This field trip will highlight the power of diverse partnerships in supporting CDOT to construct wildlife connectivity and vehicle-collision reduction projects. State Highway 9 in Grand County is the site of Colorado's first comprehensive wildlife mitigation system, including the state's first two wildlife overpasses, four large underpasses, and 10 miles of fenced highway. This high elevation sagebrush valley is essential winter range for multiple populations of mule deer, as well as elk, moose, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and variety of carnivores and other fauna. A 5-year monitoring study of the mitigation system documented over 100,000 successful passages by 17 large and medium-sized species and resulted in a 90% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions. This project would not have happened without the leadership of a local conservation ranch and surrounding communities, which raised nearly $10M for the project. In neighboring Summit County, I-70 over East Vail pass has long been identified as a major barrier to wildlife movement through the White River National Forest. The partnership organization, Summit County Safe Passages, is raising the funds to complete the designs for a system of wildlife crossings with fencing tying into existing bridges to reduce collisions with wildlife and enhance connectivity across the interstate. CDOT, Summit County, and Summit County are working together to raise the necessary funds to construct this important connectivity infrastructure project.
The trip will include stops at State Highway 9’s north overpass, Colorado’s first; the SH9 Harsha underpass; lunch (provided) at Lake Dillon; a stop in the I-70 East Vail Pass where wildlife crossings are planned; and the Vail Pass Rest Area.