Edmonton Wildlife Passage

8/9/2019 Edmonton Wildlife Passage

1/17

Designing for Wildlife Passage in an Increasingly

Fragmented World


2/17

First slide.

Parks + Biodiversity | January, 2015

Lost wetlands and

drainage courses

Habitat loss andfragmentation is the single

largest threat to

biodiversity conservation

in an urban area

Urban Biodiversity Threatened

Central Edmonton (1924)(Martell and Dammeyer, 2001)


3/17

First slide.

Barriers to the movement of wildlife are created as

development constrains the ecological network.

Development creates barriers to movement –

specifically Edmonton's transportation network


4/17

First slide.

7000

8000

9000

10000

11000

12000

13000

1996 1997 1997 1999 2000 2001

# o f W i l d l i f e C o l l i s i o n s

Year

Wildlife Collisions in Albe

A

Growing Alberta Trend

From 2011 to 2014

there has been over

70, 453 wildlife

collisions in Alberta


5/17

First slide.

Parks + Biodiversity | January, 2015

In 2007, Edmonton recognized the issue and se

sights on finding a resolution to maintain habi

connectivity and protecting urban biodiversit


6/17

First slide.2007

First dedicated

wildlife passage.

Designed for small

mammals.

1st wildlife passage

The City of Edmonton has over

17,000 acres of municipal

parkland


7/17

First slide.

Strategic Plans,Policies +

Guidelines

Area StructurePlans

NeighbourhooodStructure Plans

Zoning +Subdivision +

ServicingAgreements

2007Planning for wildlife passages determined at laof municipal planning


8/17

The City moves from focusing onthe protection of isolated habitat

patches to that of an Ecological

Network Approach.

Natural Area system to be

designed around ecological

connections.

2007 Paradigm shift


9/17

First slide.

Five dedicated wildlife passages constructed ranging

from a large mammal underpass to a rolled curve

Pre-2010 Five passages constructed

Legend

Natural Areas

Pre 2010 Wildlife Passages


10/17

“Edmonton protects, preserves, and enhances its natura

environment by… maintaining a functional ecological

network ”

- 1 of only 9 strategic goals, Municipal Development Plan

In 2010, Edmonton embedded its

ecological network goal into its

highest municipal planning

document: The Way We Grow


11/17

First slide.

Project Objective: maintenance of biodiversregional ecological connectivity within a

fragmented urban landscape

Outcomes:

1) To maintaining habitat connectivity and

genetic isolation among the city’s wildlifepopulations, and

2) Reduce human/wildlife conflict

2010Wildlife Passage Engineering Design Guidelines

produced


12/17

The City is working to

ensure that ecological

connectivity remains on

the land base to provide

multiple benefits

WildlifePassage

EngineeringDesign

Guidelines

Land

Water

Fauna

Biodiversity

HumanSafety

EcosystemServices

Mitigationof Climate

Change

2010WPEDG

multiple benefits:


13/17

Strategic Plans,Policies +

Guidelines

Area StructurePlans

NeighbourhooodStructure Plans

Zoning +Subdivision +

ServicingAgreements

Incorporation of planning for wildlife

passages in high level plans that are

informed by ecological studies

2014

Passage identification incorporated earlier intoplanning process


14/17

Hawks Pass: 1st bridge structure

in a non-ravine environment

Design

First slide.2010-2014 Additional 17 passages

Legend

Natural Areas


Post 2010 Wildlife Passages

ConstructionLocation

Dual culvert: to connect tributary

with creekConstruction

Location


15/17

First slide.

Examples ofpassages with a

restoration

component

Hanging Culvert

Design

2015+ Future opportunities

Legend

Natural Areas


Post 2010 Wildlife Passages

Future opportunities


16/17

Positive Results

Whof EincrR² = 0.9221

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

# o f W i l d l i f e C o l l i s i o n s

Year

Wildlife Collisions in Edmonton


17/17

“Edmonton’s wildlife passage initiative i

innovative programs that works to in

sustainability in our City. It encourages all

a new level of local expertise in wildlife p

which sets us apart from other muni

–an Edmonton developer

Support from partners

The project’s greatest success is how

Edmonton’s ecological connectivitygoals have been embraced by the

private and public sector

“Through my experience from across Alberta with large

mammals, I can personally attest that the work completed

in the city on deer and moose crossings is a unique

initiative for a Canadian municipality outside of theMountain Parks.”

– Provincial biologist with 60 years experience

“This initiative is a recognizable effort by the

working towards creating a sustainable and res

biodiversity protection in its transportation an

… The wildlife passage project is a perfect exa

effectively engages various disciplines with t

common approach to biodiversity co

– ICLEI – Local Governments for Su

Documents

Edmonton Wildlife Passage