safetea-lu: wildlife and highways sandra l. jacobson wildlife biologist usda forest service pacific...
TRANSCRIPT
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