Project Details

U.S. Highway 191 between milepost 54 and 86 was analyzed in 2013 to determine needs for wildlife crossing structures. Through the assessment, it was determined that several wildlife-vehicle collisions were occurring in this stretch of highway, especially in relation to the vehicle traffic. Such collisions negatively affect public safety and have deleterious effects on wildlife populations. Of the 32 miles of highway analyzed,  several peaks in collisions showed up in the data. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Department of Transportation, San Juan County, Sportsman for Fish and Wildlife and others collaborated and determined priorities for reducing wildlife vehicle collisions. Priority 1 was determined to be from mp 66-70, where nearly 900 of 2,300 (40 percent) vehicle collisions occurred between 2006 and 2013. The Priority 1 project area was completed in 2016 (WRI 3220).  This phase of the project will close the gap in fencing from the prior project and the Devil's canyon fencing project that was completed in 2005.  An additional 3.5 miles of highway will be fenced, one culvert from priority area 1 will be upgraded to a crossing structure, and two more structures will be installed. This project will tie two wildlife project together and improve crossing for migrating wildlife.

Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.

Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.

LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.

TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.

The Deer Herd Unit #14 Management Plan (2015) identifies that deer populations need to be managed for a broad range of recreation including hunting and wildlife viewing. The current population is at 67% of objective. Highway mortality is identified in the plan as a limiting factor for wildlife. It is in the plan the DWR works with UDOT to construct highway fences, passage structures, and warning signs.

The mule deer statewide plan has a population management goal which states, "expand and improve mule deer population throughout the state within the carrying capacity of available habitats and in consideration of other land uses." Strategy m specifically says to, Work with UDOT, universities, local conservation groups, and landowners to
minimize highway mortality by identifying locations of high deer-vehicle collisions
and constructing sufficient wildlife crossing structures and employing other mitigation
options in those locations. " and Strategy N encourages evaluating crossing structures.

The State of Utah Resource Management plan specifically identifies an objective of increase mule deer populations in the state and to provide high-quality hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. It asks that government organizations work together to identify and conserve migration corridors in the state.

The San Juan County resource management plan puts an emphasis on managing wildlife populations  within population goals.

List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.

If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.

Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.

Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.

Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.

Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.

List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.

Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.

Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.