US 285 Wildlife Mitigation Assessment

In 2015, ECO-resolutions completed a comprehensive mitigation assessment to evaluate wildlife activity and movement patterns along six miles of the US 285 corridor between Nathrop and Buena Vista in the central Colorado Rocky Mountains. This assessment included a review and analysis of existing data; a field investigation and stakeholder site visit; and a wildlife mitigation recommendations report.

At the outset of this assessment, CDOT Traffic and Safety Department was recommending a wildlife crossing at a location at the southern end of the study area where two wildlife-vehicle collision accidents had resulted in human fatalities. However, the likelihood of a wildlife-vehicle collision resulting in a human fatality versus property damage only is typically due to confounding factors, in this case, icing combined with a curve in the road. Through the assessment process, ECO-resolutions determined that the greatest opportunity to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve driver safety as well as enhance connectivity for wildlife was instead at a different location. The final assessment recommended shifting the location of the proposed wildlife crossing; coordinating with the landowner to set back livestock fencing away from the entrances to existing culverts; and replacing unneeded sheep fencing with 4-strand wildlife-permeable fencing. Construction of the wildlife crossing, wildlife exclusion fencing, escape ramps and wildlife guards was completed in 2018.