/year
Distance (km)Highway DescriptionHighway
*Source: Canadian Geographic, 2007
Mitigation Measures• Public information
– Warning signs• Avoid sensitive environments• Relocate highway infrastructure• Redesign
– Narrower footprints– Bridges and culverts– Differential widening– Right-of-way vegetation planning
• Wildlife mitigation infrastructure– Wildlife exclusion fencing– Passage structures
Wildlife Warning Sign Inventory
Wildlife Exclusion Systems
OkanaganConnector
• Fencing and structures designed for moose and deer
• Total installation distance: 82 km
Photo Credit: Moose - BC Parks (copyright); Highway 97C - BC Ministry of Transportation (copyright)
Species Specific Wildlife Exclusion Fencing
One-way Gates
Ungulate Guards
Evolving Underpass Designs
Photo Credits: BC Ministry of Transportation
Deer Overpass(Utah)
Ecoduct Concepts(Holland)
Trepanier Wildlife Overpass
First Wildlife Overpass in Canada
Natural Adaptation
Typical Infrastructure Cycle Stages
• Research and development• Design• Construction• Maintenance• Rehabilitation• Decommissioning• Replacement
Infrastructure Lifespans
• Bridges – 75 years• Concrete roads – 25 to 30 years• Asphalt roads – 12 to 20 years• Gravel roads – 5 to 12 years• Culverts – 12 to 15 years
Infrastructure Modification Opportunity Windows
Bridges and Pavement• Catastrophic event (earthquake, flood, etc.)• Accelerated deterioration (changes in traffic
volume and make-up)• Design failure• Materials failure• Major rehabilitation• End of normal operational lifespan
Highway 3 - Potential Future Projects
Highway 3 - Elko Bluffs
Elko Bluffs
Pavement Condition: Hot-In-Place Resurface proposed 2011/12
Highway 3 - Loop Bridge
Sparwood Rabbit RunPreliminary Site Investigation
Constraints:• Railroad• Creek• Climate• Tough terrain
Design Challenges • Cost and cost-effectiveness• Inadequate design
– Seasonal– Size of animal species– Animal lifecycle– Terrain
• Bad design– Unsafe– Ineffective
• Unproven design
Unexpected Design Defects
Old Design
Do Not Use
Knowledge Transfer
Knowledge Acquisition Processes
Knowledge Transfer Lag
Dynamic Knowledge vs. Static Infrastructure
Context of Information Needs• Substantiated by good research.• Applicable to wildlife habitat/highway right-of-
way interface.• Implementable with industry standard
technology and materials.• Sensitive to operational environment.• Long term, low maintenance, cost effective
solutions. • Sensitive to needs and demands of motoring
public and taxpayers.
Leonard E. SieleckiEnvironmental Issues AnalystBritish Columbia Ministry of Transportation4B - 940 Blanshard StreetPO Box 9850 STN PROV GOVTVictoria BC V8W 9T5
Telephone: (250) 356-2255E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]
Contact Information