Oregon Wildlife Foundation
December 5, 2022
Amount Requested$25,000.00
901 SE Oak Street, Suite 103
Portland, Oregon 97214
Tim Greseth
Executive Director
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- Species Conservation
Program Support
to empower the lasting conservation of Oregon's fish & wildlife and enjoyment of our natural resources
$25,000.00
$1,132,711.00
$1,509,240.00
Yes
The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Southwest Oregon is the only monument set aside specifically for its biodiversity. The Monument contains over 300 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Interstate-5 is a major impediment to wildlife movement and fragments the east-west ecological connectivity needed to support the region’s high biodiversity. As a result, rare species such as Pacific fisher, ringtail, and more abundant species like black bear, elk, and black-tailed deer are hindered in accessing important habitats as ecological conditions change by season or due to drought or wildfire disturbance. To restore ecological connectivity and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, the Oregon Wildlife Foundation (OWF) is requesting funds to assist the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) in the design and engineering of two wildlife over-crossings; one north of the Siskiyou Summit near mile point 8.7 identified as Barron Creek, and another south of the Summit near mile point 1.6 and designated as Mariposa Preserve. A recently completed analysis of wildlife crossing needs between the City of Ashland and the California border found the Barron Creek and Mariposa Preserve sites to be the highest priority locations for wildlife crossing structures within the 14-mile project area. As resources allow, eight crossing projects are proposed within the project area. ODOT has secured $1.0MM in state funding and is applying for Federal funding to complete design and engineering for the first two over-crossings. Requested funding will augment State funds and make this project more competitive for Federal funding awards. BLM and Southern Oregon University (SOU) continue to monitor wildlife use at all sites. OWF is serving as the fiscal agent for the Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Coalition (SOWCC), which includes ODOT, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, BLM, US Fish and Wildlife Service, SOU, and more than a dozen nonprofit organizations.
The motoring public on Interstate 5 in southern Oregon. An average of 17,000 vehicles travel I-5 between Ashland, Oregon and the California border every day.
Southern Oregon; 14-mile stretch of Interstate 5 between Ashland and the California border
The SOWCC envisions a carefully-designed array of wildlife crossing structures along I-5 in southwest Oregon to facilitate safe passage for wildlife and improved safety for interstate travelers. These crossings support safe east-west wildlife movement and elevational migration, reconnect previously fragmented lands, promote biodiversity conservation, and increase safety for the 6 million+ person/trips annually in this region of I-5. Fencing and habitat improvements orient wildlife to crossings of various types and sizes for safe crossings of the interstate.Students from local schools and universities assist agency scientists in monitoring wildlife use, identify and help fix remaining problems, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the new projects through monitoring and promotion through traditional and social media. The citizens of southern Oregon become more aware of the problem of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) and solutions that benefit people, wildlife but also preserve the biodiversity of this region. This is the overarching goal of this project. Our desired outcomes are as follows:
1) Complete ODOT approved design acceptance package, including engineering work, necessary for construction of wildlife over-crossings at Barron Creek (mile point 8.7) and Mariposa Preserve (mile point 1.6).
2) Meet with local landowners and public land managers to ensure that land and resource managers are aware of this project, impacts, and timelines.
3) Complete design work and location for fencing needed to help funnel wildlife to over-crossing sites.
1) Engineering and design work for the Barron Creek and Mariposa Preserve wildlife over-crossings will be completed by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Region 3 and Tech Center staff. Primary ODOT staff include Roadway Designer, Bridge Engineer, and Geotechnical Engineers. Over-crossing locations have been determined based on information provided in the Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Project Conceptual Design Report (River Design Group and Samara Group 2022) in coordination with ODOT Region 3 staff site surveys. ODOT staff continue coordinating with Nevada Department of Transportation staff regarding engineering and design of similar wildlife over-crossing structures completed along I-80 in Nevada.
2) Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Right-of-Way staff and SOWCC representatives will meet with staff from Southern Oregon Land Conservancy and Pacific Forest Trust to identify landowners adjacent to the Barron Creek and Mariposa Preserve sites. These landowners will be contacted to ensure they are aware of the project, potential impacts, and timeline for construction. Contacts with the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Medford District BLM will continue to make sure staff and management remain engaged with the project and are aware of potential interactions with agency management activities. SOWCC will work with Southern Oregon University and BLM on outreach to local media outlets and promotion through social media platforms. Coordination of project plans and monitoring data will continue with the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) as both states agree that a series of wildlife crossings along I-5 between Ashland, Oregon and Weed, California with improve motorist safety and benefit wildlife conservation.
3) Using preliminary designs from the Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Project Conceptual Design Report (River Design Group and Samara Group 2022), ODOT Tech Center and Region 3 staff will determine final location and design for approximately 8.0 miles of fencing needed to help funnel wildlife to the over-crossing structures.
1) design and engineering, necessary for construction, are completed for both Barron Creek and Mariposa Preserve over-crossing locations
2) meetings with affected landowners are completed and, as needed, agreements are in place
3) final location and design for wildlife exclusion fencing are completed
01/02/2023
03/31/2024
With respect to the design and engineering of these wildlife overpasses, the cooperation of and collaboration with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is critical. Region 3 has agreed to do the design and engineering of the overpasses which, when constructed, will occupy right of way that is also owned and managed by the Department. In addition, ODOT has access to funding allocated by the Oregon legislature in 2021 to wildlife passage projects. In collaboration with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, ODOT has earmarked $1MM from these wildlife passage funds for the SOWCC project. They are also committed to raising the remaining balance in partnership with our coalition. We are, together, targeting Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) funding dedicated to wildlife crossing projects. It is our understanding that these funds will be made available, through a competitive grant process, in Spring 2023. One of our goals is to be able to demonstrate diverse funding support. To that end, in addition to this request for funding support from the Olseth Family Foundation, we've also applied for a grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB).
On the ground, SOWCC is pleased to count two land trusts among its coalition members: Pacific Forest Trust, and Southern Oregon Land Conservancy. These two organizations have strong working relationships with private landowners within the project area and also manage significant holdings of their own. As SOWCC conducts outreach to landowners affected by this project, we are privileged to have their staff expertise, pre-existing relationships, and land stewardship experience to draw on.
Presuming all necessary financial resources are obtained in 2023, ODOT anticipates completion of 85-100% final design (final design report, plans and specifications, contracting and bidding documents, monitoring plan, final cost estimate) by the end of Q1 2024. During this same time period, SOWCC members including staff with Pacific Forest Trust and Southern Oregon Land Conservancy will meet with landowners affected by this project, and ODOT staff will identify the location of and design for all wildlife exclusion fencing needed to support the over-crossing infrastructure at Barron Creek and Mariposa Preserve.
Unapproved