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Research Programs Evaluation of Wildlife Crossing Structures And EVALUATION OF WILDLIFE CROSSING STRUCTURES AND FENCING ON US HIGHWAY 93 EVARO TO POLSON PHASE I: PRECONSTRUCTION DATA COLLECTION AND FINALIZATION OF EVALUATION PLAN FHWA/MT-06-008/1744-1 Final Report prepared for THE STATE OF MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION in cooperation with THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION January 2007 prepared by Amanda R. Hardy Julie Fuller Marcel P. Huijser Angela Kociolek Meredith Evans Western Transportation Institute Montana State University RESEARCH PROGRAMS You are free to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work; make derivative works; make commercial use of the work under the condition that you give the original author and sponsor credit. For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from the sponsor. Your fair use and other rights are in no way affected by the above. Evaluation of Wildlife Crossing Structures and Fencing on US Highway 93 Evaro to Polson Phase I: Preconstruction Data Collection and Finalization of Evaluation Plan Final Report by Amanda R. Hardy, MSc., Julie Fuller, MSc., and Marcel P. Huijser, PhD Research Ecologists and Angela Kociolek, MSc. and Meredith Evans, MSc. Research Associates Western Transportation Institute College of Engineering Montana State University A report prepared for the Montana Department of Transportation 2701 Prospect Drive, Helena, Montana December 2006 US 93 Wildlife Mitigation Preconstruction Synthesis Final Report 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. FHWA/MT-06-008/1744-1 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Evaluation of Wildlife Crossing Structures and Fencing on US Highway 93 Evaro to Polson November 2006 Phase I: Preconstruction Data Collection and Finalization of Evaluation Plan 6. Performing Organization Code Final Report 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report Hardy, A.R., J.Fuller, M. P. Huijser, A. Kociolek, M. Evans No. 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (trais) Western Transportation Institute - Montana State University (WTI) 11. Contract or Grant No. P.O. Box 174250 1744 Bozeman, MT 59717-4250 Tel: 406-994-6114 Fax: (406) 994-1697 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Research Programs Montana Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Final Report 2701 Prospect Avenue and Washington, D.C. 20590 Helena, MT 59620 June 2002 – April 2006 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 5401 15. Supplementary Notes Research performed in cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation and the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. This report can be found at http://www.mdt.mt.gov/research/projects/env/wildlife_crossing.shtml. 16. Abstract The US 93 reconstruction project on the Flathead Indian Reservation in northwest Montana represents one of the most extensive wildlife-sensitive highway design efforts to occur in the continental United States. The reconstruction will include installations of 42 fish and wildlife crossing structures and approximately 15 miles (24 km) of wildlife exclusion fencing for a total investment of over $9 million. This report documents the success of using a context-sensitive approach to collaboratively redesign a rural highway within a multiple use landscape that accommodates the needs and concerns of different institutions, cultures and priorities. Further, this report introduces baseline field data collection methods and results that are being used to evaluate how the wildlife crossing structures and wildlife fencing affect deer- and bear-vehicle collisions and movements in a multiple-use rural landscape. The preconstruction data summarized here, and in combination with complementary post-construction data, will address the following goals of the evaluation study: 1) determine what effect US 93 wildlife crossing structures and fencing have on the frequency of animal-vehicle collisions and successful animal highway crossings; 2) document the design decision-making processes and lessons learned as a “case study”; and 3) identify best management practices and further research. These issues are addressed via a literature review of important considerations related to locating, designing, and evaluating the effectiveness of wildlife crossings and exclusion fencing; a case study and project history; summary and synthesis of field data collection efforts; overview of other relevant and repeatable field studies; and a discussion about the measures of effectiveness and post-construction data collection recommendations. The ultimate value of the information in this report will be realized when the reconstruction is complete and post-construction field data is collected to comparatively assess the effect of the wildlife mitigation on the parameters of interest identified in the goals. Perhaps one of the most important insights gained from the preconstruction research is that, due to the myriad sources of unquantifiable variation in the environment, many years of monitoring are necessary to make valid inferences. Given the paucity of long-term, before-after field studies assessing the effects of wildlife exclusion fencing and crossing structures on wildlife and driver safety, the US 93 wildlife mitigation evaluation, when completed, will provide useful results, lessons learned, and best management practices to guide other wildlife mitigation efforts in the future. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Animal-vehicle collision, habitat connectivity, wildlife crossing structures, Unrestricted. This document is available through the wildlife fencing, mitigation, road-kill, rural transportation, safety, Wildlife National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 21161 19. Security Classification (of this report) 20. Security Classification (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 210 Western Transportation Institute Page ii US 93 Wildlife Mitigation Preconstruction Synthesis Final Report Conversion Chart CONVERSION CHART FHWA (2004). Western Transportation Institute Page iii US 93 Wildlife Mitigation Preconstruction Synthesis Final Report Disclaimer DISCLAIMER This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Montana Department of Transportation and the United States Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The State of Montana and the United States Government assume no liability of its contents or use thereof. The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Montana Department of Transportation or the United States Department of Transportation. The State of Montana and the United States Government do not endorse products of manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear herein only because they are considered essential to the object of this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. ALTERNATIVE FORMAT STATEMENT MDT attempts to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person participating in any service, program, or activity of the Department. Alternative accessible formats of this information will be provided upon request. For further information, call (406) 444-7693, TTY (800) 335-7592, or Montana Relay at 711. Western Transportation Institute Page iv US 93 Wildlife Mitigation Preconstruction Synthesis Final Report Acknowledgments ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Funding for this project was provided by the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Environmental Streamlining program with matching contributions provided by Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). The authors, from the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University (WTI), would like to thank Mike Duman, Dale Paulson and Paul Garrett of FHWA for their support as well as MDT personnel Pat Basting, Jim Currie, Loran Frazier, Steve Heidner, Pierre Jomini, Duane Kailey, Scott Keller, Miki Lloyd, Joel Marshik (retired), Steve Miller, Doug Moeller, Jim Nallick and Sue Sillick for their support. The authors appreciate the efforts of the MDT Evaro, Ravalli, and Ronan Maintenance Districts that provided local expertise and assistance in the field. Dale Becker, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Wildlife Biologist, provided guidance and permits to conduct field research on the Flathead Reservation. In addition, CSKT Tribal Fisheries Biologist Les Everts provided helpful information and permits regarding aquatic resource issues. This project would not have been possible with out the blessing of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Tribal Council. The Research Oversight Committee for this project, comprised of Dr. Paul Garrett of FHWA, Sue Sillick and Pat Basting of MDT, Dale Becker of CSKT, and Dr. Anthony Clevenger of WTI, was critical to the establishment of the monitoring plan’s research questions, focus, and overall direction. The US 93 Technical Design Committee, including CSKT, MDT, FHWA representatives; and consultants Skillings-Connolly, Inc.; Jones and Jones Architects and Landscape Architects; and Herrera Environmental Consultants, provided useful insights regarding the evolution and history of the US 93 reconstruction efforts. Garcia and Associates’ wildlife biologist Graham Neale assisted WTI with piloting the field methods, and Dr. John Borkowski
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