During the last two years over 148 Wildlife vehicle collisions were reported along SR 248 between mileposts 3 and 12.7. These collisions negatively affect public safety and have negative effects on wildlife populations. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Department of Transportation would like to collaborate on a project to increase safety for people and wildlife traveling along SR 248. Some of the project are has wildlife exclusion fence but it is outdated and ineffective. DWR would like to have a wildlife-vehicle collision reduction study performed to determine the best possible methods to reduce collisions and then implement a project utilizing the tools identified in the study. Many grant opportunities will be available in the near future for wildlife crossings and habitat connectivity. It would be beneficial to have studies performed to help plan projects and have them ready to take advantage of these funding sources.

1) improve public safety 2) reduce wildlife mortality

If this project is not completed, high numbers of wildlife-vehicle collisions will continue to occur on this stretch of highway, which could lead to serious injury or death to motorists, and potential population impacts to wildlife populations. As wildlife are killed on highways, a larger proportion are females removed from the population, which can have compounding affects on a deer population. Threats of the project include: -animals continuing to cross the highway and cause collisions. -animals getting caught within the right-of-way

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 J 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 erecting sufficient wildlife crossing structures in those locations." Migration Initiative - "uses state-of-the-art technology to identify: Migration and movement patterns, Wildlife stopover sites, Priority areas that can reconnect fragmented habitat ranges, Locations that allow wildlife species to safely move from one large habitat area to another." And: "...mapping the movements of wildlife so crossing structures can be placed in areas that coincide with movement corridors. Wildlife crossings provide a critical link between seasonal habitats for wildlife." UDOT's mission is "Enhance quality of life through transportation." UDWR's mission is "to serve the people of Utah as trustee and guardian of the state's protected wildlife." Under the authority of Utah Code Ann. §72-1-201, and in furtherance of the objectives and goals identified in House Concurrent Resolution 13, Concurrent Resolution Supporting the Protection and Restoration of Wildlife Corridors, adopted in the 2020 General Session, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) enter into this Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") in order to fulfill their respective mission statements and provide long-term guidance in agency interactions and project planning. Fulfilling the objectives identified in this MOU will assist the parties in accomplishing mutually beneficial goals and in serving the citizens of Utah.

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Use existing WVC reports, crash data, big-game collar location data and information, migration corridor mapping and all other relevant information to perform a study to analyze the best methods and future actions that can improve public safety and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

One of the desired outcomes of the study will be to identify the best methods for monitoring for the best management practices identified for project implementation. In the meantime UDOT has hired contractors to remove wildlife carcasses from this section of road. Data is collected by these contractors and maintained in a database to understand wildlife-vehicle collisions hotspots. These data will be used to assess the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions, and the locations of collision prior to and following a study and future project construction. Monitoring will help identify if improvements need to be made to increase success of the proposed project actions as new information becomes available.

Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and DWR have been collaborating with the intent of providing for a safe, efficient, and ecologically sustainable transportation system while also stewarding Utah's wildlife resources. This study will give UDOT and DWR the plans to collaborate and implement a project together to reduce WVCs.

Once the study has identified the best management actions to help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions then project planning, funding and construction will begin. Monitoring will be completed to determine the study's proposed actions' effectiveness and improvements will be made to increase success as new information becomes available.

This project will reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions in the area reducing wildlife mortality, and therefore increasing survival for mule deer, elk, and moose.

07/01/2023

06/30/2025

2025

DWR and UDOT partnered to hire Bio-West to conduct a wildlife vehicle collision reduction study. The study analyzed roadkill carcass pick-up and crash data to provide mitigation recommendations for improving safety and reducing deer-vehicle collisions on SR-248 from US-40 to Kamas. Using data Bio-West drafted a study that outlined multiple mitigation options for different segments of highway and provided potential cost estimates. The final report is in the documents section. Stakeholder input from Summit and Wasatch Counties, Hideout City council members, DWR biologists, and UDOT employees was incorporated from a site visit on 10/2/2024 and stakeholder engagement throughout the process.

DWR and Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) identified Utah State Route 248 (SR-248) in Summit and Wasatch Counties, Utah, as a problematic area with a high frequency of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs), with over 1000 mule deer carcasses picked up over 14 years. This stretch of SR-248, extending from US-40 east to Kamas, has seen a drastic increase in traffic volumes in recent years. Wildlife exclusion fence was installed along most of this stretch of highway. However, it is at the end of its useful life, and many new housing developments have left gaps in the fence.

DWR and UDOT will use this report to seek funding and grant opportunities in order to implement study recommendations.