WTI

Highway 3 Transportation Corridor: Wildlife Management and Mitigation Assessment Project - UTC

Primary Investigator Contact Information

External Project Contact(s)

Report(s)

1. Highway 3: Transportation Mitigation for Wildlife and Connectivity
   1. Anthony Clevenger, PhD, Clayton Apps, PhD, Tracy Lee, M Sc, Mike Quinn, PhD, Dale Paton, Dave Poulton, LLB, LLM, Robert Ament, M Sc
   2. 4W2531_Final_Report_Short.pdf
2. HIGHWAY 3: Transportation Mitigation for Wildlife and Connectivity in the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem
   1. Anthony Clevenger, PhD, Clayton Apps, PhD, Tracy Lee, M Sc, Mike Quinn, PhD, Dale Paton, Dave Poulton, LLB, LLM, Robert Ament, M Sc,
   2. 4W2531_Final_Report_Unabridged.pdf

Project Objective

Based on outcomes from the January 2008 AT THE CROSSROADS HIGHWAY 3 TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR workshop, this project will develop a series of short and long-term recommendations for mitigating wildlife movement across the Highway 3 transportation corridor, specific to individual species, local environment, and topography. This information will be provided to the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Alberta Transportation for implementation.

Project Abstract

The Highway 3 transportation corridor bisects the entire Yellowstone to Yukon region and is one of the most significant barriers to wildlife connectivity in the Rocky Mountain Cordillera. The transportation corridor cuts through several narrow valleys that include a number of rapidly expanding communities including, Fernie, BC and the five communities of the Crowsnest Pass in Alberta. Land ownership on either side of the transportation corridor is largely private, and surrounded by Crown land to the north and south. Maintaining connectivity for wildlife through the region and across the Highway 3 transportation corridor requires a four pronged approach: 1) ensure Crown land is managed for the needs of wildlife, 2) secure wildlife movement by planning and managing private and municipal land that intersects with key north-south wildlife corridors (including the securement of private land conservation), 3) identify key movement areas and the mitigation measures required to ensure wildlife move safely across Highway 3, and 4) commitment from transportation agencies to mitigate identified wildlife vehicle collision and movement hotspots. WTI is engaged with partners in a series of transportation related projects to secure north-south wildlife connectivity in this east-west peri-urban transportation corridor. In 2008, WTI co-hosted the At the Crossroads: Highway 3 Transportation Corridor Workshop (www.rockies.ca/crossroads) that brought together leading scientists to identity important north-south wildlife corridors. This project was developed from the workshop’s recommendations.

Task Descriptions

1. Partnerships and outreach
   1. Identify and work with diverse partners for implementing wildlife mitigation recommendations. Conduct outreach through a series of workshops and meetings with Alberta agencies, Alberta conservationists, British Columbia agencies, British Columbia conservationists and key corporations and landowners, including Canadian Pacific Railway and Elk Valley Coal.
2. Final Report
   1. Disseminate final report of synthesis and assessment to conservation partners, agencies, railways and local communities for implementation of recommendations in report.
3. Complete scientific synthesis and transportation assessment report.
   1. Formally synthesize independent scientific data as presented at Highway 3 science workshop. The focus will be on compiling ungulate and carnivore data to 1) identify key wildlife movement zones, 2) rank zones based on conservation importance, 3) identify critical wildlife-vehicle collisions hot spots, and 4) develop mitigation options and cost-benefits for these key stretches. WTI will use data outlined in their recent report to the US Congress to develop measures of effectiveness, and the socio-economic costs of a variety of mitigation options.
4. Develop report outline to review with scientists and agencies
   1. Build upon the synthesized scientific data developed at the January 2008 Highway 3 science workshop and identify outline/procedures for synthesis of scientific information and intended outputs.

Milestones, Dates, Schedule

Student Involvement

False

Relationship to Other Research Projects

False

Technology Transfer Activities

True

Transportation Research Board Keywords

Road ecology, Wildlife, Mitigation

Partners

Miistakis Institute of the Rockies (University of Calgary), Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Canmore, Alberta)