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SAFETEA-LU: Wildlife and Highways

SAFETEA-LU: Wildlife and Highways. Sandra L. Jacobson Wildlife Biologist USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station Redwood Sciences Lab Arcata CA. Loss of Open Space. One of “Four Threats” to National Forest System lands identified by Chief

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SAFETEA-LU: Wildlife and Highways

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  1. SAFETEA-LU: Wildlife and Highways Sandra L. Jacobson Wildlife Biologist USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station Redwood Sciences Lab Arcata CA

  2. Loss of Open Space • One of “Four Threats” to National Forest System lands identified by Chief • Results in wildlife habitat fragmentation Tom Iraci USDA Forest Service

  3. Loss of Open Space • Integration of wildlife issues in transportation planning helps alleviate impacts

  4. Open Space Conservation is Tied to Transportation Planning 3 million people live within 20 miles of the San Bernardino and Angeles National Forests Tom Iraci USDA Forest Service

  5. We Can’t Manage Wildlife Only Within Our Administrative Boundaries Dave Romero, USDA Forest Service, Bitterroot National Forest

  6. Example: Migratory Deer Stakeholders • Public land management agency • State Department of Transportation • Private landowners • Hunters and state wildlife agency Heidi Birkley, Black Hills National Forest

  7. Highways are Permanent Gateways to Public Lands John Romanowski, USDA Forest Service George Wuerthner, USDA Forest Service Mike Delasaux, UC Davis Ag Extension

  8. SAFETEA-LU Provides Opportunities to Integrate Natural Resource Management with Transportation Planning

  9. DOTs Value Public Lands for Highways • Few houses destroyed • Usually fewer 4f issues • Land relatively unemcumbered • In most cases, DOTs do not pay for easements Stephen Peel

  10. Some Highway Impacts to Wildlife Direct Habitat Loss Vehicle-caused Mortality

  11. Some Highway Impacts to Wildlife Habitat Fragmentation Terry Spivey, USDA Forest Service www.forestryimages.org Pollution

  12. Better collaboration Funding people Funding research SAFETEA-LU Can Help Mitigate Impacts

  13. Efficient All stakeholders Identify and prioritize important wildlife linkage areas Statewide Connectivity Plans

  14. State connectivity plans help partner agencies propose and support projects SAFETEA-LU authorizes funding for agency personnel research training in best practices State Transportation Improvement Plans and SAFETEA-LU

  15. Can We Mitigate Impacts from Highways? • Research can help develop tools and processes to minimize impacts Sierraville Highway 89 Stewardship Team, TahoeNational Forest

  16. Diversion fencing combined with wildlife crossing structures are the most effective tool to reduce mortality and maintain habitat connectivity (96-100%) Resources module has more info Lessons Learned Underpasses on the Tonto National Forest

  17. The most common rural accident is animal/vehicle collision Employee safety: Most common forward-moving accident in some FS regions Safety and Wildlife Collisions Colorado DOT

  18. It’s Our Choice—and Opportunity!—to Get Involved Early and Often in Transportation Planning Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.forestryimages.org

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