Mammoth Lakes Wildlife Crossing Project
Project Purpose
The issue of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) has been a concern in the Eastern Sierra for residents and agencies for decades. In 2016, Mono County requested Caltrans review roadkill data collected by maintenance staff to determine if there were areas where high frequencies of WVCs occurred. That Feasibility Study Report (FSR) identified a priority area to address WVCs along U.S. 395 and State Route 203 south of Mammoth Lakes. Following this, a design engineer, in coordination with biologists, developed draft plans for how many, what type, and where wildlife crossing structures and directional fencing could be installed to reduce WVCs. The effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures and fencing has been researched for more than 30 years and implemented in countries around the world. They have been proven to significantly reduce WVCs.
Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions (WVCs) by the Number
The crossing structures and fencing should reduce WVCs benefiting drivers and wildlife. There has never been a fatal collision in the project area caused by wildlife. There are an average of 57 WVCs per year in the project area, or approximately 4 WVCs per mile per year. Deer make up the majority of wildlife hit in Mono County, constituting 96% of WVCs between 2015 and 2020. Bears make up 3%, coyotes make up 0.5%, with all other native species making up the remaining 0.5%.
The following map details the spots within the proposed project area where deer collisions occur most frequently.
Project Map
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Project Concept
The Caltrans District 9 Environmental Division has drafted the current design concept for the Mammoth Lakes Wildlife Crossing Project.
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Project Timeline
- 2023: Caltrans begins work on the PA&ED phase of the project.
- 2022: Caltrans applies for a Wildlife Conservation Board grant for $3.17 million to complete its Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) phase. The application is successful and Caltrans is awarded the grant.
- 2020: Caltrans completes the Project Initiation Document (PID) for this project.
- 2019: Upgraded roadkill database with Survey 123, allowing for more detailed tracking of the types of animals hit on District 9 highways.
- 2016: Caltrans begins reviewing roadkill data and completes the Feasibility Study Report (FSR) for this project.
FAQs
Q. What is the total cost of this project?
A: The current phase we received a WCB grant for (PA&ED) costs $3.17 million. The remaining phases (PS&E and Construction) were estimated to cost over $65 million to complete. These costs will be evaluated and refined at the end of PA&ED.
Q. Where is the funding coming from?
A: The PID document was completed with Caltrans funding. The PA&ED phase is funded through WCB grant funds
Q: How much money has been raised for this project?
A: We have only received grant funding from WCB ($3.17 million).
Q: What kinds of traffic impacts will the construction of this project have?
A: Caltrans will be able to better answer all questions related to construction, including traffic impacts and the duration of construction, as it enters the later project phases. Caltrans project phases include:
- PID Phase
- PA&ED Phase (This is the phase the project is in as of July, 2023)
- PS&E Phase (Plans, Specifications, and Estimates)
- Ready to List
- Construction Phase
Once this project reaches the end of the PS&E Phase, Caltrans will have a firm understanding of how construction will impact traffic on U.S 395 and State Route 203.
Construction PIO Contact
Michael Lingberg
Public Information Officer
Construction
Caltrans District 9
(760) 920-0280
Title VI Information
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).
Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.
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