Scientists Hope To Learn From Underpass Project
By Roland Giller, Pacific Southwest Research Station

Land managers and scientists will likely watch with interest as a stewardship team implements the first phase of a long-term plan to mitigate the effects of a rural California highway on wildlife.

Construction crews began the Highway 89 Stewardship Team’s first phase earlier this month when they began building a wildlife underpass to reduce wildlife/vehicle collisions on State Route 89 in the Tahoe National Forest. The 12-foot-high-by-19-foot-wide underpass should be completed in 45 days.

Wildlife biologists have been intrigued by the underpass project and accompanying research because it can reduce the 1.5 million wildlife/vehicle collisions that annually occur in the United States. It will also bring insight to the emerging field of transportation ecology, or study of animal interactions with roads and railways.

“This project is unique because it resulted from grassroots efforts, and combines mitigation, research and education,” said Sandra Jacobson, a Pacific Southwest Research Station wildlife biologist, and national expert on wildlife/highway interactions. “A key objective of the team is to create an innovative highway where scientists can investigate cost-effective techniques for reducing highway impacts to wildlife.”

County, state and federal officials formed the stewardship team with the University of California and California Deer Association to promote motorist safety, increase wildlife habitat connectivity and reduce road kill on the highway. The California Department of Transportation is funding the project through a $720,000 Transportation Enhancement Grant, at the request of Sierra County officials.

The 25-mile stretch of highway under the team’s eye runs diagonally from Sierraville to Truckee in Northern California. Official estimates show everyday 4,000 to 6,000 automobiles careen through a migratory deer route at the underpass site.

The Highway 89 Stewardship Team has already accomplished much with its research and education components.

Jacobson and the team are conducting research that includes investigating wildlife diversion fencing techniques, radio-telemetry data on local mule deer herds and underpass acoustical effects on animal behavior. Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District students in grades 7-12 and an education coordinator have joined in the research through a curriculum that includes tracking small mammal use of existing culverts.

The Highway 89 Stewardship Team includes representatives from the Tahoe National Forest, Pacific Southwest Research Station, California Department of Transportation, University of California Sagehen Creek Field Station, U.C. Cooperative Extension, Sierra County Fish and Wildlife Commission, California Deer Association, and California Department of Fish and Game.

For additional information about the project and transportation ecology, contact Sandra Jacobson.