United States Department of Transportation
i
Elk movements associated with a high-traffic highway : Interstate 17.
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2013-03-01
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[PDF-2.81 MB]
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NTL Classification:NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Accidents;NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway Safety;NTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT;
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Abstract:The authors evaluated wildlife-highway relationships from 2007 to 2010 along a 46-mi stretch of Interstate
17 (I-17) in north-central Arizona (MP 294−340). This highway had an average annual daily traffic (AADT)
volume of 16,100 vehicles/day during the study. The specific objectives of this research project were to:
Assess elk movements, highway crossing patterns, and distribution, and determine permeability.
Investigate spatial and temporal relationships of elk crossings and distribution to traffic volume.
Investigate spatial and temporal wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC) patterns and traffic relationships.
Investigate elk crossings and WVC in relation to riparian-meadow habitats.
Develop recommendations to reduce WVC and promote highway permeability.
The research team instrumented 71 elk (Cervus elaphus) with GPS receiver collars along I-17. Elk crossed
the highway 912 times and had a mean passage rate of 0.09 crossings/approach. Compared to other Arizona
highways with lower AADT, I-17 was a significant barrier to elk passage. Passage rates were significantly
higher along stretches with wide medians and near the Munds Canyon Bridge. In total, 395 WVC were
analyzed, and an average of 79.0 elk-vehicle collisions occurred each year. Traffic volume influenced elk
distribution, permeability, and WVC patterns. Proximity to riparian-meadow habitats also influenced elk
crossing, approach, and WVC locations. The team recommended 17 wildlife passage structures and
ungulate-proof fencing along the length of I-17 to reduce WVC and promote permeability, largely validating
the recommendations in the draft environmental assessment (DEA).
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