Sign ProjectSign Project

By Raeth J. MorganBy Raeth J. Morgan

GoalsGoals

• Inventory and asses the condition of the Refuge’s: Boundary, the Hunt Program signs and any remaining directional signage.

• To repair, replace and bring to standard all negligible signs.

• To input GPS coordinates for all sign locations for maintenance purposes.

Why is this project important?Why is this project important?

• Field station managers can be held personally liable for accidents

that result from improper use or care of signs under their jurisdiction. (FWS Sign Manual, 1-6)

• Title 13 considerations (tort claims), field stations should be prepared to provide information from their sign inventories to the Regional and Washington offices if requested to do so. (FWS Sign Manual, 1-6)

• Each field station must ensure that its signs fulfill their purposes and convey a positive image of the service. (FWS Sign Manual, 1-7)

• In conjunction with the Law Enforcement (LE) objectives to control trespass, Encroachment of neighboring farms, and to provide public safety measures. (FWS Wildlife Refuges Manual, 3671-3671c)

• Without a clear and precise boundary marking system, LE will have trouble enforcing rules, if any discrepancies are noted.

StandardsStandards

• All signs intended to be viewed or read from roads used by the public must conform to placement standards set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).(FWS Sign Manual,2-

13)

• Lateral Clearance: The horizontal distance between a sign and the edge of the traveled way. Signs should never be closer than six feet from the edge of a road shoulder, or twelve feet from the traveled portion of a road with no shoulder.

• Signs closer than thirty feet to the road must be mounted on breakaway supports unless they are protected by guardrails or topographic change.

Standards Continued.Standards Continued.

• Height: The lower edges of signs must be a minimum of five feet above the road level. Pedestrian signs must be at a height of 5’5”

• Spacing: Signs that are placed on public use roads should be at least 100 feet apart to give drivers enough time to read and react safely to one sign before another is presented.

• Boundary spacing: Under ideal conditions, the spacing between boundary signs should be every ¼ mile. In less than ideal conditions or where trespassing is a problem the signs should be placed at more frequent intervals. Also in these areas a single strand of smooth no 9 wire placed along the boundary in heavily wooded areas will also aid in the marking of the boundary. (FWS Wildlife Refuges Manual,

3671c)

Standards ContinuedStandards Continued

• Placement: All boundary signs should be installed on the boundary lines. Currently there are discrepancies between the location of signs that were physically located and the boundaries supplied by GPS generated maps.

• Boundary signs should never be placed under other signs. If another sign is needed, the supplementary sign should be placed below the boundary sign with a 1-inch space between the signs. No more than two signs should be placed on the same post. (FWS Sign Manual, 5-11)

• Corners and entry points should be clearly marked with two signs, one facing each direction.

The projectThe project

• History: After receiving a call stating that someone was hunting in a retrieval zone located at the Oregon straights, Officer Rooker went to investigate. Upon arrival, Officer Rooker did not notice the suspected hunter in the retrieval zone, so he then questioned the individual who reported the sighting. It was concluded that from the view/location of the caller, the individual in question was indeed in the retrieval zone, but when Officer Rooker had entered the location, he came in from the other side of the hunting area and from that location, the individual was not in the retrieval zone. Officer Rooker then contacted me to come to the location with a range finder and record the placement of the signs. I concluded that when the signs were installed they were measured from two different locations. One from the front of the parcel and one from the dike in the rear of the parcel. They both should have been measured from the front of the parcel.

The ProjectThe Project

• History cont’d: Despite the difference in the measuring starting point, The parcels are not a perfect square thus proving the retrieval zone signs were not in a straight line and this prevented Officer Rooker from issuing a valid citation. I corrected this problem by installing more signs (only two signs were required by Refuge Policy) to form a line that can be easily followed.

In the course of his duties, Officer Rooker also noticed a couple of buildings on the Refuge property that were not owned by the Department. Using programs such as Google Earth, Officer Rooker was able to zoom in to view these buildings and he saw that they were indeed on Refuge property, but before he can enforce any action he wanted at least three points of reference to confirm his findings. That’s when he talked to Stacy about the project.

The ProjectThe Project

• History Cont’d: It was determined that I was the best individual for the job due to my experience as a Combat Engineer (one of the duties of a Combat Engineer was the mapping of minefields, using GPS recording devices) and my willingness to do the job.

The ProjectThe Project

• Methodology: Using various modes of transportation, I.E ATV, Motor vehicle and foot patrol. I was to physically verify each sign post and record their location and condition. Upon completion, I was to input the information into the computer and highlight any areas that were in need of additional surveying.

• Tools used: “Rite in the Rain” all weather Journal (with a couple of pencils), Garmin 550t GPS device (with data transfer USB cable), Honda 4 wheeled ATV, Government issued motor vehicle, Government issued computer with Google Earth and Garmin Base Camp map program installed, Aerial maps of the Refuge and a pair of binoculars.

The ProjectThe Project

• Procedures: Using the appropriate mode of transportation I followed the aerial map with the Refuges boundary lines. Upon locating the sign I would then record the sign’s location in the GPS as a waypoint and wrote the waypoint number in my journal and I also noted the type of sign, the location if the sign if it was located on the ground or behind some tall grass, and whether or not the sign needed to be replaced or reposted. I did this for each sign there after.

Sign ConditionsSign Conditions HowHow I judged the conditions of the signs byI judged the conditions of the signs by

• readability of the sign. • Can you see what the

sign type is?• Does it project a

positive image to the public?

Sign ConditionsSign Conditions

• Did the signs have any damage?

• Was the sign post in the correct position?

• Was the sign facing the correct way? Hint this

sign should be facing the other direction

• Was the sign the appropriate sign for the location?

Sign ConditionSign Condition

• And of course, was there a sign on the post?

FindingsFindings

• As of 12/12/2010-I had inventoried a total of 451 sign posts. 11 posts had no signs and only 130 signs were in good condition*. This means that only 29% of the signs were in decent condition. Also by referring to the attached Arial maps, you can see that the spacing does not meet Department standards. (*does not mean they were within standard, just readable)

FindingsFindings

• Encroachment onto Refuge Property-Several acres of refuge property has been taken over by neighboring farms. (maps E1-E5)

Miller Lake- Barn on Refuge PropertyMiller Lake- Barn on Refuge PropertyBlue line represents path traveled. Could not travel to barn due to private property and loose dogs made climbing hill impossible

Miller lake-state line road sideMiller lake-state line road sideBlack line is path driven. Areas belonging to Refuge is behind fence line.

Camp TulelakeCamp TulelakeAreas belonging to Refuge inside farmers fence line.

New survey sticks present stating new fence line

Camp TulelakeCamp TulelakeBlue line represents path walked

Lower Klamath Lake RoadLower Klamath Lake RoadPost observed inside fenced area

FindingsFindings

• Differences between map sources and physical location of posts / lines (map source 1&2)

• Hunters have complained to me on several occasions that the signs were confusing and that the provided hunt maps shows road that are hunter access routes but there are authorized vehicles signs located there. (map Hunt 1)

Newell Grain and County road 111Newell Grain and County road 111

Newell Grain & County Road 111Newell Grain & County Road 111Signs do not match boundary

English ChannelEnglish ChannelHunter access route but Authorized Vehicles sign posted

FindingsFindings

• Several acres that have no markings or fencing. (Maps NS1-NS3)

HWY 97HWY 97No signs but an old fence posts. New survey posts are seen

Area blocked off by farmer-refuge propertyArea blocked off by farmer-refuge propertyCaution electric fence. Refuge signs can be seen inside the fenced area

FindingsFindings

• Several areas with fencing have been deliberately cut to gain access to refuge property prior to posted entrance times and for illegal hunting. (Map H1)

• Farmers have cut down fencing to allow their cattle to graze in areas designated for hunting (can be a problem if someone gets hurt or injures grazing cattle) (map H2)

Hole in fence by 12cHole in fence by 12cEvidence that hunters are driving onto the refuge through this hole

Fence in Sheepy west entranceFence in Sheepy west entranceRecently cut and cattle are grazing in the hunt areas

FindingsFindings

• Areas that are not in use by Refuge activities have become a local garbage dump (several appliances that contain or may of contained Freon have been found) and locals are using these areas for recreational ATV ridding, thus causing damage to the terrain. (map G1)

Garbage pileGarbage pileOne of a couple of areas that is used as a garbage dump. Also this area is used as a ATV ridding area causing damage to the terrain.

RemediesRemedies

• All signs must be removed, replaced and brought to standard.

• Areas around the signs must remain free of vegetation

• Break away points need to be installed• Maps for public use must be redone to avoid

confusion • Directional signs should be made prior to next

hunting season. They should be made so that they can be changed as allocations change, road closures, space blind changes etc..

• Areas that are not marked in any manner should be fenced and / or signs put into place.

• Inventory how many signs are in reserves• Create a map in Arcgis with the different

signs as different layers, this way you can have clutter free maps and only show what information is needed for whatever purposes.

• Incorporate gates into a map that shows which gates are open or closed during hunting season

• Repair holes in fences and fence in locations that are necessary.

• Replace and make stronger anchors supports for signs in the sumps.

Time frame to complete projectTime frame to complete project

• Bring all signs to standard: at least 1 year (some areas require special handling, such as bringing in equipment by hand)

• Repairing fence lines: 6 months-1 year depending on methods, materials, and if to standard.

• Installing new fences: 1 month to 2 years depending on how much area is to be fenced off

• (all time frame is based on my sole work ethic, speed and environmental variables)

ReferencesReferences

• USFWS Sign Manual

• USFWS Wildlife Refuge Manual

The EndThe End

• Thank You