I-15 Wildlife Exclusion Fence
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Project ID: 6042
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2023
Submitted By:
1512
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Project Manager: Kent Sorenson
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Northern Region
Lead: Utah Department of Transportation
WRI Region: Northern
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Description:
Cost share with UDOT and Mule Deer Foundation to provide fencing and escape ramps on a stretch of I-15.
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Location:
I-15 corridor Milepost 387.7 to 392.4 (Riverside to Plymouth area), Box Elder County, UT.
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Project Need
Need For Project:
UDOT has met with the DWR and we have identified this area as a high kill area. We currently have wildlife fence from MP 392 to the Idaho line so this project will help complete this system. UDOT has applied for a TSP grant for the amount of $1.7 Million for this project and is seeking a small 'seed' match from DWR to greatly enhance the likelihood of receiving the grant.
Objectives:
Provide a wildlife exclusion fence and associated wildlife escape ramps from Milepost 387.7 to Milepost 292.4 on I-15. There is an existing fence from milepost 392 to the Idaho state line; this would complete the project that was initiated years ago.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Previous numbers obtained from data collected in 2017 documented 34 deer (4.7/mile) mortalities in this project area (Plymouth interchange to Riverside interchange). Estimates are that the data underestimates the actual kill by 3-5 times (Pam Kramer, pers. comm.). Additionally, road kills are indiscriminate with respect to the sex of the animals killed, unlike a hunting season leading to a much larger percentage of does killed. Saving roughly 100 animals in this section of road each year would definitely put more deer on the landscape.
Relation To Management Plan:
1) 2020 Utah Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan
Population Management Goal
Strategy A. Population Objectives.
f. Work with UDOT to construct sufficient wildlife crossing structures, fencing or other mitigation options to minimize deer vehicle collisions.
Strategy C. Population Monitoring and Research.
d. Evaluate the effectiveness of the crossing structures and other mitigation options over time and implement new technologies to minimize highway mortality.
Habitat Goal
Strategy C. Travel Management and Development.
c. Work with county, state, and federal agencies to limit the negative effects of roads by reclaiming unused roads, properly planning new roads, and installing fencing and highway passage structures where roads disrupt mule deer migration patterns.
2) 2017 Unit 1 Mule Deer Management Plan
Limiting Factors
Highway Mortality - The cooperation with the Utah Department of Transportation to prevent vehicle collisions in terms of highway fences, underpasses, and earthen ramps along Interstates 15 and 84, and warning signs as needed throughout the unit is greatly appreciated. A significant number of highway mortalities may tend to reduce deer populations in the following areas: I-15 and I-84 from Tremonton to the Idaho border and SR-30 from Kelton to Rosette.
3) 2009 Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Habitat Guidelines for Mule Deer, Intermountain West Ecoregion
Direct Mortality
Guideline B. Minimizing Negative Effects of Human Encroachment
8. Provide ungulate-proof fencing to direct wildlife to right-of-way passage structures or away from areas of numerous deer-vehicle collisions.
Fire / Fuels:
n/a
Water Quality/Quantity:
n/a
Compliance:
Previously disturbed interstate highway corridor.
Methods:
UDOT will contract a fence and escape ramps to be constructed in the project area. UDWR and MDF will provide technical support and a small share of the funding.
Monitoring:
UDWR and UDOT will continue to track wildlife-vehicle collisions in this reach and report the numbers of wildlife killed.
Partners:
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)
Mule Deer Foundation (MDF)
Future Management:
Continue to monitor wildlife-vehicle collisions
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Livestock will also not be wandering onto the highway.
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $100,000.00 | $1,770,000.00 | $1,870,000.00 | $0.00 | $1,870,000.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractual Services | Fencing, escape ramps, and environmental clearances for Wildlife exclusion fence project Riverside, UT to Plymouth, UT. | $100,000.00 | $1,770,000.00 | $0.00 | 2023 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $50,000.00 | $1,770,000.00 | $1,820,000.00 | $0.00 | $1,820,000.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) | UDOT TSP funds will make up the bulk of the funding sources. MDF possible funding unknown at time of project proposal development. | $0.00 | $1,770,000.00 | $0.00 | 2023 | |
| Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) | S023 | $25,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2023 | |
| Safari Club International (SCI) | S026 | $5,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2023 | |
| Sportsman for Fish & Wildlife (SFW) | S027 | $15,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2023 | |
| RMEF banquet funds | S055 | $5,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2023 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank | ||||
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| Mule Deer | R1 | |||||
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Habitats
| Habitat |
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Project Comments
| Comment | 01/21/2022 | Type: 1 | Commenter: Mindy Wheeler |
| Have overpasses been considered for this area? I realize a lot more expensive, but could be worth the effort? | |||
| Comment | 01/24/2022 | Type: 1 | Commenter: Kent Sorenson |
| Mindy, I agree that, all things being equal, an overpass would be better, but all things are not equal here. UDOT has initiated the process w/ a grant proposal for some transportation safety monies that have a fencing component as the primary action. I am but a smaller player in a bigger game here. Habitat Council money would only be a small part of the match (UDOT is requesting $1.7 million from their own sources) that basically indicates that the wildlife management agency is indeed feeling that this project is important. Mule Deer Foundation is another partner that has been brought on board and their contribution is TBD. Hopefully, we can use wildlife tracking data to determine the escape ramp locations as well. Had the original proposal by UDOT been for an overpass, our degree of enthusiasm would have been even greater, but as it is, this would complete an exclusion fence from the Idaho border south to Riverside. It is a known hotspot for Wildlife-vehicle collisions. | |||
| Comment | 08/14/2023 | Type: 2 | Commenter: Alison Whittaker |
| This is just a reminder that completion reports are due August 31st. Expenses have been entered in the Through WRI/DWR column on the finance page. Please do not make any changes to numbers in the Through WRI/DWR column. Any "Through Other" or "In-kind" expenses will need to be entered by the PM or contributors. Be sure to click on the finalize button on the completion report when you have your completion report ready to be reviewed by WRI Admin. Don't forget to upload any pictures of the project you have of before, during and after completion. Thanks. | |||
| Comment | 09/12/2023 | Type: 2 | Commenter: Alison Whittaker |
| Please fill out the Completion Form ASAP. Completion reports were due August 31st. | |||
| Comment | 10/02/2024 | Type: 2 | Commenter: Alison Whittaker |
| Thanks Melissa - I have moved the project to completed. | |||
Completion
Start Date:
09/01/2023
End Date:
04/30/2024
FY Implemented:
2024
Final Methods:
UDOT completed a total 10 miles of wildlife exclusion fencing, wildlife escape ramps (located in approximately 1/2 mile intervals), and installed cattle guards along exit ramps along I-15 in northern Utah, from MP 387 to MP 392.
Project Narrative:
Due to challenges with supply chains in 2023, the project took a bit longer to plan and complete than originally anticipated. The project began in fall 2023 and was completed in spring 2024. DWR and UDOT anticipate a significant reduction in wildlife vehicle collisions in this stretch of interstate and will especially be monitoring the Roadkill Reporter App data this winter. The completion of this project created a safer road corridor for motorists.
Future Management:
The DWR and UDOT will continue to collect data through the Roadkill Reporter App and monitor this section of the interstate for roadkill pickups. The DWR will continue to monitor GPS collar data on mule deer and elk through the Utah Migration Initiative and plan for future wildlife-highway mitigation projects along I-15.
Map Features
| ID | Feature Category | Action | Treatement/Type |
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| 1025 | Fence | Construction | Wildlife Exclusion |
Project Map
