Planning for Environmentally-Sensitive Highway Projects (EcoHWYS)

Photographer: Sandra Jacobson, USFS	Habitat fragmentation on the Ocala National Forest with State Route 40. The Ocala NF is one of the last contiguous blocks of sage scrub habitat in the world, with incredible biodiversity.	Hosted in collaboration with the USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, National Conservation Training Center, State Departments of Transportation, State Departments of Natural Resources, and universities
"Request" in AgLearn for 2013	Photo courtesy Sandra Jacobson USFS	This black bear was killled on State Route 40 on the Ocala National Forest at the location of a planned wildlife underpass. The IAWH course helped Forest Service, Florida DOT and consultants to collaboratively plan effective mitigation for black bears and other wildlife.
Photographer: Dave Romero, USFS	Traffic volume is increasing on highways on and off public lands. For these bighorns on the Bitterroot National Forest, even a modest increase in the traffic volume will impact their movement and increase the chance of vehicle collisions. The IAWH course helps students to recognize imminent impacts and investigate appropriate actions.

Objectives & Description:

Upon completion of this course, you will...

• streamline and improve delivery of an environmentally-sensitive highway project with training, mentoring, and developing interagency support early in the planning phase of a highway project.

An interdisciplinary and interagency planning team with experienced specialists assist a unit onsite with lessons learned and issues to watch for. Instructors are an interdisciplinary team, customized for the project issues (transportation ecology specialists include wildlife, engineering, landscape architecture, soil science, botany/revegetation, and recreation planning).

Topics include agency differences in NEPA, time lines, funding mechanisms, policy, expected issues and mitigation measures. Course can be customized and includes one day of lecture overview and a field trip with the local team requesting assistance.

	Caption: Transportation ecology training cadre botanist Scott Riley addresses Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee Dept of Transportation, and several other agency participants at the Eco-Highways course held in Cleveland TN to address upcoming issues, mitigation methods, and planning approaches to the 23-mile long Corridor K project in the southern Appalachians.
Caption: Cherokee National Forest staff describe native fish in streams that have potential impacts from the Corridor K project. The field trip helped local Forest and DOT officials hear from transportation ecology training staff what issues to look out for. TDOT personnel called the workshop 'incredibly effective' in helping local personnel to understand key issues.

Target Audience:
Interagency, interdisciplinary team and line officers working together on a multi-year highway project development.


Tuition: Can be negotiated with DOT, FHWA, and local unit (does NOT include travel, lodging and meals).
Includes:

• Instruction
• Materials
  
  

Dates: TBD

Location: TBD

Facilities: TBD

Registration Status: Request/On Demand

Registration: Request in AgLearn or ask vendor if you can host

Payment: TBA

Vendors: USDA Forest Service and USDI Fish & Wildlife Service


AgLearn Keywords: 2600, highway, transportation, wildlife.


Finding in AgLearn



Dropping from the Workshop: Tuition is low for this workshop consequently there is not much leeway on letting people drop. If you are registered, check with us first, just in case we have a waiting list. If there is not a waiting list, you will need to find a substitute or pay fixed costs. The budget has been set and spent based on current confirmation. Thank you for your understanding and consideration.

Agenda & Workshop Info



Cadre & Contacts: