Numerous states have passed legislation in 2022 to take advantage of new, historic federal funding for wildlife crossing structures. Over the past six months, seven states have enacted laws that set aside the required state match to federal grants for infrastructure projects that reconnect habitat. Many of these state policies also facilitate coordination between transportation and natural resource agencies—as well as collaboration with diverse stakeholders—to identify projects that will most effectively reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity.
States that have enacted policies to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and/or improve habitat connectivity as of August 2022 (click to enlarge). Credit: Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Since becoming law last November, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has spurred an unprecedented flurry of activity to advance transportation projects that not only address the needs of drivers, but also the needs of wildlife. The legislation established the nation’s first-ever dedicated funding for infrastructure projects that allow fish and wildlife to safely cross over or under roads. This new “Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program” will distribute $350 million in grants over the next five years to state, local, tribal, and regional agencies to build structures that reconnect aquatic and terrestrial habitat while reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions. The new law also makes these projects eligible for funding under additional federal transportation programs, unlocking many additional billions of dollars.
This is a timely investment, given that wildlife-vehicle collisions are becoming an increasingly important issue for public safety, economic development, and natural resources management. These tragic accidents annually kill millions of animals and hundreds of people, cause more than 26,000 injuries, and accumulate nearly $10 billion worth of damage. Wildlife crossings are a proven solution that reduce these collisions by up to 97%, with the bonus that the structures pay for themselves relatively quickly.
For these reasons, states from coast to coast have already built these structures to protect motorists as well as species ranging from tortoises to panthers and from salmon to elk. While this progress is encouraging, many other similar projects have languished due to a lack of funding for wildlife crossings. The grant programs under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are beginning to address that major financing barrier and have motivated states to enact the set of policies summarized below.
California’s Safe Roads and Wildlife Protection Act (AB-2344) passed on August 30, 2022. This legislation directs the state’s transportation and wildlife agencies to identify and address barriers to wildlife movement when designing and implementing transportation projects within important habitat connectivity areas. More specifically, the statute establishes the Transportation Wildlife Connectivity Remediation program to fund projects that address inventoried habitat connectivity needs.
The California legislature and governor are also setting aside $50 million for wildlife crossings in 2022, including $10 million for the new Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Liberty Canyon. This project is expected to provide a safe crossing of the 101 Freeway outside of Santa Monica for mountain lions, which are a candidate for listing under the California Endangered Species Act.
The Safe Crossings for Colorado Wildlife and Motorists Act (SB22-151) passed in June 2022. This legislation, championed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers and diverse set of stakeholders, creates a $5 million fund for measures that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and reconnect habitat that has been fragmented by roads. The new statute encourages the Colorado Department of Transportation to work with the Department of Natural Resources and the Colorado Wildlife & Transportation Alliance to identify these projects.
The Colorado legislature also passed HB22-1072 in April 2022, which expands the scope of Habitat Partnership Program to fund efforts to conserve wildlife migration.
Transportation bill H. 5151 passed in August 2022. The legislation includes a provision directing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, to evaluate potential wildlife crossing projects throughout the state and publish the findings by the end of the year. The new statute specifically directs the agencies to consider the eligibility criteria in the new federal Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program to determine the feasibility of potential projects.
The New Mexico legislature approved $2 million in February 2022 for projects to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. This funding will allow the state’s Department of Transportation and Department of Game to implement their Wildlife Corridors Action Plan, which identifies 11 priority areas for wildlife crossings based on habitat connectivity science and collision data.
Oregon passed an appropriations bill (HB 5202) in April 2022, which allocates $7 million for projects that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. The bill also includes an additional $8 million for projects to remove barriers that currently prevent fish from moving freely through the state’s rivers and streams (“fish passage”).
Utah passed the Wildlife Accident Protections Act (H.B. 427) in March 2022, which requires the Utah Department of Transportation to include an analysis of wildlife and livestock mitigation measures in their annual report on the status of state transportation systems. The Utah legislature also set aside a $1 million appropriation for measures to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions at the junction of Interstates 80 and 84.
Wyoming passed SF0048 in March 2022, which provides additional funding for the Wyoming Wildlife & Natural Resource Trust. This legislation approves funding for specific wildlife crossings and aquatic connectivity initiatives. This includes projects to help mule deer safely get across Interstate 25 and to improve fish passage on the Henry’s Fork river.
Please note: This digest is intended to provide up-to-date information on policy development from a neutral, unaffiliated position as it relates to connectivity and corridor science and management.
A version of this post by the Center for Large Landscape Conservation also appears on their website.
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