22TDRPAR8086 - Environmental and Survey Consultant Services for Highway-774 Wildlife Road Crossing Study and Fence Line Survey

Alberta Parks requires a firm to complete a preliminary study and analysis of the existing wildlife movement patterns in order to evaluate the best locations to mitigate the effects of the proposed fence line on the local wildlife populations and provide measures that reduce wildlife and vehicle collisions. The intent of this project is to evaluate wildlife needs within the project area with respect to wildlife corridors, potential high wildlife and vehicle collision areas, and the best locations to place highway mitigation measures.

Specific project objectives are:
i. Desktop reviews
ii. Reconnaissance surveys
iii. Local wildlife road crossing patterns – study area, at minimum covers 1000 metres on either side of the roadway centre-line, along the project
limits noted in Appendix A.
iv. Optimal connectivity for specific species/movement needs (grizzly bears, moose, elk)
v. Determine where wildlife are at greatest risk for wildlife vehicle collisions
vi. Environmental impact mitigation for the alignment and construction of the fence line such as; the avoidance of wetlands, minimizing tree
removal, avoiding rare plant communities
vii. Winter tracking to ground truth potential areas of high crossing occurrence – no cameras
viii. Provide a final detailed report outlining the findings from the information collected including applicable mitigation measures
ix. Provide a detailed fence line routing based off these study’s while following Alberta Transportation’s guidelines for clear zone requirements

The project area is along Highway-774 from the Castle River bridge crossing to the Castle Wildland Ecological Reserve boundary cattle guard which is approximately 9 linear kilometers.

NE16-T5-R3-W5M