Oregon Wildlife Foundation
$100,000  East Cascades 

The Oregon Wildlife Foundation, on behalf of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), requests funding to support construction of four wildlife overcrossings near Black Butte on Highway 20, between mile markers 90 and 95 in Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. Highway 20, between Bend and Suttle Lake, intersects several important movement corridors for mule deer, elk, and other wildlife. Like dams, roads act as barriers blocking the migration and movement of terrestrial wildlife. Each year, ODOT documents between 350 and 600 wildlife-vehicle strikes through mule deer and elk carcass collection on this section of highway; this is highest density of deer and elk wildlife-vehicle collisions on any highway in Oregon. Without action to mitigate the roadway's impacts, Highway 20 threatens to block the movement of terrestrial wildlife within the Metolius River Conservation Opportunity Area, preventing wildlife from completing annual and daily movements essential to their survival. Wildlife passage structures are a proven tool for mitigating the impacts of roads on terrestrial wildlife movement. The Bend to Suttle Lake project will complete design and engineering for four overcrossings and associated features along Highway 20 on USFS land. This project will reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, increase motorist safety, and improve habitat connectivity for a variety of species observed in the area, including grey wolf, Pacific marten, Sierra Nevada red fox, and western toad--among a dozen other Oregon Conservation Strategy species--as well as mule deer, elk, and a wide array of other mammals, birds, and herps. The total funds raised will be used, in partnership with other state and federal agencies, to complete geotechnical assessment, roadway design, environmental surveys, and permitting. This project is supported by a robust coalition of more than 18 partner organizations, including federal and state agencies, non-profits, landowners, tribal partners, and a university.