Cascadia Wild
$102,000
 Additional Funding  by PEW and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 

Funds are requested for fencing supplies and installation for directional wildlife fencing needed to guide animals to the newly constructed Gilchrist under pass on Highway 97. The Oregon Department of Transportation chose to construct the underpass as an opportunity to replicate the wildlife passage success of the Lava Butte underpass completed in 2012. ODOT was not able to fund the necessary directional fencing to make the underpass an effective migratory barrier solution. Data provided by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in a seven-year mule deer collaring study identified the Gilchrist location as a key migratory crossing site. ODOT data collected at Lava Butte underpass showed an 87 percent decrease in wildlife/vehicle collisions. Since ODOT was unable to identify a fund source, a collation of wildlife advocacy and hunter-conservationists organizations joined with state and federal agencies to raise the funds for fence construction. Funds raised since early 2018 total 70% of the estimated $1,000,000 project cost estimate. The effort overall has been rewarding though a fund gap $300,000 remains. The benefits of barrier free animal passage include reducing wildlife loss, economic loses due to animal/vehicle collisions and less human injury or death. In addition to large ungulates, Lava Butte videos have documented a suite of over forty animal species using that crossing.

The Committee recommends funding this project for $10,000.

Project Report