Start Date
4-4-2023 3:20 PM
End Date
4-4-2023 3:29 PM
Abstract
During urban expansion, existing wildlife habitat is vulnerable to increased fragmentation. As habitat permeability decreases, animals are forced to migrate between smaller unconnected areas leading to an influx of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs). To mitigate these impacts, wildlife corridors must also be included across urban growth boundaries to ensure that protected natural areas do not become population sinks for wildlife.
The southern I-205 corridor contains the most pronounced collision hotspots in the Portland-Metro area. Extensive natural and rural reserves are divided by this highway, increasing conflicts between humans and wildlife. Because animals have grown accustomed to the freeway, fewer species attempt to cross across the freeway itself, but instead opt to cross over pre-existing busy bridges and under-crossings made for vehicles because it’s their only option.
This design research explores and represents alternate ways for wildlife to navigate the I-205/Stafford Triangle landscape through the addition of enhanced culverts, under-crossings, and land bridges. The I-205 expansion project presents an opportunity to restore wildlife crossings across landscape-scale corridors. Beginning with an analysis of regional permeability and concluding with design explorations of priority improvements, this research envisions a future for I-205 that is a model of habitat permeability.
Subjects
Animal ecology, Habitat restoration, Transportation
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/40488
Captions
Simpson - UERC Symposium Presentation.pdf (23603 kB)
Presentation slides
Defying Habitat Fragmentation with Wildlife Crossings
During urban expansion, existing wildlife habitat is vulnerable to increased fragmentation. As habitat permeability decreases, animals are forced to migrate between smaller unconnected areas leading to an influx of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs). To mitigate these impacts, wildlife corridors must also be included across urban growth boundaries to ensure that protected natural areas do not become population sinks for wildlife.
The southern I-205 corridor contains the most pronounced collision hotspots in the Portland-Metro area. Extensive natural and rural reserves are divided by this highway, increasing conflicts between humans and wildlife. Because animals have grown accustomed to the freeway, fewer species attempt to cross across the freeway itself, but instead opt to cross over pre-existing busy bridges and under-crossings made for vehicles because it’s their only option.
This design research explores and represents alternate ways for wildlife to navigate the I-205/Stafford Triangle landscape through the addition of enhanced culverts, under-crossings, and land bridges. The I-205 expansion project presents an opportunity to restore wildlife crossings across landscape-scale corridors. Beginning with an analysis of regional permeability and concluding with design explorations of priority improvements, this research envisions a future for I-205 that is a model of habitat permeability.
