Research Idea Details

The performance of bridges & culverts built to stream simulation standards for passing terrestrial wildlife

  • Focus Area: Wildlife & Ecosystems
  • Status: Archived
  • Subcommittee: Natural Resources
  • Cost: $100k-$249k
  • Timeframe: 2-3 years

Research Idea Scope

Washington State has been replacing culverts with new larger culverts, or bridges, using
an algorythm called “Stream simulation” for over a decade. These
larger passages provide dry banks under highways during most of the year, most
years. This research exploits motion-triggered trail cameras to quantify and
characterize terrestrial wildlife safe passage at locations where stream
simulation was used to design a new stream passage system. 

Urgency and Payoff

In addition to well known benefits to fish and stream dynamics, this research
seeks to characterize the benefits of stream simulation designs to terrestrial
wildlife, providing an additional value to consider when assessing the benefits
of this approach to culvert design.

Suggested By:
Kelly McAllister Washington State Department of Transportation 360-705-7426
[email protected]
Submitted:
10/09/2013