NJ Habitat Connectivity Initiative Full Working Group Update #1 Spotted Salamander Crossing Road in Northern NJ
Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Initiative A strategic plan to reconnect New Jersey s landscape by prioritizing and guiding: Land protection Habitat restoration and management Mitigation of road impacts
Animals Need to Move to Survive Bobcat Movements Male 3/04 7/05 Female 2/09 1/10 Male 3/05 10/05 0 5 10 20 Miles
Animals Need to Move to Survive Black Bear Movements Male 7/11 2/12 0 5 10 20 Miles
A Fragmented Landscape
Impacts of Roads Driver Safety / Property Damage Express-Times File Photo Bobcat kittens on the road in northern NJ August 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=k-fp7flawma#!
Habitat Connectivity Planning Other States Western Governor s Association: call for Western states to identify key wildlife migration corridors and crucial wildlife habitats in the West and make recommendations on needed policy options and tools for preserving those landscapes
Statewide Habitat Connectivity Plan 5 6 1 2 4 3 Goal: A strategic plan promoting the longterm viability of terrestrial wildlife populations in New Jersey through a science-based, collaborative approach. The plan consists of two tools that identify and recommend opportunities and priorities to conserve and restore habitat connectivity. Products: 1. Connectivity Map 2. Connectivity Guidelines 7 Intact Protected Areas Movement Corridors 8 Implementation Actions: 1. Preserve Corridors 2. Restore & Maintain Habitat 3. Mitigate Road Impacts
Product Benefits Wildlife population recovery and sustainability Maximizing the return on our open space and overall conservation investment Increasing permit efficiency and cost savings Increasing driver safety
Our Approach Kick-off Meeting: October 26 th 2012 Full Working Group >100 members Mapping 39 members Guidance Doc 36 members Communication 19 members Federal, State, Other government, Regional planning agencies, Non-profit organizations, Universities, Companies
Working Group Website http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/connectivity_proj.htm
Working Group Website
Meeting Schedule & Logistics 2011-2012 Engage Stakeholders 2012 - October Assemble Full Working Group 2012 - December Team Meetings 1 2013 - January Team Meetings 2 2013 - February Team Meetings 3 2013 - April Full Working Group Meeting Core Teams meet on the 3 rd Tuesday of every month at Assunpink WMA 9:30-11:30 - Mapping 12:00-2:00 - Guidance Document 2:30-4:30 - Communication
Working Group Website
[]* This is a placeholder for a core areas definition. We have not yet decided if the areas we connected will necessarily all be protected areas. Progress Mapping Team Goals/Objectives Identify and characterize habitat cores and corridors that are critical for the long-term viability of terrestrial wildlife populations. The identified corridors are ones that: Provide live-in and move-through habitat [Serve to reconnect existing protected areas]* Enable species to meet basic daily and seasonal biological requirements (e.g. finding food, mates, cover) Provide for dispersal and recolonization of populations Enable redistribution of populations in response to climatic, environmental, and population level changes Facilitate genetic exchange among populations Consider connectivity across the state border
Progress Mapping Team What we have done: Reviewed break-out session notes on mapping product needs Read habitat connectivity review papers to get everyone on the same page Brain stormed task list/decisions needed for connectivity map development Subteam researched & presented goals and mapping approaches taken by other states Drafted goals/objectives for the habitat connectivity mapping Reviewed base GIS layers: LULC, Roads, protected areas, topography, hydrology Hands-on corridor mapping exercise Next steps: Define core areas we will connect Document species data availability and state of our knowledge re: species habitat preferences, life history, movement behaviors Review forthcoming paper that summarizes connectivity efforts in the U.S. Decide approach (ecological integrity or focal species) to try in pilot area(s)
The document language will cater to a professional audience. Progress Guidance Document Team Goals/Objectives A document to assist agencies involved in land-use planning, transportation planning, land management, and conservation with restoring and maintaining a connected landscape, as identified by associated mapping of habitat cores and corridors, for terrestrial wildlife in New Jersey. The document will recommend actions and measures needed to establish effective corridors including: Land protection Land management Mitigating the impacts of roads The document will integrate resilience planning and recommend hazard mitigation actions in areas at risk of flooding and other natural hazards. Consideration will be given to potential adverse impacts of increased connectivity. Recommendations will be made on pre- and post-monitoring of corridors. The document will emphasize cost-effective practices.
Progress Guidance Document Team What we have done: Drafted goals/objectives for the guidance doc Reviewed break-out session notes on guidance doc product needs Read habitat connectivity review papers to get everyone on the same page Brain stormed task list/decisions needed for guidance doc development Subteam researched & presented guidance document outlines from other states State Questionnaire Outreach: Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, and Washington Complimentary project review Next steps: Draft document outline Critical review of draft road mitigation BMPs Economic feasibility analysis Integration of complimentary project results into document
Progress Communication Team Goals/Objectives The main objectives of the Communications Team are: to facilitate internal communication among the NJHCP Core Teams (Communications, Mapping, and Guidance Document) and membership; to create outreach products and media that engage stakeholders and guide implementation of the NJHCP; and to support the development of and the long-term, on-the-ground objectives of the NJHCP by securing grants, partnerships, and recognition well beyond the planning stage.
Progress Communication Team What we have done: Reviewed break-out session notes on product needs and opportunities and obstacles Read habitat connectivity review papers to get everyone on the same page Developed a task list categorized into internal and external communication and funding and science needs Subteam researched, presented, and populated annotated bibliography of materials developed by other states to support habitat connectivity efforts Drafted goals/objectives for the Communication team Drafted goals of overall Habitat Connectivity Initiative, informed by Mapping and Guidance Document goals/objectives Next steps: Prioritize task list Develop habitat connectivity presentation for the public as an audience Consider improvements for Working Group website Identify target audiences for outreach materials Develop a public website for the project
Outreach DEP Commissioner meeting February DEP, Division of Fish & Wildlife regional meetings February NJ Land Conservation Rally March 9th Open Space Institute webinar (Resiliency Initiative) March 21st NJ Chapter of The Wildlife Society April 10th NJ Open Space and Farmland Preservation Coordinators Roundtable Discussion (DVRPC hosting) April 19th
Crossing Structure Database
Culvert Inventory NJ Pilot Road/Stream Crossing Assessment Ellen Creveling, TNC 1. Characterize existing culverts 2. Identify ways to improve connectivity for aquatic wildlife passage and stream health
Progress to Date Field survey protocol developed Over 700 crossings surveyed in 4 watersheds: Paulinskill, Maurice, Cooper, Salem Preliminary crossing results: >40% constrict the stream channel Maurice has highest % that are perched But, most are not impacting fish passage
Wildlife Crossing Survey Wildlife Guardian Project Goals/objectives: 1. Identify wildlife crossing hot spots in NJ 2. Gain insight into landscape characteristics associated with hotspots Volunteers Will: Adopt road transect Survey for road kill and wildlife crossing 3x per week March through May
Roadkill Data
Pre and Post Construction Monitoring Pre-Monitoring Mortality hotspot Movement corridor Planned roadwork Rte. 78 overpasses Bobcat using existing structure under Rte. 23 Post Monitoring Retrofits New construction
Getting Projects in the Ground Transportation Enhancement Program One of 12 eligible activities: reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity Applied for funding for 3 wildlife mitigation projects in northern NJ
NJIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Land survey and design Conceptual drawings for Road/Wildlife BMPs
Small Grant Funding Opportunity CONSERVE WILDLIFE MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/cwgrants.htm One of the priorities project areas in 2013 is Projects addressing human-wildlife conflicts and habitat connectivity $3,500 is the maximum amount available per proposal request ($1,000 is the minimum amount). The Conserve Wildlife matching grant is a 50:50 cost share grant - therefore, grant funds cannot exceed 50% of the total project cost. Must be a non-profit that applies Deadline 4/11/13
Questions/Feedback? Contact: Gretchen Fowles Gretchen.Fowles@dep.state.nj.us or Brian Zarate Brian.Zarate@dep.state.nj.us 5 6 1 2 4 3 8 7 http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/connectivity_proj.htm
Working Group Website http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/connectivity_proj.htm