project completion report: badger roadkill mitigation in

Project Completion Report: Badger Roadkill Mitigation in the East Kootenay

October 2009

Prepared for: Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program – Columbia Basin

Nelson, British Columbia

Prepared by: Trevor Kinley, R.P.Bio. Sylvan Consulting Ltd.

Invermere, British Columbia [email protected] (250) 342-3205

Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Summary of Activities 2

2.1 Working Relationships 2 2.2 Upgrading Existing Culverts 2 2.3 Opportunities to Install New Culverts 7 2.4 Drift-Fencing Trial 8 2.5 Work Plan for 2010 Onward 10

3. Acknowledgements 12 4. Literature Cited 12 Appendix 1. Site maps of highway segments investigated for potential culvert upgrades,

installation of new culverts or drift fencing trial. 13 Appendix 2. Design for drift fence trial approved by Ministry of Transportation and

Infrastructure, Cranbrook, for Highway 3/93 at Mayook. 35

List of Figures Figure 1. Culverts with a high likelihood of use by badgers. 3 Figure 2. Culverts with little or no likelihood of use by badgers. 4 Figure 3a. Overview of sites assessed for opportunities to mitigate roadkill risk (north) 5 Figure 3b. Overview of sites assessed for opportunities to mitigate roadkill risk (south) 6 Figure 4. Location of proposed culvert on Athalmer Road. 7 Figure 5. Drift fencing installed in October 2009 on Highway 3/93 at Mayook. 9 List of Tables Table 1. Recommended schedule for ongoing badger roadkill mitigation work. 11

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Badger Mitigation in the East Kootenay - 2009

1. Introduction Badgers are provincially red-listed and the B.C. subspecies is nationally Endangered. In B.C., vehicle collisions are the leading cause of badger death everywhere they have been studied, i.e. within the South Cariboo (R. Klafki, Thompson Rivers Univ., Kamloops, unpubl. data), Thompson-Okanagan (Weir et al. 2004), and East Kootenay (Kinley and Newhouse 2008) regions. Half of known-cause deaths among radio-tagged study animals in the East Kootenay were roadkills (Kinley and Newhouse 2008), so with total annual adult mortality averaging about 18%, this suggests that vehicles kill about 9% of the local badger population annually. Assuming that the East Kootenay has about half of the provincial estimate of 230-340 badgers (jeffersonii Badger Recovery Team 2008), i.e. about 143 badgers, a 9% roadkill rate translates to 13 roadkills in the East Kootenay annually. The East Kootenay Badger Project has records of 88 badger roadkills between 1996 and October of 2009, 78 of which were non-tagged animals reported by the public (5.6/yr). If these numbers are representative, roughly half of the badgers killed by vehicles are reported. Anecdotal reports from the public and observations of researchers indicate that badgers commonly use culverts for refuge or to pass safely under roads. “Badger pipes” are sometimes installed for that purpose for European badgers (Meles meles; Bekker and Canters 1997). When rebuilding a section of Highway 3/93 near Elko, B.C. in 2004, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) installed a culvert specifically for badger use, on the advice of an environmental consultant. Recent track monitoring has shown that it is occasionally used (R. Forbes, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Cranbrook, unpubl. data) despite having being installed opportunistically rather than in prime badger habitat. Consistent with this, badger roadkills in the East Kootenay disproportionately occur where the number of passable culverts per kilometre is below average (Kinley and Newhouse 2009). The same study noted that many culverts were not usable by badgers due to being crushed, plugged or raised above ground level, or were obscured during summer by dense vegetation. Given the status of badgers and the potential to aid recovery by limiting roadkills, there is an obvious value to making culverts more readily usable by badgers, and potentially by installing more culverts as highway crossing structures in key locations. Decreasing road mortality has been identified as a recovery action in the national recovery strategy (jeffersonii Badger Recovery Team 2008). This report summarizes efforts to address that opportunity, based on work conducted in 2009. Initial efforts were aimed at establishing working relationships among relevant agencies and individuals, identifying the most promising locations for culvert improvements or additions, developing a plan of action, and beginning feasibility testing both for improving the usability of existing culverts and installing drift fencing to guide badgers into culverts at a key location.

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2. Summary of Activities 2.1 Working Relationships There has previously been no concerted program to limit badger roadkill in the East Kootenay, but several actions have been taken ad hoc. Since the installation of the badger culvert near Elko in 2004, activities related to roadkill mitigation funded by FWCP and others have included the periodic seasonal installation of badger crossing signs at known family-group locations (Newhouse and Kinley 2007), the publication of a journal article summarizing badger ecology in the East Kootenay including the prevalence of roadkill (Kinley and Newhouse 2008), the completion of an analysis indicating that sites with few passable culverts are more likely to be associated with badger roadkills (Kinley and Newhouse 2009), and a 2008 stakeholders’ workshop summarizing key management issues, including roadkill mitigation. The work summarized in this report was intended in part to develop relationships among key players that would be involved in roadkill mitigation, and to promote the concept that mitigation can be part of standard highways management in this region. Activities related to those goals included the following: • Ongoing communication with Stephanie Daniels (MOTI, Cranbrook) regarding research,

roadkill issues, upgrading of existing culverts, possibilities for installing new culverts, and installation of drift fencing.

• Meeting (office and field) with Stephanie Daniels, Irene Teske (MOE, Cranbrook) and Larry Ingham (FWCP, Cranbrook) on July 6, 2009 to discuss options for upgrading existing culverts or adding new culverts, and installing drift fencing trial.

• Successful application to MOTI for permit to install drift fencing trial. • Installation of drift fencing with Larry Ingham and Dave Lewis (FWCP contractor). • Held brief field meeting with Stephanie Daniels as we installed the drift fencing. • Arranged with Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting Ltd. (highways contractor) to install

badger crossing signs at each end of the drift fencing trial section. • Provided a prioritized list of problematic culverts in high roadkill risk sites (see Section 2.2)

to Stephanie Daniels, which she subsequently used to instruct Mainroad to upgrade some existing culverts.

2.2 Upgrading Existing Culverts In the summer of 2009, 22 sections of road ranging from about 0.5 to 6.5 km each were examined on Highways 3, 43, 93, 95 and 95A, and Jaffray-Baynes Lake Road. All were locations with known badger roadkills (often several per section) or considerable badger activity near the highway, based on sightings and telemetry data collected through the East Kootenay Badger Project or burrow records obtained by Sylvan Consulting through other projects. Within them, a search was conducted for every culvert identified in a map database provided by MOTI as passing under the main highway. Culverts that were located but had not been included in the map database were also recorded. For each culvert, it was noted whether it was already in

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nearly optimal condition for badger passage under the highway (i.e. free of obstructions or brush and accessible from both ends), or whether minor to moderate improvements could be made to improve its usability. Results are contained in the file field notes 2009 culvert & site checks.xls. Of the 97 culverts located:

• 15 were already in nearly optimal condition (Figure 1). • 3 had unknown passability (no light or air flow was evident, but no blockage was visible

at either end) and were in important locations for badger movement. Testing is needed at these, possibly with a plumbing snake.

• 13 were not feasible to upgrade (had permanent streams in them, vertical pipes over the culvert ends, etc.).

• 66 would likely provide an immediate or long-term decrease in mortality risk if upgraded through brushing, clearing fill blocking the culvert entrance, placing fill under “hanging” ends, removing an unauthorized screen installed by a nearby landowner, or removing/repairing culvert extensions that have become separated from the main culvert (Figure 2). Of these 66, 43 were rated as being of high or very high priority, based on a combination of their location relative to badger activity and the effort required to make improvements.

Maps were then created for each site where upgrades were recommended (overview map in Figure 3; detailed maps in Appendices 1a – 1t). The prioritized list and mapping were provided to Stephanie Daniels of MOTI. She then met with Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting Ltd. and arranged to have them begin the culvert upgrades. At the time of writing, Mainroad had removed the unauthorized screen, had cleared several blocked culverts in the Mayook area, and was in the process of upgrading the other identified culverts as part of their regular maintenance program. It is recommended that sites on the list be checked in 2010 to see how many of the higher-priority culverts have been upgraded, and whether their condition will allow unhindered badger movement (see Section 2.5).

Figure 1. Culverts with a high likelihood of use by badgers. They are at ground level with

unobstructed access. The culvert on left is at eye level for badgers approaching the highway, has high visibility, and offers an easier option than climbing the bank onto the highway. The culvert on right is less visible but offers clear passage.

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Figure 2. Culverts with little or no likelihood of use by badgers. From upper left to lower right:

culvert obscured by brush; culvert plugged by fill where extension added onto original culvert; culvert end suspended several metres above ground (“hanging”); screen added by nearby landowner to prevent movement by ground squirrels (subsequently removed); culvert end crushed; sump dug below culvert to enhance water flow.

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MAYOOK Site assessed for enhancement opportunities

Map produced 2 June 2009Trevor KinleySylvan Consulting Ltd.

Proposed Badger Passage Enhancements

RadiumHot Springs

Invermere

Brisco

FairmontHot Springs

CanalFlats

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Edgewater

Windermere

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#EDGEWATER DUMP

#SHUSWAP RESERVE

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ATHALMER ROAD#

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Figure 3a. Overview of sites assessed for opportunities to mitigate badger roadkill risk, 2009 (north half)

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Figure 3b. Overview of sites assessed for opportunities to mitigate badger roadkill risk, 2009 (south half). Legend in Figure 3a.

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2.3 Opportunities to Install New Culverts While looking for opportunities to upgrade existing culverts, locations were identified where the installation of a new culvert specifically for badger movement would likely have a significant effect on badger mortality rate. Twenty-one sites were considered. Of these, 15 were rejected because of logistics (ditch too shallow, highway below grade of adjacent land, etc.) or because there were already good alternatives nearby. In contrast, six sites were identified as moderate to very high priority for placing culverts to allow badger passage (see field notes 2009 culvert & site checks.xls). If approved, the timing of these would no doubt be based on funding availability and opportunities presented by highway reconstruction. However, one site (Athalmer Road, at the power transmission line crossing; Figure 4) is rated as a very high priority because it is the only remaining undeveloped crossing in an area of heavy badger use that provides a key landscape-level link (Appendix 1c). This link is recognized in Regional District of East Kootenay’s official community plan for the Lake Windermere area (ftp://ftp.rdek.bc.ca/PlanningBylaws/Windermere%20OCP/BL2061LakeWindermereOCP_Aug09.pdf). Of the potential sites for new culverts, the Athalmer Road one should be given the strongest consideration as a stand-alone project. The culvert would need to be about 24 m long. Its diameter is probably not critical; ongoing research in the South Caribou region (R. Klafki, Thompson Rivers Univ., Kamloops) may indicate a preferred diameter but diameters of 45 and 60 cm are commonly used by badgers, along with smaller and larger sizes. Further details for this proposed activity are in Section 2.5.

Figure 4. Location of proposed culvert on Athalmer Road. This segment of east-west road

between Invermere and Highway 93/95 supports regular badger movement across a busy highway and through a developed landscape. It is a key link in connecting badger populations to the north and south. In particular, the north-south oriented right-of-way of a power transmission line (taller poles perpendicular to road in photos) appears to support most of the road crossings. Left: view from north side; culvert recommended toward right portion of photo. Right: view from south side; culvert recommended near dead tree toward left edge of photo. Ditch is about 2.5 m deep on north and 2 – 2.5 m deep on south at proposed crossing point.

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ftp://ftp.rdek.bc.ca/PlanningBylaws/Windermere OCP/BL2061LakeWindermereOCP_Aug09.pdf�

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2.4 Drift-Fencing Trial Based on inspecting highway segments associated with badger activity (Section 2.2), a site on Highway 3/93 in Mayook was identified for drift fencing (Appendix 1p). This location supports a lot of badger activity, and several roadkills have been reported nearby. The highway sits roughly on grade with the surrounding landscape (with broad, shallow ditches), making it easy for badgers to see across the highway here, and so decreasing the likelihood of them using the two culverts that are present. The culverts are 250 m apart. This site offered a good opportunity to test whether placing drift fencing between and slightly beyond the culverts would guide badgers trying to cross the highway here toward the culvert entrances (Appendix 2). It also offered a chance to test material and construction methods. After receiving a two-year permit from MOTI to conduct the project, 300 m of fencing was installed on each side of the highway by Larry Ingham, Dave Lewis and Trevor Kinley in October, 2009 (Figure 5). The plans (Appendix 2) were modified slightly during installation: • MOTI requested that black rather than orange snow fence be used. Black fencing was

available locally only in poor quality, or in high quality but at a high cost. As an alternative, X-treme Deer Barrier was used (http://www.easygardener.com/index.cfm?fuseaction= category.display&category_ID=97). It came in 8’ x 100’ rolls (2.4 m x 30 m), which were split into 5 strips 48-cm wide.

• When the site was first identified, corrugated steel extensions to the northwest culvert had become separated from the main concrete culvert running under the highway and so had filled with gravel. The extensions were then removed by Mainroad as part of their upgrades for badgers (Section 2.2). As a result, the fencing was attached to boards fastened to the end of concrete culvert (Figure 5).

• The southeast culvert was settled into the ground so wooden frames were built around its ends to ensure that badgers could not get onto the highway at those locations (Figure 5).

• The bottom of the fence was staked to the ground to deter badgers from slipping under it.1

• A plastic tape was installed along the top to increase the height of the fence, deter badgers from climbing over it, and to signal its presence to ungulates.1

The low height of this fence should allow animals coyote-sized and larger to step or jump over it. Its open mesh should allow animals squirrel-sized and smaller to get through it. Badgers and other similar-sized animals should normally be directed through the culverts. If they do come in from the ends of the fence section or otherwise get on the highway side of the fence, an escape gate (Figure 5) on each side of the highway should allow them to get out. At the request of MOTI, badger crossing signs were installed at each end of the test section. The fencing is being monitored to determine if badgers are using the culverts (as determined by tracks in the sand at culvert entrances) and if the materials hold up over the two-year test period. Larry Ingham (FWCP, Cranbrook) drives past this site between home and work so he or other FWCP staff or contractors will do the monitoring.

1 About to be completed at time of writing.

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Figure 5. Drift fencing installed in October 2009 on Highway 3/93 at Mayook, east of

Cranbrook. Top row: fencing (woven plastic ribbon not yet installed along top). Middle row: junction of fencing and culverts. Note tracking sand at culvert mouths. Bottom row: escape gates (wooden laths flex when pushed from wide side, allowing animals to move through if caught on highway side of fence.

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As outlined below, the cost of the drift fencing trial for 300 m x 2 sides of highway was about $2,050, including PST but exclusive of GST, travel and monitoring costs. This translates to almost $7,000/km of highway, but there would be economies of scale for larger sites. About 7 person-days were required to purchase materials, build gates and install fencing and gates (23 days/km), but this would be considerably lower for subsequent projects and longer sections. • Fencing material $850 • Stakes, laths, ribbon, and miscellaneous hardware $550 • Badger crossing signs (2) $250 • Sign installation (done by highways contractor) $400

2.5 Work Plan for 2010 Onward Recommended activities for future years (ongoing maintenance or upgrading of existing culverts, possible installation of new culverts, and monitoring of drift fencing trial) are scheduled in Table 1. Reporting of progress and results is not identified in that table but should be done depending on the activities undertaken and timing of them. As noted earlier, recommended upgrades at some of the higher-priority existing culverts will probably not be done by MOTI’s contractor because they are not part of normal culvert maintenance (e.g., “hanging” culverts). When contractors have completed all that they will do, the cost and feasibility of upgrading other high priority sites (as identified in field notes 2009 culvert & site checks.xls) should be assessed. Approximate volumes of fill required are identified in the above-mentioned file, but other options to make such culverts passable by badgers may need to be identified, as noted in Table 1. The greatest cost for activities identified in Table 1 would be for installing new culverts. If MOTI is willing to grant a permit for the Athalmer Road site, it would be the highest priority. A conservative (high) estimate provided by Malcolm Bachand of Kamloops Augering and Boring (http://www.kamloopsaugering.com/) is $15,500: • Horizontal boring contract (24 m @ $500/m including 400 mm steel pipe) $12,000 • Local excavator for site prep, levelling, etc. $3,500

A large portion of this cost is mobilizing the equipment. If two or more culverts are installed the estimate drops to about $400/m, in which case the Athalmer Road site would drop to about $13,000. Engineering is not normally required for boring, so this is assumed to be the case. Coordination of the work would include the permitting process with MOTI (meetings, proposals, etc.), hiring and supervising a boring contractor, hiring a local excavator contractor, and providing communications for local media and government agencies. Coordination could be done by FWCP staff with a commitment of about 10 days or, if contracted out, it would cost an estimated $6,000. The work might need to be split across two years (discussions and permitting with MOTI one year, installation the next). The total cost is estimated at $15,500 if coordinated by staff or $21,500 if coordinated by a consultant, assuming the installation of just one pipe (about $2,500 less for this site if part of a multi-site project).

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Table 1. Recommended schedule for ongoing badger roadkill mitigation work in the East Kootenay.

Component Fiscal Year (April 1 – March 31) 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013

Culvert Maintenance/ Upgrades

• Check progress on culverts identified for upgrading • Where upgrades feasible but not yet completed,

encourage MOTI and contractor to complete as many as possible (or obtain permission from MOTI for FWCP staff, contractor, or youth crew to do upgrades)

• Where not feasible to upgrade with normal maintenance, discuss other options with MOTI to make them usable by badgers, and determine costs (e.g., where end of culvert suspended above ground, consider building “gangplanks” or rock piles to allow access)

• Have FWCP staff, contractor, or youth crew do upgrades identified in previous year (i.e. where regular maintenance by MOTI is not adequate to allow badger passage) - Alternatively, do in previous year if

possible

Drift Fencing Test Section(s)

• Continue monitoring sand beds to determine use by badgers or other animals

• Continue monitoring physical structure and repair if needed

• Advise MOTI of monitoring results

• Continue monitoring sand beds until end of permit period (Sep 1, 2011) to determine use by badgers or other animals

• Continue monitoring structure until end of permit period and repair if needed

• If little indication of success, remove at end of test period; if successful, build a more permanent structure (requires permit from MOTI) and consider other sites (possibly build)

• If other sites selected for drift fencing in previous year, build this year

• If fencing remains or new sites built, continue to monitor

Installation of New Culverts as Highway Crossing Structures

• Discuss project with MOTI; if possible obtain permit (for next year)

• Finalize quote for boring. • Arrange funding (discuss with FWCP, MOTI, CBT,

HCTF, possibly Kinbasket Development Corporation)

• Install Athalmer Road culvert if permits and funding obtained

• Monitor its use • Discuss options for installing more culverts

with MOTI; if successful apply for funds and permits for other culverts

• If permits and funds obtained, install other culverts

• Monitor use of culvert at Athalmer Rd (and elsewhere if installed at other sites)

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3. Acknowledgements This project was funded by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program – Columbia Basin. Larry Ingham administered the contract and, along with Dave Lewis, worked with me to install the fence. Stephanie Daniels of MOTI facilitated the permit for the drift fencing and arranged to have Mainroad Contracting upgrade culverts to allow badger passage. Irene Teske of MOE supported activities undertaken for this project, in discussions with other agencies. Willie Sissons of Mainroad Contracting coordinated the installation of the badger crossing signs. 4. Literature Cited Bekker, G. J., and K. J. Canters. 1997. The continuing story of badgers and their tunnels. Pp.

344-353 in K. Canters (editor). Habitat fragmentation & infrastructure. Proceedings of the International Conference on Habitat Fragmentation, Infrastructure and the Role of Ecological Engineering, 17-21 September, 1995, Maastricht and The Hague, The Netherlands. Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Delft, The Netherlands.

jeffersonii Badger Recovery Team. 2008. National recovery strategy for the badger (Taxidea taxus) in British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, B.C.

Kinley, T. A., and N. J. Newhouse. 2008. Ecology and translocation-aided recovery of and endangered badger population. Journal of Wildlife Management 72:113-122.

Kinley, T. A., and N. J. Newhouse. 2009. Badger roadkill risk in relation to the presence of culverts and Jersey barriers. Northwest Science 83:148-153.

Newhouse, N. J., and T. A. Kinley. 2007. East Kootenay Badger Project 2006-2007 progress report. Prepared by Sylvan Consulting Ltd., Invermere, B.C. for Parks Canada Agency, Radium Hot Springs, B.C.

Weir, R. D., H. Davis, C. S. Hoodicoff, and K. W. Larsen. 2004. Life on a highway: sources of mortality in an endangered British Columbia badger population. In: T. D. Hooper (editor). Proceedings fo the Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference. March 2-6, 2004, Victoria, B.C. Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference Organizing Committee, Victoria, B.C.

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Appendix 1. Site maps of highway segments investigated for potential culvert upgrades, installation of new culverts or drift fencing trial.

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Appendix 1a. Proposed upgrades along Highway 95 in Snider Road area, south of Brisco.

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5628200H/VH priority for new culvertðM priority for new culvertðrejected as site for new culvertðwing fencing recommended%U

VH priority culvert maintenancer

H priority culvert maintenancer

L priority culvert maintenancer

culvert maintenance not feasibleNculvert needs testing for blockageö

culvert OK as isò

roadkill site +/- 300 m#

0 roadkill site +/- 500 m

roadkill site +/- 5000 m/badger sightings by public#

badger telemetry record#

Snider Road Area

Snider Road

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Appendix 1b. Proposed upgrades along Highway 95 near Edgewater transfer station.

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561200 561400 561600 561800 562000 562200 562400 562600 562800 563000 563200 563400 563600 563800

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5616200 H/VH priority for new culvertðM priority for new culvertðrejected as site for new culvertðwing fencing recommended%U





culvert OK as isò





Edgewater Dump

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Appendix 1c. Proposed upgrades along Highway 93/95 and Athalmer Road near the Shuswap Indian Reserve.

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H/VH priority for new culvertðM priority for new culvertðrejected as site for new culvertðwing fencing recommended%U





culvert OK as isò





Shuswap Reserve/Athalmer Rd

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Appendix 1d. Proposed upgrades along Highway 93/95 near Holland Creek, east side of Lake Windermere.

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culvert OK as isò





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Holland Creek

S Fork Holland CkTimber Ridge Road

Windermere Loop Road

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Timberview Drive

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Appendix 1e. Proposed upgrades along Highway 93/95 near Akisqnuk Band Office, east side of Lake Windermere.

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culvert OK as isò





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Appendix 1f. Proposed upgrades along Highway 93/95 and Columbia Lake Road near Columbia Ridge, west side of Columbia Lake.

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Appendix 1g. Proposed upgrades along Highway 93/95 near Larsen property, south of Canal Flats.

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#

#

#

ò

ð

ð

r

587400

587400

587600

587600

587800

587800

588000

588000

588200

588200

588400

588400

588600

588600

588800

588800

589000

589000

589200

589200

589400

589400

589600

589600

589800

589800

590000

5900005537800

5538000

5538200

5538400

5538600

5538800

5539000

5539200

5539400

5539600

5539800

5540000






culvert OK as isò





Larsen

93/95

roadsidegarbagebins

old h

ighwa

y

21


Appendix 1h. Proposed upgrades along Highway 95a south of Ta Ta Creek.

#

#

#

# #

#

#

#

#

##

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

00

r

N

586800 587000 587200 587400 587600 587800 588000 588200 588400 588600 588800 589000 589200 589400 589600

5513400

5513600

5513800

5514000

5514200

5514400

5514600

5514800

5515000

5515200

5515400






culvert OK as isò





Ta Ta Creek

95A

Gadsby Road

Stanl ey Road

Larson Rd

Ta

Ta Creek

Ta TaCreek

22


Appendix 1i. Proposed upgrades along Highway 95a near Thomason Road, northeast of Kimberley.

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

## #

#

##

# #

#

#

####

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

ð

ðð

ðr

579200

579200

579400

579400

579600

579600

579800

579800

580000

580000

580200

580200

580400

580400

580600

580600

580800

580800

581000

581000

581200

581200

581400

581400

581600

581600

581800

581800

582000

582000

5505200 5

5505400 5

5505600 5

5505800 5

5506000 5

5506200 5

5506400 5

5506600 5

5506800 5

5507000 5

5507200 5H/VH priority for new culvertðM priority for new culvertðrejected as site for new culvertðwing fencing recommended%U





culvert OK as isò





Thomason Road

95A

Banman Cresc

ent

Thomason Road

Mather (Cherry) Creek

23


Appendix 1j. Proposed upgrades along Highway 95a near The Land Conservancy properties, Wycliffe.

#

#

#

#

###

#

#

#

##

#####

#####

###

#

#

#

#

##

#

###

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

####

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

ð

r

r

r

579400

579400

579600

579600

579800

579800

580000

580000

580200

580200

580400

580400

580600

580600

580800

580800

581000

581000

581200

581200

581400

581400

581600

581600

581800

581800

582000

582000

582200

582200

5494600

5494800

5495000

5495200

5495400

5495600

5495800

5496000

5496200

5496400

5496600






culvert OK as isò





Wycliffe TLC

95A

Pighin Road

Wyc

liff

e Park Road

Porte

ous

Rd

SkeetRange

24


Appendix 1k. Proposed upgrades along Highway 95a near Cranbrook sewage lagoons and Highway 3/95 at Cranbrook Interchange.

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

##

#

#

#

#

# #

# #

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

# #

#

ò

ð

r

r

r

r

590000

590000

590200

590200

590400

590400

590600

590600

590800

590800

591000

591000

591200

591200

591400

591400

591600

591600

591800

591800

592000

592000

592200

592200

592400

592400

592600

592600

59280

592805487800

5488000

5488200

5488400

5488600

5488800

5489000

5489200

5489400

5489600

5489800

5490000






culvert OK as isò





Cranbrook Lagoons & Interchange

95A

3/95

Jose

ph C

reek

Mis

sion

Road

Thea

tre R

d

CranbrookStandard Hi ll Road

SPCAsewerlagoons

25


Appendix 1l. Proposed upgrades along Highway 3/95 near Elizabeth Lake, Cranbrook.

#

##

#

##

#

#

###

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

ò

ò

ò

ð

585000

585000

585200

585200

585400

585400

585600

585600

585800

585800

586000

586000

586200

586200

586400

586400

586600

586600

586800

586800

587000

587000

587200

587200

587400

587400

587600

587600

587800

587800

588000

588000

588200

588200

5481600 5

5481800 5

5482000 5

5482200 5

5482400 5

5482600 5

5482800 5

5483000 5

5483200 5

5483400 5

5483600 5

5483800 5






culvert OK as isò





Elizabeth Lake

3/95

Jim Smith Lake Road

Silver Spring Drive

ElizabethLake

Caldw

ell R

oad

26


Appendix 1m. Proposed upgrades along Highway 93/95 near Bummers Flats, south of Wasa.

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

## #

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

/

0

0

0

#

#

ò

ð

r

r

r

r

r

r

r

r

r

r

r

r

Kootenay River

93/95

93/95

Cherry Creek Saug

um C

reek

Bu

mm

er

s

Fl

at

s

FortSteeleFarms

WasaDump

591500 592000 592500 593000 593500 594000 594500 595000 595500 596000 596500 597000

5503500

5504000

5504500

5505000

5505500

5506000

5506500

5507000

5507500

5508000

5508500

5509000

5509500

5510000

5510500

5511000






culvert OK as isò





Bummers Flats

27


Appendix 1n. Proposed upgrades along Highway 93/95 at Fort Steele.

##

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

/

#

r

r

r

r

598000

598000

598200

598200

598400

598400

598600

598600

598800

598800

599000

599000

599200

599200

599400

599400

599600

599600

599800

599800

600000

600000

600200

600200

600400

600400

600600

600600

600800

600800

601000

601000

7200

7400

7600

7800

8000

8200

8400

8600

8800

9000

9200






culvert OK as isò





Fort Steele

Wardner - Ft Steele Rd

Wildhorse River

Kootenay River

Holmes Road

Buckman Road

camp-ground

93/95

93/95

28


Appendix 1o. Proposed upgrades along Highway 33/93 near City of Cranbrook spray irrigation fields.

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#r

r

r

3/93

restarea

Cranbrook spray irrigation fields

3/93

Coop

man R

d

596500

596500

597000

597000

597500

597500

598000

598000

598500

598500

599000

599000

599500

599500

600000

600000

600500

600500

601000

601000

601500

601500

602000

602000

602500

6025005486500

5487000

5487500

5488000

5488500

5489000

5489500

5490000

5490500

5491000






culvert OK as isò





City Fields

29


Appendix 1p. Proposed upgrades along Highway 93/95 near Mayook, east of Cranbrook.

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

###

## ##

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

###

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#%U

%U

ò

ò

ò

ò

ò

ð

ð

ð

ð

ö

ö

r

r

r

3/93

599500

599500

600000

600000

600500

600500

601000

601000

601500

601500

602000

602000

602500

602500

603000

603000

603500

603500

604000

604000

604500

604500

605000

605000

605500

605500

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

wing fencing proposed between these culverts






culvert OK as isò





Mayook

3/93

Mayook Creek

Arnold Ck

Pritchard Road

BC HydroSubstation

May

ook

Sett l

emen

t Rd

Cameron Rd

Mayook Stn Rd

30


Appendix 1q. Proposed upgrades along Highway 93/95 west junction of Rosicky Road, east of Wardner.

#

#

#

#

#

#

# #

# #

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

r

r

613600

613600

613800

613800

614000

614000

614200

614200

614400

614400

614600

614600

614800

614800

615000

615000

615200

615200

615400

615400

615600

615600

615800

615800

616000

616000

616200

616200

61640

61640

5476000

5476200

5476400

5476600

5476800

5477000

5477200

5477400

5477600

5477800

5478000






culvert OK as isò





Rosicky West Junction

Wardner Road

Wardner - Ft Steele Road

Rosicky Road

LakeKoocanusa

3/93

3/93

31


Appendix 1r. Proposed upgrades along Jaffray-Baynes Lake Road, north of Kikomun Creek crossing.

#

#

#

#

#

#

#//

ò

r

r

r

r

626200

626200

626400

626400

626600

626600

626800

626800

627000

627000

627200

627200

627400

627400

627600

627600

627800

627800

628000

628000

628200

628200

628400

628400

628600

628600

628800

628800

629000

6290005458800

5459000

5459200

5459400

5459600

5459800

5460000

5460200

5460400

5460600

5460800

5461000






culvert OK as isò





Jaffray - Baynes Lake Road

Jaffray - Baynes Lake Road

North Kikomun CreekWildlife Habitat Area

DeerLake

Kikom un Cr

eek

32


Appendix 1s. Proposed upgrades along Highway 43 near Nordstrom Creek, north of Sparwood.

#

#

#

#

#

#

# ###

ö

r

N

650000

650000

650200

650200

650400

650400

650600

650600

650800

650800

651000

651000

651200

651200

651400

651400

651600

651600

651800

651800

652000

652000

652200

652200

652400

652400

652600

652600

652800

652800

5523800

5524000

5524200

5524400

5524600

5524800

5525000

5525200

5525400

5525600

5525800H/VH priority for new culvertðM priority for new culvertðrejected as site for new culvertðwing fencing recommended%U





culvert OK as isò





Nordstrom Creek

Nordstrom CreekLower Elk Valley R

oad

43

Musil Road

43

33


Appendix 1t. Proposed upgrades along Highway 43 near junction with Line Creek Mine Road, north of Sparwood.

####

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

##

#

ò

ò

ð

r

r

N

650000 650200 650400 650600 650800 651000 651200 651400 651600 651800 652000 652200 652400 652600 652800

5526800

5527000

5527200

5527400

5527600

5527800

5528000

5528200

5528400

5528600

5528800

5529000






culvert OK as isò





Line Creek Junction

Line Creek Mine Road

Elk River

Brule Creek

43

43

34


35


Appendix 2. Design for drift fence trial approved by Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Cranbrook, for Highway 3/93 at Mayook.

Note: some modifications to this design were made during installation; see Section 2.4.

36


Plans for a Trial Wing-fencing Installation to Limit Badger Roadkill Mortality Trevor Kinley, R.P.Bio., Sylvan Consulting Ltd. (contracted for this project to BC Hydro/Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program – Columbia Basin; contract manager and permit applicant is Larry Ingham, BC Hydro, Cranbrook) 6 August 2009 American badgers occurring in BC are nationally identified as Endangered and are on the provincial Red List. Roadkills are the main cause of death. Studies show that badgers use culverts when they are available and unobstructed, and that greater numbers of passable culverts reduce the chance of roadkill. In conjunction with plans to make some culverts more usable by badgers, we propose to set up a temporary fencing trial to specifically direct badgers into culverts. Results from the trial will indicate whether this method is worth pursuing for sites with a high incidence of badger-vehicle collisions. The intention is to string plastic snow fence between two culverts 250-m apart, on each side of the highway. Badgers attempting to cross the road would encounter the fencing and be obliged to walk parallel to the highway to the point where the fencing reaches one of the culvert ends. They would then be able to travel through the culvert to reach the other side of the highway without exposure to traffic. Fencing would extend about 30 m past the culverts to further encourage their use. As shown in the attached drawings, commercially available snow fencing (1 m width) would be cut in half lengthwise so that the fence would only be 50 cm high. This would allow larger

species such as deer and coyotes to get over without difficulty, especially because the holes in the fencing would afford a good view of the area beyond. Very small animals, such as mice and chipmunks, would almost certainly go under the fence or through its holes. It would therefore be expected to affect only medium-sized animals such as badgers. “Escape gates” would be installed (one on each side of the highway, midway between the two culverts) to allow badger-sized animals to escape if they happened to walk along the highway surface into the fenced area. Location The selected site is along Highway 3/93, 200 – 500 m southeast of the entrance to BC Hydro’s power substation at Mayook, just east of Cranbrook. This site has abundant evidence of burrows of badgers and their main prey, Columbian ground squirrels, on both sides of the highway, and our database includes a number of sightings and radiotelemetry records there, including one roadkill record nearby. The continuity of occupied habitat across the highway and the high number of roadkills throughout the Rampart-Mayook area, combined with the high traffic volume of this highway segment, indicate that this site is part of a highway segment presenting a high risk for badgers. Schedule If approved, the fencing will be installed in August, 2009. Monitoring and (if required) maintenance will occur for just over two years, to October 31, 2011. At that time, either all

37


materials will be removed or an application will be made to MOTI for a more permanent installation. Monitoring and Maintenance Unless MOTI requests otherwise, all construction, maintenance, monitoring and removal will be completed by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program staff or contractors. The project applicant, Larry Ingham of BC Hydro, drives past this section almost daily between his home near Jaffray and workplace in Cranbrook. If any major damage to the fence occurs, it will be evident when driving through. In addition, the length of the fence on both sides of the highway will be walked weekly for the first month then monthly thereafter to check for maintenance issues. Necessary repairs will be made in a timely fashion. In the unlikely event that the installation does not withstand the conditions, it will be removed or an application to upgrade it will be submitted. Sand spread at the culvert entrances will be checked at least monthly to check for tracks, then raked. Results will be provided to MOTI annually. Safety No safety hazards are anticipated. The fencing itself is soft, flexible plastic. The posts would be 1”x2” stakes (2”x2” stakes at the escape gates), so should easily break if struck by a vehicle. Break-away points (holes drilled through those posts at ground level) can be created if requested by MOTI. The fencing would be in straight lines along the bottom of the ditches, between the ends of the two culverts, so would be well off the highway surface. MOTI-approved badger crossing signs will be installed at each end of the test section.

Other Potential Risks or Issues The only contact between this fencing and MOTI infrastructure will be that the snow fencing will be fastened to culvert ends using washers and small (#10 or #12) self-tapping screws. There should be no measurable damage to the culverts. Snow fencing is strong and intended for outdoor applications, but it is possible that large animals might break through it or rodents might chew through it. This would result in tattered sections of fencing, but the tight spacing between stakes (3 m) should limit the extent of this. Fencing integrity would be monitored regularly and repaired if needed, as noted above. Snow windrows created by snowplows might bury or damage the fencing. This is not expected to be a logistical problem during the winter as badgers are much less active then, but will require attention when the snow melts. If damage does occur, it will be repaired at an early opportunity each spring. The northeast ditch is very wide so the fence will not provide a barrier to any service vehicles, horses, etc. travelling parallel to the highway there. On the southwest side, the space between the wing fence and barbed-wire range fence is tighter, the terrain is somewhat rougher, and a powerline or telephone line runs directly over the range fence. However, the wing fencing placement should still allow sufficient room for service vehicles or recreationists, and if this proves to be a problem other access options include the Crown land across the range fence (for accessing the utility line) and the opposite side of the highway (for recreationists). The proposed layout was viewed by Stephanie Daniels of MOTI on 6 July 2009.

38


Overhead view of site (not to scale) Fencing would extend between 2 culverts (250 m apart) and also 30 m beyond the culverts

culvert fencing

sand tracking pad to monitor use

30 m

250 m

30 m

escape gate

39


View from ditch toward highway • Fence is short (50 cm) to allow larger animals (e.g. deer) to jump over but high enough to direct smaller mammals (e.g.

badgers) toward culvert. • Materials are durable but soft (wood and plastic) to minimize potential effects on any vehicle sliding into ditch.

50 c

m

250 m to next culvert

cable tie

75-cm 1 x 2” wooden stake

screw & washer

plastic snow fence, cut in half lengthwise

3 m

culvert

bottom of ditch

sand tracking pad to monitor use

30 m to end of fence

break-away point (drilled hole) if required

40


Escape Gates

• One to be placed on each side of the highway midway between culverts so that badgers or similar-sized animals that might enter the fenced area from the ends are able to push through them into the downhill (ditch) side of the fence.

• This is similar to gates used for trapping burbot for fisheries research. • Laths forming the walls of the gate are fastened to stakes near the fence so are not movable there, but extend 60-70 cm

beyond the last stake so are flexible near that end. A badger entering the gate from the highway side can see through a narrow opening at the end of the gate and will spread the laths apart as it pushes its way through toward the opening, allowing the badger to escape. Badgers encountering the gate from the ditch side are unable to spread the gate open to enter because of the sharp angle.

Overhead view of escape gate (not to scale)

75-cm 1 x 2” wooden stakes at 3-m intervals

75-cm 2 x 2” wooden stakes

wooden laths stacked on edge and screwed to 2 x 2” stakes

snow fencing

highway side of fence

ditch side of fence

This portion of gate is flexible because it is made of thin laths and is distant from the point where it attaches to stakes. It will spread as a badger pushes through it (dashed lines).

~50 cm

5-10 cm opening at rest, flexing to 20-

25 cm when spread

~1 m

2 x 2” support

41


Side view of one arm of an escape gate (not to scale)

highway side of fence

ground

1-m laths screwed to stakes

75-cm 2 x 2” wooden stakes

This end of the gate is flexible because laths are not screwed to stakes here.

ditch side of fence

fence material in cross-section

42


Location of proposed badger fencing project.

project completion report: badger roadkill mitigation in

Documents