SDDOT_WVC_Research_Final_Report_July_29_2016 (002).pdf

South&Dakota Department&of&Transportation Office&of&Research

Connecting South Dakota and the Nation

SD2014'03'F*

Reducing*WVC*in*South*Dakota!

Study!SD2014,03!

Final!Report!

Prepared!by!

Patricia!Cramer!

Julia!Kintsch,!ECO,resolutions!LLC!

Kari!Gunson,!Eco,Kare!International!

Fraser!Shilling!

Mary!Kenner!and!Cheryl!Chapman,!Louis!Berger!

! July!29,!2016!

Reducing)WVC)

In)South)Dakota)SD201493)) ) July)29,)2016) ii!

DISCLAIMER!

The! contents! of! this! report,! funded! in! part! through! grant(s)! from! the! Federal! Highway!

Administration,! reflect! the! views! of! the! authors! who! are! responsible! for! the! facts! and!

accuracy!of! the!data!presented!herein.! The! contents!do!not!necessarily! reflect! the!official!

views! or! policies! of! the! South! Dakota! Department! of! Transportation,! the! State!

Transportation! Commission,! or! the! Federal! Highway! Administration.! This! report! does! not!

constitute!a!standard,!specification,!or!regulation.!

The!South!Dakota!Department!of!Transportation!provides! services!without! regard! to! race,!

color,! gender,! religion,! national! origin,! age! or! disability,! according! to! the! provisions!

contained! in! SDCL! 20F13,! Title! VI! of! the! Civil! Rights!Act! of! 1964,! the! Rehabilitation!Act! of!

1973,!as!amended,!the!Americans!With!Disabilities!Act!of!1990!and!Executive!Order!12898,!

Federal!Actions! to!Address!Environmental! Justice! in!Minority!Populations!and!LowFIncome!

Populations,!1994.!!Any!person!who!has!questions!concerning!this!policy!or!who!believes!he!

or!she!has!been!discriminated!against!should!contact!the!Department’s!Civil!Rights!Office!at!

605.773.3540.!!!

Reducing)WVC))

In)South)Dakota)SD201493) ) July)29,)2016)iii!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS!

This!work!was!performed!under!the!direction!of!the!SD2014F03!Technical!Panel:!)

Aaron!Breyfogle!..................................!Research!

Keith!Fisk!.......................................!GF&P,!Pierre!!

Greg!Aalberg!............................!Sioux!Falls!Area!

Bruce!Hunt!....!Federal!Highway!Administration!

Chad!Lehman!...............................!GF&P,!Custer!

John!Foster!..........................................!Research!

Paul!Nikolas!.............................!Roadway!Design!

Doug!DeBoer!...........................!Hand!Co.!Sheriff!

Ruth!Howell!....................!Project!Development!

Jenny!Serbousek!........!SD!Dept.!of!Public!Safety!

Matt!Rippentrop!.............................!Custer!Area!

Stephen!Neumeister!................!Sioux!Falls!Area!

Bill!Stahl!....................................!Sully!Co.!Sheriff!

Pat!Brueggeman!.................................!Research

The!researchers!would!also!like!to!thank!the!many!people!who!helped!inform!this!project.!!

In)South)Dakota)SD201493) ) July)29,)2016)iv!

TECHNICAL!REPORT!STANDARD!TITLE!PAGE!

1.#Report#No.#

!SD2014F03FF!

2.#Government#Accession#No.# 3.#Recipient's#Catalog#No.#

4.#Title#and#Subtitle!

Reducing!WVC!in!South!Dakota!

5.#Report#Date#

07/29/2016!

6.#Performing#Organization#Code#

7.#Author(s)#

Patricia!Cramer,!Julia!Kintsch,!Kari!Gunson,!Fraser!Shilling,!

Mary!Kenner,!Cheryl!Chapman!

8.#Performing#Organization#Report#No.#

9.#Performing#Organization#Name#and#Address#

Patricia!Cramer,!Sole!Proprietor!

264!E!100!North!

Logan,!UT!84321!

10.#Work#Unit#No.#

11.#Contract#or#Grant#No.#

12.#Sponsoring#Agency#Name#and#Address#

South!Dakota!Department!of!Transportation!

Office!of!Research!

700!East!Broadway!Avenue!

Pierre,!SD!57501F2586!

13.#Type#of#Report#and#Period#Covered#

Final!Report!

February!2015F!July!2016!

14.#Sponsoring#Agency#Code#

15.#Supplementary#Notes#

An!executive!summary!is!published!separately!as!SD2011F05FX.!

16.#Abstract#

WVC!(WVC)!are!a!safety,!ecological,!and!economic!problem!in!South!Dakota.!This!

research!examined!the!extent!of!the!WVC!challenge!in!South!Dakota!through:!analyses!of!

South!Dakota!Department!of!Public!Safety!(SDDPS)!crash!data,!South!Dakota!DOT!

(SDDOT)!and!South!Dakota!Game!Fish!and!Parks!(SDGFP)!wildlife!carcass!data,!Tribal!

reservations’!data,!mapping,!and!a!review!of!how!data!are!collected!and!shared.!There!

was!an!annual!average!of!4,696!WVC!crashes!reported!to!the!SDDPS!from!2004!through!

2013.!At!an!average!value!of!$17,343!per!property!damage!only!crash,!and!greater!costs!

for!human!injury!and!fatal!crashes,!the!total!cost!to!the!South!Dakota!public!exceeded!

$107.9!million!annually.!There!are!also!ecological!costs.!Using!research!from!Utah!that!

found!5.26!more!mule!deer!carcasses!along!roads!than!reported!WVC!crashes,!it!was!

estimated!that!24,700!large!wild!animals!are!killed!each!year!in!South!Dakota.!To!address!

these!challenges,!the!research!generated!15!recommendations!for!actions,!including:!

Memoranda!of!Understanding!and!Agreement!between!SDDOT!and!other!agencies!to!

collect!accurate,!timely,!and!electronic!data!on!WVC!crashes,!and!WVC!carcasses,!that!

are!placed!in!central!electronic!locations.!Annually,!SDDOT!should!map!WVC!crash!data!

and!work!with!SDGFP!in!developing!State!Transportation!Improvement!Programs!and!

Long!Range!Plans,!and!other!transportation!actions.!!

17.#Keywords!

wildlife,!WVC,!animalFvehicle!collisions,!WVC,!

AVC,!wildlife!crossing,!mitigation!

18.#Distribution#Statement#

!No!restrictions.!This!document!is!

available!to!the!public!from!the!

sponsoring!agency.!

19.#Security#Classification#(of#this#report)#

!Unclassified!

20.#Security#Classification#(of#this#page)#

!Unclassified!

21.#No.#of#Pages#

185!

22.#Price#

In)South)Dakota)SD201493) ) July)29,)2016)v!

TABLE!OF!CONTENTS!

DISCLAIMER*.......................................................................................................................*ii!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS*......................................................................................................*iii!

TECHNICAL*REPORT*STANDARD*TITLE*PAGE*......................................................................*iv!

TABLE*OF*CONTENTS*..........................................................................................................*v!

LIST*OF*TABLES*................................................................................................................*viii!

LIST*OF*FIGURES*................................................................................................................*ix!

TABLE*OF*ACRONYMS*.........................................................................................................*x!

1! EXECUTIVE*SUMMARY*................................................................................................*1!

1.1! Problem*Description*.......................................................................................................*1!

1.2! Objectives*of*the*Study*...................................................................................................*2!

1.3! Study*Findings*.................................................................................................................*3!

1.3.1! The!State!of!the!Practice!of!WVC!Reporting,!Analyses,!Modelling,!and!Mitigation!..........!3!

1.3.2! The!State!of!the!Practice:!Evaluation!of!South!Dakota!Systems!to!Identify!WVC!.............!3!

1.3.3! Guidance!to!Improve!WVC!Reporting,!Analyses,!Collaboration,!and!Mitigation!..............!7!

1.4! Recommendations*........................................................................................................*10!

1.5! Research*Benefits*.........................................................................................................*11!

2! PROBLEM*DESCRIPTION*............................................................................................*13!

2.1! Financial*Costs*to*Society*of*Reported*WVC*Crashes*.....................................................*13!

2.2! Estimated*Costs*to*Society*of*Wildlife*Killed*in*Collisions*..............................................*14!

3! RESEARCH*OBJECTIVES*..............................................................................................*18!

3.1! Evaluate*Existing*WVC*Systems*and*Identify*Improvements*..........................................*18!

3.2! Develop*a*Plan*to*Improve*Collaboration*......................................................................*18!

3.3! Develop*Guidance*Premised*on*Best*Practices*..............................................................*18!

4! RESEARCH*TASK*DESCRIPTIONS*................................................................................*19!

4.1! Task*1.*Kick*Off*Meeting*................................................................................................*19!

4.2! Task*2.*The*State*of*the*Practice*of*WVC*Reporting,*Analyses,*and*Mitigation*...............*19!

4.3! Task*3.*The*Current*State*of*South*Dakota*Practices*Dealing*with*WVC*.........................*19!

4.4! Task*4*South*Dakota*Processes*and*Agency*Improvement*Recommendations*...............*20!

4.5! Task*5.*Interim*Report*and*Second*Meeting*with*Technical*Panel*.................................*21!

4.6! Task*6.*Outreach*Materials*to*Improve*WVC*Reporting,*Analyses,*and*Collaboration*....*22!

4.7! Task*7.*Develop*Guidance*to*Implement*WVC*Prevention*Measures*.............................*22!

4.8! Task*8.*Meet*with*Technical*Panel*to*Review*and*Approve*Materials*............................*23!

4.9! Task*9.*Final*Report*.......................................................................................................*23!

4.10! Task*10.*Executive*Presentation*....................................................................................*23!

5! FINDINGS*AND*CONCLUSIONS*...................................................................................*24!

5.1! The*State*of*the*Practice*of*WVC*Reporting,*Analyses,*and*Mitigation*..........................*24!

5.1.1! State!of!WVC!Data!Collection,!Reporting,!Mapping,!and!Prioritization!...........................!24!

5.1.2! WVC!Occurrence!and!Distribution!Models!with!Wildlife!Habitat!and!Ecosystems!.........!26!

5.1.3! Wildlife!Mitigation!Types!.................................................................................................!29!

5.2! The*State*of*the*Practice:*An*Evaluation*of*South*Dakota*Systems*to*Identify*WVC*.......*31!

In)South)Dakota)SD201493) ) July)29,)2016)vi!

5.2.1! WVC!Data!Collection!........................................................................................................!31!

5.2.1.1! How!WVC!Crash!Data!Reported,!Compiled,!and!Used!.........................................................!31!

5.2.1.2! How!Tribal!Reservations!Collect!WVC!Data!and!Identify!WVC!Hotspots!.............................!35!

5.2.1.3! How!WVC!Carcass!Data!Are!Collected,!Reported!and!Shared!.............................................!36!

5.2.1.4! How!a!WVC!Reporter!Smartphone!Application!Be!Implemented!South!Dakota!.................!42!

5.2.2! How!WVC!Hotspots!Are!Mapped!....................................................................................!44!

5.2.2.1! WVC!Crash!Hotspots!............................................................................................................!44!

5.2.2.2! WVC!Carcass!Hotspots!.........................................................................................................!54!

5.2.3! Incorporation!of!Wildlife!and!Habitat!Data!Into!Hotspot!Analysis!..................................!56!

5.2.4! Interagency!Collaboration!...............................................................................................!61!

5.2.4.1! Incorporation!of!WVC!and!Wildlife!Movement!Information!into!Planning!and!Design!......!61!

5.2.4.2! Current!Status!of!Road!and!Wildlife!Mitigation!Efforts!in!South!Dakota!.............................!62!

5.2.4.3! The!Role!of!Expert!Opinion!on!Wildlife!Mitigation!Needs!Along!Roads!..............................!63!

5.3! Guidance*to*Improve*WVC*Reporting,*Analyses,*Collaboration,*and*Mitigation*.............*65!

5.3.1! Step!1:!Identify!WVC!Problem!Areas!...............................................................................!66!

5.3.1.1! Collect!and!Compile!Consistent!and!Comprehensive!WVC!Crash!Data!...............................!66!

5.3.1.2! Collect,!Compile,!and!Share!Complete!and!Accurate!Carcass!Data!.....................................!67!

5.3.1.3! Map!and!Analyze!Data!and!Identify!WVC!Hotspots!in!GIS!...................................................!69!

5.3.1.4! SDDOT!Request!SDGP!Generates!GIS!Wildlife!Maps!...........................................................!71!

5.3.1.5! SDDOT!Initiate!a!Standardized!Process!to!Prioritizing!Wildlife!Conflict!Areas!.....................!72!

5.3.2! Step!2:!Integrate!Wildlife!Considerations!into!Transportation!Planning!.........................!73!

5.3.2.1! Integrate!WVC!Priorities!into!the!SDDOT!Environmental!Review!Process!..........................!73!

5.3.2.2! Create!a!Memorandum!of!Understanding!for!Transportation!Planning!.............................!74!

5.3.3! Step!3:!Select,!Create,!and!Adaptively!Manage!Mitigation!Solutions!for!WVC!...............!75!

5.3.3.1! Evaluate!WVC!Mitigation!Alternatives!.................................................................................!75!

5.3.3.2! Conduct!a!BenefitFCost!Analysis!of!the!WVC!Problem!Site!and!Potential!Solutions!...........!76!

5.3.3.3! Engineering,!Geologic,!and!Other!Concerns!........................................................................!76!

5.3.3.4! Create!and!Implement!Performance!Measures!Based!on!a!Monitoring!Plan!.....................!76!

5.3.3.5! Research!and!Adaptively!Manage!Wildlife!Mitigation!.........................................................!77!

5.3.3.6! Repeat!Steps!on!an!Annual!Basis!at!the!State!and!SDDOT!Regional!Levels!.........................!77!

5.4! Initiate*a*Phase*2*of*This*Study*to*Help*Bring*About*Many*Recommendations*..............*78!

6! RECOMMENDATIONS*...............................................................................................*79!

6.1! Recommendation*1:*Initiate*Interagency*Memorandum*of*Agreement*.........................*79!

6.2! Recommendation*2:*SDDOT*Requests*that*SDDPS*Establish*Standards*for*Crash*Data*..*79!

6.3! Recommendation*3:*SDDOT*Establishes*a*Memorandum*of*Agreement*with*Agencies*.*80!

6.4! Recommendation*4:*Strengthen*the*Contract*Language*for*Carcass*Contractors*...........*80!

6.5! Recommendation*5:*SDDOT*Creates*an*Electronic*Carcass*Data*Entry*Method*..............*80!

6.6! Recommendation*6:*SDDOT*Establishes*a*Single,*Centralized,*Statewide*Database*.......*81!

6.7! Recommendation*7:*SDDOT*Updates*the*Statewide*WVC*Crash*Hotspot*Map*..............*81!

6.8! Recommendation*8:*SDDOT*Support*the*Creation*of*SDDOT*Regional*Maps*.................*82!

6.9! Recommendation*9:*SDDOT*Conducts*Interagency*Regional*Expert*Workshops*............*82!

6.10! Recommendation*10:*SDDOT*Create*an*Annual*Procedure*to*Map*WVC*Data*...............*82!

6.11! Recommendation*11:*SDDOT*Requests*That*SDGFP*Generate*GIS*Wildlife*Maps*..........*83!

6.12! Recommendation*12:*SDDOT*Initiates*a*Standardized*WVC*Priority*Process*.................*83!

6.13! Recommendation*13:*Integrate*WVC*Priority*Areas*Into*Environmental*Review*...........*83!

6.14! Recommendation*14:*Create*a*Memorandum*of*Understanding*for*Planning*...............*84!

6.15! Recommendation*15:*SDDOT*Initiates*a*Phase*2*of*This*Study*......................................*84!

6.16! Recommendations*Summary*........................................................................................*85!

7! RESEARCH*BENEFITS*.................................................................................................*86!

In)South)Dakota)SD201493) ) July)29,)2016)vii!

8! REFERENCES*..............................................................................................................*88!

Appendix*A:*Task*2*Results:*State*of*WVC*Data*Collection,*Analyses,*and*Prioritization*....*95!

Appendix*A:*Part*I*'**State*and*Provincial*WVC*Methods*...........................................................*95!

Appendix*A*Part*II*'*WVC*Occurrence*and*Distribution*Models*................................................*117!

Appendix*B:*Types*of*Wildlife*Mitigation*........................................................................*123!

Appendix*C.*Agency*Personnel*Interviewed*....................................................................*132!

Appendix*D:*Example*Forms*to*Report*WVC*Carcass*Pickups*in*South*Dakota*................*134!

Appendix*E.*Results*of*Surveys*and*Meetings*with*Tribal*Representatives*.....................*135!

Appendix*F.*Example*of*Carcass*Removal*Contractor*Contract*.......................................*142!

Appendix*G.*Rapid*City*Region*WVC*Priority*Areas*Mapped*in*Expert*Opinion*Workshop .......................................................................................................................................*143!

Appendix*H:*Benefit'Cost*Analysis*of*WVC*Hotspot*Areas*in*the*Rapid*City*Region*........*150!

1.*Estimate*Cost*of*WVC*From*Reported*Crashes*.....................................................................*151!

2.*Estimate*Cost*of*WVC*on*Wildlife*Populations*Estimated*from*Carcass*Data*.......................*152!

3.*Estimate*the*Percentage*Decrease*in*WVC*Crashes*.............................................................*154!

4.*Estimate*the*Lifespan*of*the*Mitigation*...............................................................................*154!

5.*Estimate*Cost*of*the*Mitigation*...........................................................................................*154!

6.*Input*Values*into*Benefit'Cost*Equation*to*Find*the*Value*of*the*Project*.............................*154!

7.*Determine*How*Long*Would*It*Take*for*Project*to*Pay*for*Itself*..........................................*155!

Examples*of*Benefit'Cost*Analyses*..........................................................................................*155!

Appendix*I.*Idaho*Memorandum*of*Understanding*for*WVC*Collaboration*....................*164!

In)South)Dakota)SD201493) ) July)29,)2016)viii!

LIST!OF!TABLES!

TABLE!1.!NUMBER!OF!OF!WVC!CRASHES!OF!DIFFERENT!SEVERITY!TYPES!REPORTED!TO!SDDPS!2004!THROUGH!2013.!...............!13!

TABLE!2.!AVERAGE!ANNUAL!ESTIMATED!COSTS!TO!SOCIETY!OF!WVC!REPORTED!TO!SOUTH!DAKOTA!DEPARTMENT!PUBLIC!SAFETY!

2004!THROUGH!2013.!......................................................................................................................................!14!

TABLE!3.!WVC!CRASH!REPORTING!BY!AGENCY,!IN!THE!SOUTH!DAKOTA!ACCIDENT!REPORTING!SYSTEM!(SDARS)!DATABASE!2004F

2013.!.............................................................................................................................................................!33!

TABLE!4.!SOURCES!OF!WVC!CARCASS!DATA!IN!SOUTH!DAKOTA!AS!OF!2015.!.......................................................................!39!

TABLE!5.!WVC!REPORTED!CRASHES!BY!SDDOT!AREA.!.....................................................................................................!46!

TABLE!6.!TOP!20!HOTSPOTS!FOR!REPORTED!WVC!CRASHES!FOR!SOUTH!DAKOTA!2004F2013.!RATES!FOR!ANNUAL!BASIS.!..........!48!

TABLE!7.!COMPILED!GIS!LAYERS.!THESE!INCLUDE!BASE!LAYERS,!COLLISION!AND!CARCASS!DATA!AVAILABLE!FOR!IMPORT!INTO!A!GIS,!

AND!AVAILABLE!WILDLIFE!AND!ENVIRONMENTAL!SPATIAL!DATASETS.!..........................................................................!57!

TABLE!8.!CRASH!AND!INJURY!TYPE!AND!2015!AVERAGE!COST!ESTIMATES!BASED!ON!U.S!DEPARTMENT!OF!TRANSPORTATION!

(2013).!........................................................................................................................................................!151!

TABLE!9.!VALUE!OF!INDIVIDUAL!ANIMALS!OF!DIFFERENT!WILDLIFE!SPECIES,!TAKEN!FROM!SOUTH!DAKOTA!LEGISLATURE!(2015).!.!152!

In)South)Dakota)SD201493) ) July)29,)2016)ix!

LIST!OF!FIGURES!

FIGURE!1.!WVC!REPORTED!CRASHES!HOT!SPOTS!WITHIN!SOUTH!DAKOTA!2004!F2013.!MAPPED!WVC!ARE!OVER!THE!10FYEAR!

TIME!PERIOD.!......................................................................................................................................................!5!

FIGURE!2.THE!THREE!KEY!PROCESSES!TO!MITIGATE!ROADS!FOR!WVC!(PINK!BOXES)!AND!THE!INFORMATION!AND!ACTIONS!THAT!

SUPPORT!THESE!PROCESSES.!.................................................................................................................................!8!

FIGURE!3.!PREDICTED!MOVEMENT!DECISIONS!OF!ANIMALS!THROUGH!AN!IDEALIZED!LANDSCAPE.!.............................................!28!

FIGURE!4.!DECISION!FRAMEWORK!FOR!SELECTING!WILDLIFE!MITIGATION.!............................................................................!30!

FIGURE!5.!WVC!CARCASS!COLLECTION!ROUTES!OF!CONTRACTORS!EMPLOYED!BY!SDDOT!AND!SDGFP!ON!SOUTH!DAKOTA!STATE!

MAINTAINED!ROADS!2015.!................................................................................................................................!37!

FIGURE!6.!WVC!REPORTED!CRASHES!FROM!2004!TO!2013!ON!ALL!SOUTH!DAKOTA!ROADS,!TOP!AND!ON!SDDOT!ADMINISTERED!

ROADS,!BOTTOM.!..............................................................................................................................................!45!

FIGURE!7.!REPORTED!WVC!CRASH!HOTSPOTS!RATES!PER!MILE!PER!10!YEARS!ON!SOUTH!DAKOTA!DEPARTMENT!OF!

TRANSPORTATION!ADMINISTERED!ROADS.!NAMES!PORTRAY!SDDOT!AREAS!AND!NOT!CITIES.!........................................!47!

FIGURE!8.!MAP!OF!WVC!REPORTED!CRASHES!ON!INTERSTATEF90!NEAR!SPEARFISH,!SOUTH!DAKOTA.!MAP!DEMONSTRATES!TWO!

HOTSPOT!SECTIONS!WITHIN!1.2!MILES!(1.9!KM).!MAP!CREATED!BY!A.!VANDEL,!SDDOT,!USED!WITH!PERMISSION.!..........!51!

FIGURE!9.!REPORTED!WVC!CRASH!HOTSPOTS!IN!RAPID!CITY!AND!CUSTER!SDDOT!AREAS,!2004F2013.!..................................!52!

FIGURE!10.!HUMAN!INJURIES!(BLACK!DOTS)!AND!FATALITIES!(RED!CROSSES)!FROM!REPORTED!WVC!IN!SOUTH!DAKOTA!FROM!

2004F2013.!....................................................................................................................................................!53!

FIGURE!11.!THE!2014!REPORTED!CARCASSES!PICKED!UP!BY!CARCASS!CONTRACTORS!AND!COMPILED!BY!SDGFP.!........................!55!

FIGURE!12.!SOUTH!DAKOTA!DEPARTMENT!OF!TRANSPORTATION!CUSTER!DISTRICT!OF!THE!RAPID!CITY!REGION!WVC!CARCASS!PICKUP!

LOCATIONS!FROM!THE!FALL!(SEPTEMBER,!OCTOBER,!AND!NOVEMBER)!MONTHS!OF!2011!F!2014.!..................................!55!

FIGURE!13.!THE!THREE!MAJOR!STEPS!FOR!MITIGATING!ROADS!FOR!WVC!AND!THE!INFORMATION!AND!ACTIONS!THAT!SUPPORT!

EACH!STEP.!......................................................................................................................................................!65!

FIGURE!14.!SIOUX!FALLS!AREA!WVC!REPORTED!CRASH!HOTSPOTS!FROM!2004F2013.!MILE!POSTS!ARE!GIVEN!FOR!THE!BEGINNING!

AND!END!OF!EACH!HOTSPOT.!..............................................................................................................................!70!

FIGURE!15.!ARIZONA!HOTSPOT!MAP!OF!FIVEFMILE!SEGMENTS!WITH!HIGHEST!WVC!INCIDENCES,!BASED!ON!WVC!CRASH!DATA.!

TAKEN!FROM!DODD!2014.!.................................................................................................................................!96!

FIGURE!17.!DISTRIBUTION!OF!TOP!1!PERCENT!AND!5!PERCENT!COUNTS!OF!ANIMALFVEHICLE!COLLISIONS!(AVC,!BOTH!WILD!AND!

DOMESTIC)!RESULTING!IN!FATALITY!AND!INJURY!IN!COLORADO!FROM!1986F2004.!RED!DOTS!REPRESENT!TOP!1!PERCENT,!

PURPLE!REPRESENT!THE!REMAINING!AVC.!TAKEN!FROM!CROOKS!ET!AL.!2008.!..........................................................!101!

FIGURE!18.!IDAHO!WVC!HOTSPOTS!AS!REPORTED!BY!CRAMER!ET!AL.!2014.!......................................................................!103!

FIGURE!19.!NEW!MEXICO!ROAD!AND!WILDLIFE!WVC!PRIORITY!SEGMENTS.!.......................................................................!107!

FIGURE!21.!OREGON!PRIORITY!WVC!HOT!SPOTS!MAPPED!IN!2009.!TAKEN!FROM!TRASK!(2009).!.........................................!110!

FIGURE!23.!WASHINGTON!STATE!WVC!PRIORITY!ROAD!SEGMENTS,!FROM!K.!MCALLISTER,!PERSONAL!COMMUNICATION!2014.!RED!

SEGMENTS!ARE!OF!HIGH!WVC!PRIORITY,!ORANGE!SEGMENTS!MEDIUM,!BLUE!SEGMENTS!LOW,!AND!GRAY!SEGMENTS!OF!NO!

PRIORITY!FOR!WVC.!........................................................................................................................................!115!

FIGURE!24.!USING!WVC!OCCURRENCES!TO!TEST!PREDICTIVE!VALUE!OF!LINKAGES!FOR!WILDLIFE!MOVEMENT.!THE!DENSITY!OF!WVC!(#!

CARCASSES/HIGHWAY!LENGTH)!WITHIN!HYPOTHETICAL!LINKAGES!IS!COMPARED!WITH!THE!DENSITY!OUTSIDE.!.....................!121!

FIGURE!25.!SEASONAL!WILDLIFE!CROSSING!ZONE!SIGN!INSTALLED!IN!COLORADO!THAT!MAY!BE!FOLDED!IN!HALF!TO!BE!CONCEALED.!

CDOT!PHOTO.!...............................................................................................................................................!129!

FIGURE!26.!LOCATION!OF!US!18!EDGEMONT!HILL!BRIDGE!IN!SOUTHWEST!SOUTH!DAKOTA.!..................................................!157!

FIGURE!28.!US!16!JEWEL!CAVE!HELLS!CANYON!ROAD!STRETCH!FOR!POTENTIAL!MITIGATION.!...............................................!160!

FIGURE!29.!US!16!FROM!APPROXIMATELY!MP!9!TO!THE!WEST,!TO!MP!13!IN!EAST.!HELLS!CANYON!IS!ON!THE!RIGHT,!UNDER!US!16!

AT!LOOP!TO!THE!NORTH.!..................................................................................................................................!160!

In)South)Dakota)SD201493) ) July)29,)2016)x!

TABLE!OF!ACRONYMS!

Acronym! Definition!

AADT# Average#Annual#Daily#Traffic#

AVC# AnimalUvehicle#collision,#can#include#domestic#animals#as#well#as#wildlife# AZDOT# Arizona#DOT# AZGF# Arizona#Game#and#Fish#

CDOT# Colorado#DOT#

CDFW# California#Department#of#Fish#and#Wildlife#

CROS# California#Roadkill#Observation#System# DOT# Department#of#Transportation#

ESA# Endangered#Species#Act#

FHWA# Federal#Highway#Administration# FTP# File#Transfer#Protocol# GIS# Geographic#Information#Systems# GPS# Global#Positioning#System#

HWY# Highway# ILT# Incident#Location#Tool#

IPLAN# A#webUbased#portal#for#Idaho#agency#personnel#to#access#GIS#data# ITD# Idaho#Transportation#Department# IDFG# Idaho#Fish#&#Game#

LAT/LONG# Latitude#and#Longitude#bearings#for#a#geoUreferenced#location#

LHRS# Linear#Highway#Referencing#System#

MDT# Montana#DOT#

MOA# Memorandum#of#Agreement# MOU# Memorandum#of#Understanding#

MRM# Mile#Reference#Marker# MTFWP# Montana#Fish#Wildlife#and#Parks#

NEPA# National#Environmental#Policy#Act# NESCA# Nebraska’s#NonUGame#Endangered#Species#Conservation#Act#

NDOT# Nevada#DOT,#and#Nebraska#DOT#

NDOW# Nebraska#Department#of#Wildlife#

NMGF# New#Mexico#Game#and#Fish#

NMDOT# New#Mexico#DOT#

OMTO# Ontario#Ministry#of#Transportation#

ODOT# Oregon#DOT#

ODFW# Oregon#Department#of#Fish#and#Wildlife#

In)South)Dakota)SD201493) ) July)29,)2016)xi!

PAS# Passage#Assessment#System#

PI# Primary#Investigator#

PDO# Property#Damage#Only#Crashes# QA/QC# Quality#Assurance/Quality#Control# SDARS# South#Dakota#Accident#Reporting#System#

SDDOT# South#Dakota#Department#of#Transportation# SDGFP# South#Dakota#Game#Fish#and#Parks## SDDPS# South#Dakota#Department#of#Public#Safety#

STIP# Statewide#Transportation#Improvement#Program## TAMS# Transportation#Asset#Management#System#

T&E# Threatened#&#Endangered#

TEG# Technology#Enterprises#Group,#Inc.## TraCS# Traffic#and#Criminal#Software# TXDOT# Texas#DOT#

UC# University#of#California#

UPLAN# An!interactive!GIS!mapping!platform!on!the!Internet!for!Utah!agency!personnel# USDA# United#States#Department#of#Agriculture#

USDOT# United#State#Department#of#Transportation## UDOT# Utah#Department#of#Transportation# UDWR# Utah#Department#of#Wildlife#Resources#

VMS# Variable#Message#Signs#

WGA#CHAT# Western#Governors#Association#Crucial#Habitats#Assessment#Tool#

WISDOM# Wyoming!Interagency!Spatial!Database!and!Online!Management!System# WSDOT# Washington#DOT#

WYDOT# Wyoming#DOT#

WYGFD# Wyoming#Game#and#Fish#Department#

WVC# WVC#

1!

1! EXECUTIVE!SUMMARY!

South!Dakota!Department!of!Transportation!(SDDOT)!recognizes!that!wildlifeFvehicle!collisions!

(WVC)!are!a!safety!problem!for!motorists!and!an!ecological!problem!for!wildlife!populations!

across!the!state.!This!research!project!was!initiated!to!help!identify!solutions!for!reducing!these!

collisions.!Research!results!are!reported!that!address!the!problem!of!WVC!and!the!work!being!

conducted!and!needed!in!order!to!help!reduce!these!collisions.!!

1.1! Problem!Description!

South!Dakota!averages!close!to!5,000!reported!WVC!on!its!roads!and!highways!each!year.!From!

2004!through!2013!there!were!46,961!accurately!reported!crashes!due!to!collisions!with!

wildlife!in!South!Dakota!for!an!annual!average!of!4,696!reported!WVC!(data!from!South!Dakota!

Department!of!Public!Safety,!(SDDPS)).!This!average!can!be!translated!into!annual!costs!

incurred!to!society!in!2015!dollars!by!taking!the!average!number!of!reported!collisions!of!

different!severity!types!and!multiplying!the!monetary!value!SDDOT!places!on!those!collisions.!

SDDOT!estimates!the!crash!costs!of!reported!accidents!using!two!values:!a!$378,800!average!

for!every!crash!with!fatalities!or!injuries!to!humans,!and!a!$17,343!average!for!every!property!

damage!only!(PDO)!crash.!!Between!2004!and!2013!there!was!an!annual!average!of!1.5!human!

fatalities,!and!735!reported!crashes!with!human!injuries!that!were!incurred!by!WVC!reported!

on!South!Dakota!roads.!The!cost!of!reported!crashes!with!wildlife!in!South!Dakota!is!valued!at!

over!one!hundred!million!dollars!annually.!!

Collisions!with!wildlife!that!result!in!reported!crashes!are!typically!with!hooved!wild!animals,!

(ungulates),!whose!value!lost!to!South!Dakota!can!also!be!estimated.!These!monetary!values!

are!difficult!but!not!impossible!to!estimate.!To!estimate!the!numbers!of!ungulates!killed!in!

WVC,!an!estimate!of!the!collisions!not!reported!can!be!generalized!through!multiplying!values!

from!western!state!studies.!In!Utah,!the!ratio!of!roadside!mule!deer!and!other!large!wildlife!

carcasses!to!reported!crashes!was!found!to!be!5.26!carcasses!for!every!one!reported!crash!

(Olson!et!al.!2014a).!If!the!5.26!correction!value!from!Utah!is!used,!South!Dakota's!4,696!

reported!crashes!with!ungulates!may!equate!to!as!many!as!24,700!large!ungulates!lost!to!WVC!

in!South!Dakota!annually.**

Reported*WVC*crashes*on*all*South*Dakota*roads*cost*the*public*an*average*of*$107.9* million*every*year.*

In)South)Dakota)SD201493! ! July!29,!2016) 2!

The!majority!of!collisions!with!wild!animals!across!the!U.S.!is!with!deer!(Insurance!Information!

Institure!2012),!hence!calculations!for!the!value!of!wild!animals!lost!are!focused!on!deer.!In!

2015!South!Dakota!Game!Fish!and!Parks!(SDGFP)!placed!a!value!of!$1,000!for!a!single!mule!or!

whiteFtailed!deer!and!upwards!of!$5,000!for!a!trophy!buck!of!either!species!(South!Dakota!

State!Legislature!2015)!when!used!in!valuing!animals!killed!by!poachers.!These!values!were!

used!in!this!valuation.!If!it!is!assumed!that!95!percent!of!the!collisions!involved!typical!deer!(at!

$1,000!each),!and!5!percent!of!collisions!were!with!trophy!deer!(at!$5,000!each),!then!the!

equivalent!value!equals!(.95!x!24,700!x!$1,000)!+!(.05!x!24,700!x!$5,000)!=!$29.6!million.!

With!such!large!monetary!consequences!from!crashes!with!wildlife,!and!other!impacts!to!both!

the!motoring!public!and!the!survival!of!wildlife!populations,!it!is!!recommended!that!South!

Dakota!create!standardized!protocols!for!evaluating!and!addressing!WVC!!These!protocols!

include!a!systematic,!reliable!system!of!reporting!WVC!crashes!and!carcasses;!!coordinated!data!

collection!and!sharing!among!agencies;!the!incorporation!of!WVC!data!and!maps!of!wildlife!

habitat!into!transportation!planning;!!and!processes!for!using!this!information!to!implement,!

conserve,!and!enhance!wildlife!crossing!structures!and!other!mitigation.!This!SDDOT!study!is!a!

stepping!stone!on!the!road!to!South!Dakota!becoming!more!proactive!in!identifying!problem!

areas!where!roads!may!be!barriers!to!wildlife!movements!and!where!there!are!increased!risks!

of!WVC.!Ultimately!these!efforts!will!assist!the!state!in!developing!the!necessary!mitigation!to!

help!preserve!wildlife!populations!and!protect!the!driving!public.!

1.2! Objectives!of!the!Study!

Objective*One:!Evaluate!existing!WVC!tracking!and!data!collection!systems!and!coordination!

among!stakeholder!agencies!and!identify!needed!improvements.!

Objective*Two:!Develop!a!plan!to!improve!collaboration!among!multiple!South!Dakota!

organizations!and!agencies!with!common!goal!of!reducing!WVC.!

Objective*Three:!Develop!guidance!premised!on!best!practices!for!reducing!WVC!in!South!

Dakota.!

It*is*estimated*that*each*year*South*Dakota*loses*an*average*of*over*24,700*large* ungulates*due*to*collisions*with*vehicles,*at*a*cost*of*over*$29.6*million*to*the*South*

Dakota*public.*!

3!

1.3! Study!Findings!!

1.3.1! The!State!of!the!Practice!of!WVC!Reporting,!Analyses,!Modelling,!and!

Mitigation!!

The!researchers!contacted!colleagues!in!departments!of!transportation!and!wildlife!agencies!in!

eight!western!U.S.!states!and!one!Canadian!province!to!learn!of!the!state!of!current!practices!

for!defining!WVC!hotspots!and!creating!solutions.!Overall!the!researchers!found!these!states!

share!the!following!characteristics!for!this!practice:!!

1.!All!states!and!the!one!Canadian!province!(Ontario)!surveyed!have!WVC!crash!data!from!law!

enforcement!and!safety!departments,!and!this!is!the!source!of!most!state!WVC!hotspot!maps.!!

2.!Carcass!data!collection!is!often!mandated,!but!loosely!enforced,!and!without!the!necessary!

resources!for!data!management,!thereby!creating!databases!that!are!unreliable!in!evaluating!

the!problem!of!WVC!at!the!state!scale.!!

3.!Several!states!created!wildlife!linkage!maps!which!represent!models!depicting!large!ungulate!

habitats!and!hypothesized!connections!among!habitat!patches.!These!wildlife!linkage!maps!are!

combined!with!WVC!hotspot!maps!to!better!inform!agencies!of!the!potential!areas!for!wildlife!

mitigation.!!

4.!Several!states!and!Ontario!have!begun!creating,!and!Idaho!has!completed,!a!standardized!

WVC!prioritization!process!that!sets!protocols!for!how!information!on!ecological!resources!and!

traffic!safety!are!brought!together!to!identify!priority!areas!to!mitigate!for!wildlife!movement.!!!

1.3.2! The!State!of!the!Practice:!Evaluation!of!South!Dakota!Systems!to!Identify!

WVC!!

The!research!identified!three!steps!where!the!current!systems!work!to!identify!high!priority!

areas!for!WVC!problems,!and!how!these!processes!could!be!further!improved.!These!steps!are:!

WVC!crash!and!carcass!data!collection,!mapping!of!crash!data,!and!agency!collaboration!and!

cooperation.!!

Collection*of*WVC*Crash*Data*

The!first!task!of!identifying!WVC!hotspots!on!South!Dakota!roads!is!to!use!the!WVC!crash!

database.!The!crash!data!are!collected!by!safety!officers!with!automated!computer!software!

that!allows!them!to!select!“wild!animal”!as!a!cause!of!the!collision,!and!to!report!crash!locations!

by!selecting!the!location!on!maps!within!the!programs.!These!data!are!uploaded!to!SDDPS!

where!the!entries!are!checked!for!accuracy!and!uploaded!to!the!South!Dakota!Accident!

Reporting!System!(SDARS)!database.!This!database!houses!the!collection!of!crash!data!points!

4!

that!then!can!be!used!to!create!a!map!of!WVC!crashes!across!the!state!on!SDDOT!maintained!

roads.!!

Mapping*of*WVC*Crash*Data*

The!SDDPS!crash!dataset!was!queried!by!SDDPS!and!researchers!in!this!project!using!the!term!

“wild!animal”!to!identify!all!reported!crashes!on!both!state!and!local!roads!that!involved!

wildlife.!!The!2004F2013!database!included!46,960!records.!Of!these!records,!46,650!had!

correct!geographic!coordinates!and!were!mapped!in!a!Geographic!Information!Systems!(GIS)!

for!exploration!and!analysis!(Figure!1).!This!map!displays!the!crash!rates!with!colors!for!each!

highwayFsegment!ranging!from!green,!which!indicates!lower!crash!rates!for!reported!wildlifeF vehicle!crashes,!to!orange!and!red!for!the!road!segments!with!the!highest!crash!rates.!!

Road!segments!with!the!highest!rates!of!WVC!crashes,!orange!and!red!segments!on!the!map,!

contained!34!percent!of!all!the!reported!crashes,!and!occurred!on!just!nine!percent!(770!miles,!

1,239!kilometers,!km)!of!all!the!SDDOT!administered!roads.!These!locations!help!focus!efforts!

to!locations!where!mitigation!is!most!needed.!

This!initial!step!of!mapping!and!categorizing!the!reported!crashes!with!wildlife!can!help!agency!

personnel!begin!to!address!problem!areas!with!the!data!and!actions!described!below.!!

The!top!recommended!improvement!on!the!current!crash!reporting!system!is!to:!

1.!Create!an!entry!field!in!the!electronic!data!and!paper!data!forms!so!that!officers!may!indicate!

the!species!of!wild!animal!involved!in!crashes.!!

Over*the*ten'year*period,*2004*–*2013,*28*percent*of*all*reported*crashes*involved*a*wild* animal.!

Sixty'seven*percent*of*all*reported*WVC*reported*crashes*were*on*SDDOT*administered* highways!

5!

Rates!of!WVC/Mile/200432013!

Figure!1.!WVC!Reported!Crashes!Hot!Spots!Within!South!Dakota!2004!32013.!

Mapped!WVC!are!over!the!103year!time!period.!

Note:&Divisions&Among&Colors&Were&Created&with&Jenks&Optimization&Method.&

WVC*Carcass*Data* Third!party!contractors!clean!up!wildlife!carcasses!on!select!SDDOT!administered!roads!and!

record!this!information!on!paper!or!electronic!data!sheets!that!record!the!date,!species!of!

animal,!gender,!and!latitude!and!longitude!of!the!location!of!the!carcass.!However,!the!

collection!and!accuracy!of!data,!and!how!the!data!are!compiled!and!shared!are!inconsistent.!

The!unreliable!nature!of!the!data!and!processes!for!transferring!data!to!a!central!location!

severely!limit!the!utility!of!these!data!in!evaluating!the!magnitude!of!WVC!including!the!species!

involved.!Ideally,!both!SDDOT!and!SDGFP!would:!!

6!

1.!Enforce!a!standardized!process!within!the!state!to!ensure!all!carcass!data!reports!from!every!

region!and!district!within!SDDOT!are!turned!into!the!SDGFP!Wildlife!Damage!Program!

Administrator!on!a!quarterly!basis!(at!minimum).!

2.!Cleary!write!carcass!pickup!contracts!so!that!contractors!are!not!paid!until!complete!and!

accurate!data!sheets!are!submitted.!!

3.!Standardize!a!process!by!which!SDGFP!personnel!manage!the!carcass!data!on!a!quarterly!

basis,!make!the!resulting!databases!available!to!personnel!in!both!agencies,!map!the!data,!and!

send!notice!to!agency!personnel!that!the!data!processing!is!complete!and!the!resulting!

database!is!available.!SDGFP!should!also!report!what!contractors!and!areas!are!not!submitting!

data.!SDGFP!should!also!create!a!quality!assurance!process!for!the!data!to!help!eliminate!

incorrect!data!and!delete!repetitive!entries.!

Wildlife*Habitat*Maps*

Maps!of!wildlife!presence!and!distribution!in!areas!near!roads!are!extremely!important!to!a!

thorough!analysis!of!WVC!hotspots!and!associated!mitigation!solutions.!In!order!to!select!

mitigation!measures,!it!is!important!to!know!where!habitat!for!different!species!are!located!in!

relation!to!roads!and!what!species!of!ungulates!and!carnivores!may!be!most!likely!involved!in!

WVC.!Mitigation!actions!are!very!speciesFspecific.!The!researchers!worked!with!SDGFP!

personnel!to!determine!GIS!data!layers!available!to!address!wildlife!habitat!and!movement!

areas!near!roads.!Although!the!researchers!compiled!spatial!GIS!data!layers!from!a!variety!of!

sources,!there!were!no!stateFwide!or!regionFwide!maps!of!large!ungulate!or!carnivore!locations!

or!habitat!maps!other!than!the!very!coarse!general!hunting!maps!provided!to!the!public.!For!

SDDOT!to!better!evaluate!the!wildlife!species!and!their!potential!to!become!involved!in!WVC,!

SDGFP!will!need!to:!

1.!Retroactively!review!past!SDGFPFsponsored!studies!to!retrieve!maps!of!studied!populations!

of!large!ungulates!and!carnivores!and!make!compiled!maps!available!to!SDDOT.!

2.!Ensure!that!all!future!wildlife!studies!maintain!a!stipulation!in!researchers’!contracts!that!all!

wildlife!habitat!data!and!actual!location!maps!be!uploaded!to!a!SDGFP!site!that!is!also!available!

to!SDDOT.!This!will!be!typically!done!between!academic!institutions!and!SDGFP.!!

3.!Annually!review!and!update!wildlife!habitat!and!wildlife!locational!maps!and!make!updates!

known!and!available!to!SDDOT.!

7!

Tribal*WVC*Data*Collection*and*Identification*of*Problem*Areas*

The!research!team!contacted!representatives!from!all!nine!Tribal!reservations’!departments!of!

wildlife!or!natural!resources.!The!Oglala!Sioux!Tribe!and!the!Rosebud!Sioux!Tribe!collect!data!on!

WVC,!but!only!the!Oglala!Sioux!reported!these!crashes!into!SDDPS’!standardized!state!data!

collection!system,!Traffic!and!Criminal!Software!(TraCS).!!For!the!majority!of!roads!within!

reservations,!the!SDDPS!does!not!receive!WVC!crash!data!from!Tribes.!However,!Tribal!agencies!

and!the!Tribal!public!expressed!awareness!of!where!WVC!hotspots!were!believed!to!occur.!The!

researchers!attended!the!2015!Tribal!Transportation!Safety!Summit!and!worked!with!the!South!

Dakota!Tribes!in!an!expert!workshop!to!identify!WVC!hotspots!on!each!reservation.!The!

researchers!identified!a!need!for!SDDOT!to:!

1.!Engage!Tribes!in!WVC!data!collection!and!the!continued!identification!of!problem!areas.!!

The*Role*of*Cooperation*and*Collaboration*

There!is!a!level!of!collaboration!between!SDDOT!and!SDGFP!for!identifying!where!WVC!

carcasses!are!collected,!and!between!SDDOT!and!SDDPS!in!collecting!crash!data.!The!SDDOTF SDGFP!partnership!does!not!often!extend!beyond!tending!to!carcass!collector!contracts!and!

data!reporting.!The!two!agencies!displayed!a!willingness!to!work!together!during!this!research!

in!issues!dealing!with!WVC.!On!June!1,!2015!members!of!the!Rapid!City!SDDOT!region!and!

SDGFP!met!at!the!SDGFP!offices!and!worked!together!in!an!expert!workshop!to!identify!

problematic!WVC!hotspots!across!the!region.!These!76!hotspots!were!listed,!and!crossFchecked!

with!the!top!WVC!reported!crash!hotspots!reported!in!the!present!study.!TwentyFeight!of!the!

expert!chosen!hotspots!were!among!the!top!hotspots!in!the!state!identified!by!the!team.!The!

researchers!found!a!variety!of!situations!and!efforts!that!could!be!improved!with!interagency!

collaboration!for!relationships!among!the!three!agencies.!Ongoing!cooperation!between!SDDOT!

and!SDDPS!is!also!necessary!to!ensure!that!crash!reporting!includes!elements!that!are!

important!for!WVC!crash!data!analysis.!Specific!needs!for!enhanced!interagency!collaboration!

in!South!Dakota!include:!!

1.!Clear!standards!that!support!WVC!crash!data!analysis,!such!as!a!required!species!field.!!

2.!!Interagency!agreements!that!establish!roles!and!protocols!for!addressing!WVC!data!

collection,!planning!and!project!development!related!to!collisions!with!wild!animals.!

1.3.3! Guidance!to!Improve!WVC!Reporting,!Analyses,!Collaboration,!and!

Mitigation!

For!South!Dakota!to!reduce!WVC,!there!is!a!need!for!agencies!to!embrace!the!processes!of!

identifying!the!extent!of!the!WVC!problem!and!to!develop!targeted!strategies!to!address!this!

8!

problem.!These!processes!build!upon!systems!already!underway!at!SDDOT!and!SDGFP.!In!this!

report,!guidance!was!provided!for!improving!WVC!reporting!and!analysis,!assessing!wildlife!

habitat!distribution!with!relation!to!roads,!and!improving!collaboration!among!stakeholder!

organizations.!The!report!provided!a!framework!to!assist!agencies!in!implementing!WVC!

mitigation!measures!with!decision!support!tools.!!

Three!primary!steps!for!effectively!addressing!and!mitigating!for!WVC!are!identified!in!Figure!2,!

below.!!

Step!1!–!Identify!the!WVC!problem!areas.!!

Step!2!–!Integrate!wildlife!considerations!into!transportation!planning!and!projects.!

Step!3!–!Select,!Create,!and!Adaptively!Manage!Mitigation!solutions.!!

Figure!2.The!Three!Key!Processes!to!Mitigate!Roads!for!WVC!(Pink!Boxes)!and!

the!Information!and!Actions!That!Support!These!Processes.!

Blue%Boxes%Represent%SDDOT%actions,%Yellow%Boxes%are%SDGFP%Actions,%and%Green% Boxes%are%the%Responsibility%of%Both%Agencies.%Tribes%may%participate%in%all%processes.%% Solid%lines%represent%the%standard%process%among%Western%U.S.%States,%whereas%the%

9!

dotted%line%represents%a%temporary%solution%for%beginning%to%identify%WVC%priority%areas% using%hotspot%mapping.!!

Step*1:*Identify*WVC*Problem*Areas*

The!first!step!in!the!process!of!mitigating!for!WVC!in!South!Dakota!was!initiated!by!the!current!

research!project.!A!primary!need!identified!by!the!research!team!and!further!validated!by!

interviews!with!agency!personnel!was!for!standardized,!consistent!and!spatially!accurate!WVC!

crash!and!carcass!data!that!are!compiled!on!a!consistent!and!timely!basis!across!the!entire!

state.!Multiple!interviewees!expressed!a!need!for!reliable!data!on!where!WVC!are!occurring,!

and!the!habitats!and!terrain!features!with!which!these!collisions!are!associated.!The!

recommendations!below!in!section!1.4,!outline!how!these!can!be!accomplished.!!

Once!crash!and!carcass!data!are!accurately!collected!and!compiled,!they!are!used!as!the!basis!

for!WVC!maps!with!priority!areas!marked!based!on!mile!sections!of!roads!with!the!highest!

number!of!collisions!recorded.!Typically,!these!are!crash!maps.!This!is!a!short!term!solution,!as!

represented!by!the!dotted!line!in!the!figure.!As!transportation!departments!integrate!other!

data!sources,!geoFreferenced!wildlife!locations!based!on!surveys,!and!wildlife!habitat!based!on!

wildlife!agency!studies!are!combined!to!help!produce!GIS!maps!of!wildlife!habitat.!This!data!

layer!is!then!combined!with!the!WVC!hotspot!maps,!along!with!other!information,!to!inform!a!

standardized!prioritization!process.!This!process!in!turn!delivers!a!stateFwide!map!and!regional!

maps!of!the!areas!in!most!need!of!WVC!mitigation.!This!process!is!conducted!annually!across!

the!state!and!regions.!This!process!is!a!standard!long!term!method,!as!represented!by!a!sold!

line!to!the!pink!box!to!identify!WVC!problem!areas.!!

Step*2:*Integrate*Wildlife*Considerations*into*Transportation*Planning*and*Project* Development* This!step!represents!the!integration!of!wildlife!considerations!into!the!highest!and!lower!levels!

of!transportation!planning!within!SDDOT.!This!includes!SDGFP!involvement!in!the!State!

Transportation!Improvement!Program!(STIP),!and!long!range!transportation!plans.!Actions!

recommended!will!assist!in!the!success!of!the!steps!above!and!below.!The!recommendations!

below,!detail!how!these!can!be!accomplished.!!

Step*3:*Select,*Create,*and*Adaptively*Manage*Mitigation*Solutions** This!step!encompasses!the!standard!actions!agency!personnel!use!as!they!work!together!to!

consistently!select,!build,!monitor!and!adaptively!manage!wildlife!mitigation!for!WVC.!This!step!

is!further!described!as!the!framework!for!Task!7,!and!decision!support!tools!are!presented!to!

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assist!with!these!actions.!This!step!is!to!be!conducted!in!tandem!with!transportation!planning.!

The!six!main!subFsteps!are:!

1.!Evaluate!Mitigation!Alternatives!–!agency!personnel!work!together!to!select!types!of!

methods!to!mitigate!the!area!under!consideration.!

2.!Conduct!a!BenefitFCost!Analysis!of!the!WVC!Problem!Site!and!Potential!Solutions.!!

3.!Consider!Engineering,!Geologic,!and!Other!Concerns.!!

4.!Create!Performance!Measures!and!Monitoring!Plan!–!wildlife!and!transportation!agencies!

work!together!on!these!measures!and!plans.!

5.!Research!and!Adaptively!Manage!Wildlife!Mitigation.!!

6.!These!steps!are!repeated!over!time!with!each!mitigation!opportunity.!!

1.4! Recommendations!!

The!following!15!recommendations!are!presented!below!to!assist!SDDOT,!SDDPS,!SDGFP,!and!

Tribes!in!formulating!actions!that!address!the!problem!of!WVC!in!South!Dakota.!These!actions!

are!in!the!order!of!actions!needed,!presented!above,!to!collect!accurate!data,!map!the!WVC!

and!wildlife!habitat!data,!create!a!prioritization!process!for!actions,!and!increase!interagency!

collaboration.!Many!of!these!actions!can!take!place!concurrently.!

Recommendation!1:!Memorandum!of!Agreement!to!Increase!Interagency!Crash!Data!Collection!

Efforts!!

Recommendation!2:!SDDOT!Requests!That!SDDPS!Establish!Standards!for!WVC!Crash!Data!!

Recommendation!3:!Memorandum!of!Understanding!with!Multiple!Agencies!to!Collect!Carcass!

Data!!

Recommendation!4:!Strengthen!the!Contract!Language!and!Standards!for!Carcass!Collection!!

Recommendation!5:!SDDOT!Creates!an!Electronic!Data!Entry!Method!for!Carcass!Data!!

Recommendation!6:!Establish!a!Single,!Centralized,!Statewide!Database!for!WVC!Carcass!Data!!

Recommendation!7:!Update!the!Statewide!WVC!Crash!Hotspot!Map!with!Mile!Posts!and!

Accuracy!Verification!

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Recommendation!8:!Create!SDDOT!Regional!WVC!Crash!Hotspot!Maps!Using!a!GIS!

Recommendation!9:!Conduct!Interagency!Regional!Expert!Workshops!to!Create!Expert!Maps!!

Recommendation!10:!Create!an!Annual!Procedure!to!Map!WVC!Crash!Data!and!Examine!Trends!

Recommendation!11:!SDDOT!Requests!SDGFP!to!Generate!GIS!Wildlife!Maps!!

Recommendation!12:!Initiate!a!Standardized!Prioritization!Process!for!WVC!conflict!areas!!

Recommendation!13:!Integrate!WVC!Priority!Area!Identification!into!the!SDDOT!Environmental!

Review!Process!!

Recommendation!14:!A!Memorandum!of!Understanding!for!SDDOT!and!SDGFP!Collaboration!in!

Transportation!Planning!and!Wildlife!Mitigation!

Recommendation!15:!Initiate!a!Phase!2!of!This!Study!to!Help!Bring!About!Recommendations!

The!recommendations!would!come!about!over!time,!with!SDDOT!addressing!certain!

recommendations!immediately,!and!other!recommendations!over!the!course!of!the!coming!

months!and!years.!The!overall!objective!of!all!these!recommendations!would!be!to!help!

decrease!WVC!in!South!Dakota,!while!helping!wildlife!to!move!across!the!landscape.!The!results!

would!be!increased!motorist!safety,!and!protection!of!wildlife!populations!from!the!effects!of!

roads!and!traffic.!!

1.5! Research!Benefits!

This!research!marks!the!first!step!toward!defining!the!scope!of!the!WVC!problem!across!South!

Dakota.!The!research!project!has!put!a!value!on!the!problem!of!WVC!in!South!Dakota,!with!an!

average!4,696!reported!crashes!with!wildlife,!with!an!average!cost!of!$107.9!million!each!year!

to!society!from!these!reported!crashes,!and!as!many!as!24,700!large!wild!animals!killed!at!an!

estimated!loss!of!$29.6!million!annually.!The!recommended!steps!provided!in!this!report!can!

potentially!save!millions!of!dollars!in!prevented!WVC!over!the!coming!years!and!decades.!!

The!cost!savings!to!the!state!agencies!and!the!traveling!public!in!South!Dakota!hold!great!

potential.!If!the!recommended!actions!prevented!just!58!property!damage!only!WVC,!they!will!

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have!saved!South!Dakota!one!million!dollars!in!costs!to!the!public!and!individuals!involved.!As!

the!efforts!increase!ove…