Wildlife Passage Pre se nte d b y : Cidne y Bo wma n, ODOT Wildlife Pa ssa g e Co o rdina to r Ma y 11, 2017
Outline 1. Issue 2. What’s been done 3. Unfunded Program and opportunities 4. Program future
Issue • De e r e vo lve d o ve r lo ng pe rio ds o f time to a vo id pre da to rs, i.e . c o ug a rs a nd b e a rs. • Ca rs a nd truc ks a re re c e nt a dditio ns. • T he re is no no rma l re spo nse to sudde n b rig ht lig hts c o ming a t the m--o r so unds. • De e r se e a ppro a c hing lig hts a s g e tting b ig g e r, no t mo ving to wa rds the m. 3
Issue • In 2016 there were 6,430 deer and 290 elk recorded by ODOT Dispatch. • Average of 1,250 wildlife- involved collisions in Oregon and two fatalities per year. • Nationally, average property damage = $6,600 per deer collision.
• Thermo- regulation • Lower quality forage accessible • Harsh summers Winter Summer • Green-up • Fawning habitat • High quality forage • Harsh winters
What’s Been Done Wildlife Unde rc ro ssing 8
What’s Been Done • June 2013 – Oc to b e r 2016 • F o ur c o nfirme d mule de e r de a ths • 86% re duc tio n in de e r- ve hic le c o llisio ns
What’s Been Done Blueprint for the future? 17 lo c a tio ns b e twe e n Be nd a nd OR 138.
Potential Future Scenario • 500 de e r-ve hic le c o llisio ns a lo ng US 97 e ve ry ye a r • T ra nsla te s to 450 fe we r a c c ide nts pe r ye a r a nd 9,000 fe we r a c c ide nts e ve ry 20 ye a rs
No $$ = Unfunded Program
Opportunistic Situation Chris Cheng, Amy Pfeiffer, Safety Coordinator Planning Manager Peter Murphy, Public Information Butch Hansen, Officer Mike Darling, Area Manager Jim Scholtes, Project Leader Assistant District Manager
Opportunity: Outreach and Coordination
Opportunity: Maintenance Tree Removal
Opportunity: OTIA III Bridge Retrofits
Opportunity: Wildlife Handout
Opportunity: Driver’s Ed Manual
Opportunity: US 97 to USFS Boundary
Program Future
Program Future: Wildlife Web Page
Program Future: Roadkill App
Program Future: Animal Detection System
Program Future: Connectivity Working Group
Program Future: Maintenance Dataset
Program Future: Multi-Agency Planning • TSP plans • County Planning • USFS and BLM Management Plans or special designations • STIP projects
Transportation Pooled Fund Program • AZ, CA, IA, NV, OR, WA • Identify cost-effective solutions that integrate highway safety and mobility with wildlife conservation and habitat connectivity.
Program Future: Cultural Change
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