Mending the divide in wildlife habitat

A look at our region's landscape quickly reveals that humans are not the only ones needing to move from one point to another. Animals move along pathways for reasons such as searching for food, finding a mate, and locating shelter depending on the seasons.

Roads may link human populations to each other and places we value, while dividing wildlife. Large highways such as Interstate 90 in Washington’s central Cascades pose a major barrier for a wide range of animals from elk to salamanders. Smaller roads such as those on our public lands can fragment habitat or degrade waterways.

Wildlife habitat, movement, and overall health as affected by roads are key concerns to Conservation Northwest's work. In our region, the recently passed Legacy Roads Act commits major funding to maintain and repair roads and trails, decommission unnecessary roads, improve fish passage, and restore watersheds–all with direct positive effects for wildlife–on national forest lands.

What are we doing to address this issue on our Northwest lands?

• Working with the WA State Department of Transportation to analyze the problem statewide, to become proactive rather than reactive to wildlife connectivity.  WA DOT initiated a discussion in late 2007 to form a group dedicated to looking at wildlife connectivity statewide and developing a plan. Since then the Washington Wildlife Connectivity Working Group formed, co-led by the Washington Department of Wildlife and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This effort is linked the regional policy work of the Western Governor's Association to address the need for improving wildlife corridors and transportation systems in light of climate change. We are bringing our experience to the table in both habitat protection and transportation planning to ensure success.
• We are advocating for better project highway planning to make our highways safer for people and wildlife on specific projects. Conservation Northwest serves on the steering committee for the I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition, working for high quality wildlife passages in the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project. We are on the advisory group for the King County planning of the Novelty Hill road project that plans to analyze wildlife crossing issues on this segment of roadway. We also helped slow funding and construction of the Cross-Base Highway, which if built it would destroy one of the last and best remaining oak woodland prairie in Washington.
• Weighing in with analysis on new roads and temporary roads built for vegetation management on national forests. All roads are not the same. Conservation Northwest's staff forester Derek Churchill has prepared a summary document for conservation organizations and agencies to use in discussing and analyzing the trade-offs with construction of temporary roads.
• Using creative partnerships and tools on our public lands to restore roads that pose problems for wildlife and habitat. In the fall of 2007, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Wenatchee-Okanogan National Forest to coordinate efforts to address priority restoration projects, including roads. This partnership allows us to bring private dollars and volunteer time to leverage public dollars to make a difference on the ground as soon as possible. Thanks to great volunteers and grants from The Mountaineers Foundation and Patagonia we are already underway with projects to restore 40 acres of floodplain along the Cooper and Cle Elum Rivers in the Cle Elum Ranger District; restore several miles of roadway in the Wenatchee River Wild and Scenic area; and improve conditions in the critical habitat in the I-90 corridor.
• Supporting and engaging with others to bring greater funding to our public lands to address the backlog of maintenance costs on our road system. Senator Maria Cantwell has been a leader in asking tough questions of the Forest Service on management of the road system on national forest lands. Congressman Norm Dicks led an effort to create a Legacy Roads fund in the 2008 Appropriations Bill that provided $39.4 million for watershed restoration through road restoration on national forest lands. National forests in Washington and Oregon will receive $8.4 million for maintaining and repairing roads and trails, decommissioning unnecessary roads, improving fish passage, and repairing recent storm damage. To learn more about the breakdown of these funds click here.
• Learning from others throughout the country and around the world. The community of people and the list of places that are working on road ecology is constantly growing. We look forward to welcoming many in this community to the Northwest from June 2-4, 2008, at the upcoming Road Ecology Field Course hosted by the Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project at Snoqualmie Pass. This conference will feature the topic of wildlife crossings. Wildlife crossing structures are a safe way for animals to move across, over, or under the highway. Signs and interactive signs help alert people to wildlife presence. Crossings include culverts, box culverts, multiplate arches, open-span bridges, bridge extensions, and wildlife overpasses. Banff National Park in Canada features a keen example of a system of these crossings, which in combination have reduced roadkills in the park by 80 percent.

Resources

Defenders of Wildlife Habitat and Highways Campaign Great resource for national examples and policies impacting roads and wildlife

WA Dept. of Ecology's Resource Page on Nonpoint Pollution from Forest Practices.  Also, highlights their Watershed Initiative and call to action to restore roads on our national forests.

Montana State University: Western Transportation Institute Videos of wildlife using under-highway crossings in Banff National Park

I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition, Resources Page Many more links to direct you to resources on the issue

US Department of Transportation Critter Crossings site  Stories from around the country on how to address this issue in your own area with solutions ranging from big (wildlife bridges) to small (caution signs for motorists)