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Update from Oregon Wildlife Linkage Workshops, 2007
Oregon Chapter of The Wildlife Society February 14, 2008 – Salishan Resort, Oregon
Oregon Conservation Strategy
• Charting the course for conservation
• All states have now completed Wildlife Action Plans
• Unprecedented opportunity to work across ecoregions and to work with federal partners
Six Key Conservation Issues
• Land use changes
• Invasive species
• Changes in fire, flood regimes
• Water quality and quantity
• Institutional barriers to voluntary conservation
• Barriers to fish and wildlife movement
Oregon Wildlife Movement Strategy
• ODFW, ODOT co-leadODFW, ODOT co-lead• ODFW’s role: Identify wildlife prioritiesODFW’s role: Identify wildlife priorities
Roads impact wildlife in several ways:
Reduced population sizeReduced population persistence
Habitat loss
RIP
Direct mortality
Reduce habitat quality
Habitat lost Animals die
Indirect impacts
Diagram modified, with permission from Jaeger et al., Ecological Modelling 185 (2005) 329–348
Linkages
Working definition:Working definition:
““Best placeBest place
to provide for animal to provide for animal
movement needs, with movement needs, with
an emphasis on areas an emphasis on areas
that cross roads”that cross roads”• ODFW convened four workshops in 2007ODFW convened four workshops in 2007
– Review session at The Wildlife Society
– Bend, Roseburg, La Grande, & Alsea
Linkage areas
ODFW linkage workshops
• Convened expertiseConvened expertise from agency, conservation from agency, conservation
organization, and private organization, and private sectorssectors
• Breakout sessions worked with Breakout sessions worked with existing maps and with GISexisting maps and with GIS
• Product: Identified linkage areas Product: Identified linkage areas that cross transportation that cross transportation corridors throughout the statecorridors throughout the state
• Large mammals– Elk– Mule deer– Black-tailed deer– Columbian white-tailed
deer– Pronghorn– Black bear
• Small & medium sized mammals– Fisher– Marten– Western gray squirrel– White tailed jackrabbit
Linkage workshop focal species list
• Reptiles– Painted turtle– Western pond turtle– Western rattlesnake
(in the Willamette ecoregion only)
• Amphibians– Columbia spotted frog– Oregon spotted frog– Tailed frog (inland & coastal)– Red-legged frog– Western toad– Cascades frog– Foothill yellow legged frog
• In practice: Identified herp areas based on habitat
Linkage workshop focal species list, continued
Existing datasets
• Strategy habitatsStrategy habitats• Vegetation typeVegetation type• Strategy species modeled Strategy species modeled
distributiondistribution• Land ownershipLand ownership• Roads, highwaysRoads, highways• Waterbodies, streamsWaterbodies, streams• ODFW big game winter rangeODFW big game winter range
Conservation Strategy priority habitats
Linkage ID:Focal species: Provide brief description (i.e., general habitat type; land cover; land ownership; drainage):1. What type of linkage is provided for the focal species (Check all that apply): ___ Landscape – level linkage___ Migratory link ___ Population link (provides for genetic interchange)___ Complementary habitat (daily or seasonal movements)___ Historic or previously functioning linkage (“missing linkage”)___ Imminently missing linkage___ Connectivity choke-point ___ Other
2. What are the most significant barriers to animal movement within the linkage area:__ Development (i.e., urbanization; planned changes in zoning)__ Roadways__ Natural barriers (i.e., lava beds; etc)___ OHV trails___ Vegetation management ___ Concrete median on highway___ Other
Linkage data form, page 1 of 2:
3. Score the value of this linkage for this focal species [see definitions and criteria page for guidance]:
1 (low value) 2 3 4 5 (critical value)
4. Score the overall threat to connectivity
1 (no threat/secure) 2 3 4 5 (severe threat/loss imminent)
5. What specific opportunities are available to restore, establish or protect the linkage (i.e., known local support for restoration, land management, or acquisition)?
6. What existing features facilitate animal movement through the linkage area (check all that apply):
__Waterway
__Riparian habitat
__Continual habitat coverage
__Underpass/bridge
__Other
Linkage data form, page 2 of 2:
ODFW linkage dataset applications
• In many cases, “flag”
linkage areas to do further
surveys to confirm
• Work with ODOT and others to implement solutions
Implementation via ODFW/ODOT Liaison Program
• Project driven• Provide a resource to assist
with project scoping• Fine tune the passage
questions • Develop site and species
specific passage actions • Monitoring
Next steps: Data processing
• Oregon linkage dataset represents Professional Opinion
• Getting all into digital, GIS format
• Can combine with modeling efforts, compare with Strategy’s COA’s
Example data model: Oregon Landscape permeability work
Task Who? By when?
Finish data entry Portland State U. student volunteers
February 15, 2008
Peer review All workshop participants + others
By end of March, 2008
Update dataset PSU, ODFW Early April 2008
More GIS Modeling?
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Partners welcome!
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Combine datasets with ODOT
ODFW, workgroup May 2008
Data processing timeline, February – May 2008:
Next steps: Regional coordination
• Oregon’s linkage work Oregon’s linkage work is similar to efforts in is similar to efforts in other states, regions other states, regions throughout the U.S.throughout the U.S.
• Exploring opportunities Exploring opportunities to work with adjacent to work with adjacent statesstates
• Western Governor’s Western Governor’s Association initiativeAssociation initiative
• ODFW cannot do this ODFW cannot do this alone!alone!– Opportunity for partners,
including conservation organizations; hunters groups; others
Wildlife crossings summit 2008
• October 19- 24, 2008October 19- 24, 2008
• Oregon ZooOregon Zoo
• Many events planned, includingMany events planned, including– Kick-off eventKick-off event– SymposiaSymposia– ““Linking conservation data with transportation planning” workshopLinking conservation data with transportation planning” workshop
• Federal Highways – Defenders of Wildlife – NatureserveFederal Highways – Defenders of Wildlife – Natureserve
– Wildlife Crossings training – Field trip
For more information: [email protected]
Acknowledgments
• For more information: – Audrey Hatch, 541 – 757 – 4263 x 242; [email protected] www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy– www.oregonexplorer
• Workshop participants• USFS, FHWA, ODOT, PSU for financial & in-kind contributions• Our thanks to the photographers:• Stephen Anderson• Jason Blazar• Bruce Campbell• Claire Fiegener• Lori Hennings• Bob Hooten• Brome McCreary
• Michael Murphy• Tony Clevenger •Bruce Newhouse• Bruce Taylor• Jennifer Thompson• USFWS• Mindy Trask
