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The Monkton Amphibian Underpasses. Collecting and dispersing data for informed conservation. Intensive monitoring at select l ocations. Education & outreach. Extensive survey state wide. Locate and map significant road-crossing areas. Mortality and injuries.
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Collecting and dispersing data for informed conservation Intensive monitoring at select locations Education&outreach Extensive survey state wide Locate and map significant road-crossing areas
Mortality and injuries Reptiles and amphibians are the vertebrate groups most sensitive to road mortality.
Why reptiles and amphibians? • Small size & slow speed
Significant Crossing Areas? • Where rare, threatened, or endangered species are crossing. • Where concentrations of common species are crossing. • Where a wide diversity of species are crossing. If mortality is also high, the site then becomes a conservation priority.
Significant? • Where rare, threatened, or endangered species are crossing. • Blue Spotted Salamander (S2, SGCN-Medium Priority) • 367 Blue-spotted Salamanders in 2006 • 328 Blue-spotted Salamanders in 2008
Significant? Where concentrations of common species are crossing. 2,878 amphibian of nine species in 2009 Including: 533 Spotted Salamanders 509 Spring Peepers 184 Wood Frogs
Significant? Where a wide diversity of species are crossing. Spotted Salamander Blue-spotted Salamander Eastern Newt Four-toed Salamander Red-backed Salamander Wood Frog Spring Peeper Green Frog Pickerel Frog N. Leopard Frog American Toad
Priority? Mortality and injuries Highest mortality of the known significant sites April 2006, estimates of more than 1000 mortalities in two nights Compared to: 10 killed on 4 nights on Morgan Road in Salisbury
The Timeline • 1993, site first discovered (The Vermont Herp Atlas) • 1997, the Monkton Conservation Commission begins monitoring the site • 2005, the Monkton Conservation Commission begins studying mitigation options • 2008, the Monkton Conservation Commission and the Lewis Creek Association begin raising funds • 2015, SD Ireland begins construction
The Monkton Underpass was funded by: Defenders of Wildlife/TransWild Alliance - $9,000 Sally Laughlin’s Meeri Zetterstrom Award - $2,500 Davis Conservation Foundation - $5,000 Transportation Enhancement Grant - $150,000 VT F&W, State Wildlife Grant to town - $45,000 Lewis Creek Association, Direct Mail Fundraising - $67,676.69 Lewis Creek Association Indiegogo Fundraising - $42,780 Total design, construction, and oversight costs: $342,397.07
Between March 10 and May 3, 2016 we had 2,208 amphibian crossings in the two culverts.
A Bonus of Popular Megafauna • Deer on railroad car
More Popular Megafauna • Deer on railroad car
Herptiles in Vermont will persist or disappear depending on our actions Thanks Monkton !