WTI

Developing a Regional Ecosystem Framework for Terrestrial and Aquatic Resources along the I-70 Corridor, Colorado

Primary Investigator Contact Information

External Project Contact(s)

Report(s)

There are no reports associated with this project.

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to assist the Center for Native Ecosystems (CNE) with developing a wildlife mortality and habitat connectivity monitoring and evaluation program, and developing a mitigation plan for the I-70 Corridor in Colorado from Evergreen to Glenwood Springs in portions of the Clear creek, Blue River and Gore Creek Watersheds.

Project Abstract

To relieve congestion along the I-70 Corridor, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) initiated a planning process for increasing the capacity of the I-70 corridor and released a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) in 2005. CDOT has been working to reduce congestion while also working with local communities and stakeholders to address their needs and discuss transportation alternatives. One of the environmental issues identified in the PEIS is that the I-70 Corridor presents a major barrier to the movement of wildlife, including mountain lion, moose, coyote, deer, bear, elk, Canada lynx, and wolf. The Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be complete in late 2008, with a Record of Decision in late 2009. CDOT is calling for additional community input into the final phases of the decision making process. To support this process, WTI, CDOT, Center for Native Ecosystems (CNE) (Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project is now merged with CNE), the Colorado Watershed Assembly (CWA), and Colorado State University are developing a Regional Ecosystem Framework (REF) for the I-70 Corridor (CO) from Denver to Glenwood Springs in portions of the Clear Creek, Blue River, and Gore Creek Watersheds. This effort is designed to field test the principles of “Eco-logical,” a collaborative infrastructure planning approach developed by federal agencies including FHWA, EPA, BLM, USFWS, NPS, and others. Eco-logical encourages federal, state, tribal and local partners to integrate plans across agency boundaries, and endorses ecosystem-based mitigation - an innovative method of mitigating infrastructure impacts that cannot be avoided. WTI is responsible for assisting CNE with developing a wildlife mortality and habitat connectivity monitoring and evaluation program, and developing a mitigation plan for the I-70 Corridor in Colorado from Evergreen to Glenwood Springs in portions of the Clear creek, Blue River and Gore Creek Watersheds. This effort is jointly sponsored by CNE and the University Transportation Center (UTC) program (part of the Research and Innovative Technologies Administration of the USDOT). This project represents the CNE portion of the overall effort.

Task Descriptions

1. Collect Terrestrial Data
   1. Researchers will select three high priority Linkage Interference zones, and identify target wildlife species within each zone. Using a variety of monitoring methods, researchers will collect data regarding wildlife road mortality and movements in each zone, and use the data to recommend mitigation measures such as wildlife fencing combined with wildlife crossing structures.
2. Integrate conservation priorities into the transportation planning process
   1. Using the framework established by CDOT, researchers will develop recommendations to integrate I-70 conservation data and priority mitigation measures into the current planning process.
3. Prioritize methods to reduce impacts on ecosystem
   1. Researchers will identify and prioritize various mitigation options, and conduct a feasibility analysis of each. For high priority mitigation options, researchers will also develop performance measures to evaluate their effectiveness.

Milestones, Dates, Schedule

Student Involvement

False

Relationship to Other Research Projects

False

Technology Transfer Activities

True

Transportation Research Board Keywords

Linkage Interference Zones, Eco-logical, Regional Ecosystem Framework, Road Ecology, habitat connectivity

Partners

Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Center for Native Ecosystems (CNE) (Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project is now merged with CNE),, the Colorado Watershed Assembly (CWA), Colorado State University, Research and Innovative Technologies Administration