The Monkton Amphibian Underpasses

Intensive monitoring at select locations 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. Mortality versus productivity. Small roads versus large roads, amount of traffic, speed of traffic, distance across, associated barriers, species productivity, life cycles

Why reptiles and amphibians? This picture was taken by Chris Sleasar Small size & slow speed

Chris Slesar’s picture, public awareness and support, big night Annual movement

Long lives

Limited range

Impacts are on populations versus individuals Common large mammals are a safety issue but usually not a local population issue. Common suburban animals are less of a safety issue, not usually a local population issue, but still an ethical and aesthetic issue. Rare mammals such as Key Deer and Florida Panther are a species survival issue. Common herps are almost always a local population issue and in some cases a species survival issue. Impacts are on populations versus individuals

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. Limited dollars, where to start

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

Mortality and injuries 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 Mortality versus productivity. Small roads versus large roads, amount of traffic, speed of traffic, distance across, associated barriers, species productivity, life cycles

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 !