‘ECOPASSAGES’ MAY PROVIDE SOME SAFETY FOR DRIVERS, WILDLIFE
by Sarah Morgan

Most drivers are familiar with the problems and dangers associated with wildlife crossing busy roadways, but few are aware of the possible solutions. With constant road construction spreading farther into undeveloped, forested areas, some states are implementing systems of underpasses, overpasses, and fences that could provide a margin of protection to both drivers and animals.

In the United States, more than 1.5 million automobile crashes involving a deer occur each year, resulting in at least $1.1 billion in vehicle damage, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The institute notes that deer are the biggest problem, accounting for 3 out of 4 vehicle-animal collisions, and also resulting in the most fatalities. From 1998 to 2002, the federal government reported an average of 155 fatal vehicle-animal crashes, up from 119 during the 1993 to 1997 period. In 2003, there were 201 fatal vehicle-animal crashes recorded, a 27 percent increase compared with 2002.

Some feel that such collisions are unavoidable and the best thing to do is wear a seatbelt and be an attentive driver.

"As our wildlife habitat continues to shrink, accidents with deer and other animals are likely to increase unless we are more vigilant in our driving," Jeanne Salvatore, vice president of consumer affairs for the institute told the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

But according to the Humane Society of the United States, there are other options, and Florida is taking the lead, developing roadway innovations that help lessen the likelihood of such collisions, and help protect not only drivers, but the animals as well. Florida has already built wildlife safe passages under some of its busiest highways, and now there is a push in the Lake Jackson, Florida area to construct an "ecopassage" under US Highway 27. This section of the highway has been designated as one of the deadliest crossing areas for wildlife, especially turtles, with more than 2,000 turtles killed per mile each year, according to a series of studies as compiled by an ecopassage advocacy group called the Lake Jackson Ecopassage Alliance.

This problem is just as familiar to drivers in Texas. President of Friends of Texas Wildlife, Lett Guzman, estimates that about half of the injured deer and possums that they receive were injured by vehicles.

"[Vehicles] are responsible for a high percentage of deer injuries," said Guzman, who said that she also sees skunks, turtles, hawks, and owls come in with injuries caused by vehicles.

According to the Humane Society, the damages of road construction on wildlife go beyond injury or death.

"Chemical and physical alteration of the surrounding environment and introduction of potentially invasive species accompany construction and use of roads," according to the Humane Society’s Web site. But, an even bigger danger is the fragmentation of habitat, which the Web site identifies as one of the worst problems wildlife face when a roadway moves in. The fragmentation confines wild populations to areas that may be too small for their needs, forcing animals to cross roads to find food, shelter, or mates.

Though some US states are taking initiatives to curb these dangers, Europe already has a system in place, according to the Humane Society. Dozens of overpasses have been constructed to funnel wildlife across major European highways. Some of these passages contain ponds and wetlands, or use wooden walls or other earthen materials to shield the wildlife from the disturbances of the vehicles. Also, the Humane Society reports that in the Netherlands, there are more than 600 tunnels under roads for small mammals including otters and badgers.

Groups such as the Humane Society are encouraging state and federal highway planners to increase their knowledge of such solutions and incorporate them into new construction projects in the United States. But, despite the measured successes of such systems, some remain skeptical.

Guzman said she doesn’t see how any one system could protect all the different species from the dangers of road construction.

"Maybe if they put up game fences, that could keep a lot of the wildlife out … but some animals could dig under it or climb over it," she said. "We’re just tearing up too much."

MEETING ON AMENDMENTS TO 2004-2006 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
 

On Tuesday, Jan 18, the Houston-Galveston Area Council will host a public meeting on proposed amendments to the 2004-2006 Transportation Improvement Program.

Developed by H-GAC, local government, transportation agencies, and the Texas Department of Transportation, the TIP is a listing of transportation projects approved for funding and implementation within a 3-year period. Projects selected for the TIP can include transit, roadway and highway, bicycle and pedestrian, preventative maintenance, and transportation operations.

Transportation improvements contained in the TIP are required to comply with air quality regulations for vehicle emissions. In addition to projects receiving federal dollars, locally funded projects considered regionally significant must also be included in the conformity analysis requirements of the Clean Air Act.

Proposed TIP amendments to be discussed include:

- TIP Amendment 134 - Widen FM 518 to four lanes with curb and gutter from FM 2094 to FM 1266, and from FM 1266 to SH 146.
- TIP Amendment 135 - Construct four main lanes and 2 two-lane frontage roads on US 290, east of Bauer to west of Mason; and construct six main lanes and 2 two-lane frontages roads with bridge on US 290, east of Mason to west of Mueschke.

The public comment period on the proposed amendments begins Jan 2 and all comments must be received by H-GAC no later than 5 pm Jan 31. Written comments may be submitted to Lynn Spencer, Houston-Galveston Area Council, PO Box 22777, Houston, Texas 77227, e-mailed to lynn.spencer@h-gac.com, or faxed to (713) 993-4508. Copies of the proposed amendments will be available at the meeting and at http://www.h-gac.com/transportation, or by contacting Lynn Spencer.

ARBOR DAY HISTORY AND HOUSTON CELEBRATIONS

According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, the idea for Arbor Day originally came from the treeless plains of Nebraska. It was the lack of trees there that led to the founding of Arbor Day in the 1800s.

J. Sterling Morton, editor of Nebraska’s first newspaper, encouraged individuals and civic organizations of every kind to plant more trees. On Jan 4, 1872, Morton first proposed a tree-planting holiday to be called "Arbor Day" at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and prizes were offered to counties and individuals for planting the largest number of trees on that day. It was estimated that more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.

Today the most common date for the state observances is the last Friday in April, but a number of state Arbor Days are at other times to coincide with the best tree-planting weather, from January and February in the south, to May in the far north.

In Houston, there are several Arbor Day celebrations. Jesse Jones Park will celebrate this year by giving out free saplings on Jan 15 from 10 am to 4 pm at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, 20634 Kenswick Drive, for more information, contact (281) 446-8588. Also, Mercer Arboretum will give out free saplings and will teach participants the best way to plant a tree, along with the best trees to plant in our area on Jan 15 from 10 am to noon at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road. For more information on this event, contact (281) 443-8731.

PINEY WOODS WILDLIFE SOCIETY NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY PRESENTATION

The Jan 18 meeting of the Piney Woods Wildlife Society will feature a colorful program entitled "Coast to Coast -- A Photographic Journey" by Joe and Nancy Long. The Longs are known for their nature photography in the Smokey Mountain National Park where they have spent years documenting the seasonal changes with their beautiful photographs. Now the Longs are expanding their horizons and are using their photographic skills to document other areas of North America. The public is invited to see the Longs’ presentation on Tuesday, Jan 18 at 7:30 pm at the Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield. There is no charge. For more information, contact Kathy Coward at (281) 893-1816.

SIERRA CLUB SEEKS ORGANIZER

Sierra Club seeks a highly motivated, experienced organizer for grassroots organizing position located in a one-person office in Houston. Press experience is required and fluency in Spanish is desired. This person will put together a grass roots Building Environmental Communities campaign on stopping rampant sprawl and promoting healthy, clean transportation choices. They must be able to work with many kinds of people (both staff and volunteers), be motivated and motivating, highly organized, and a self-starter. Some training is provided. Send resume and cover letter by Jan 28 to Phyllis Dunham, Southern Plains Regional Field Staff Director, at phyllis.dunham@sierraclub.org.

KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL SEEKS ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

Keep Texas Beautiful, a statewide community clean-up and beautification organization, is seeking an administrative coordinator to oversee logistics for teacher trainings, environmental education forums and training seminars, conference registration, data entry, and mailings. The candidate must be flexible, able to adapt to different work situations, and possess high-level customer service skills. Applicant must be skilled in Word, Excel, database applications, and Outlook. College degree in education, business administration, or communication preferred but not mandatory. Job pays $2,333 to $2,900 per month. Send resumes by fax to (512) 478.2640 or e-mail admin@ktb.org by Jan 18.

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