VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION WILDLIFE CROSSING TEAM; BUILDING AN INTER-AGENCY PLANNING TOOL TO ADDRESS ECOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY IN VERMONT

摘要: Wildlife movement and related road crossing strategies are becoming an increasingly important factor in the development of transportation projects Vermont – whether these involve reconstruction on existing alignment or new construction. The Agency Transportation (VTrans) Department Fish (VDFW) have identified wildlife habitat connectivity as factors to consider project process from three perspectives: human safety, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility. Moreover, we begun construct structures, collaboration with VDFW, some recent projects. Unfortunately, there is a lack data support inclusion, location, design, construction crossings many parts state. Currently, much information that used design location structures database mortality for white-tailed deer, moose black bear maintained by VDFW. To assist making, implementing, sometimes very expensive decisions, VTrans desires resource review team gather movement, relevant specific VTrans, Keeping Track, Inc., Jim Andrews Middlebury College, has developed inter-agency Crossing Team. primary objective this initiative develop gathering protocol assess fragmented otherwise affected roads, train group staff utilize planning tool. goal effort sufficient regarding conditions, early stages process, make substantive recommendations, conjunction managers designers so ecological can be considered appropriate Through become integral part at similar how historic, archaeological, other natural resources considered. It hoped will take beyond issue compliance more standard consideration where appropriate. This paper discuss team.