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29 <br /> locations within the landscape are a necessary component of a landscape habitat-corridor network that <br /> functions to maintain wildlife populations. To determine where wildlife crossings should be prioritized <br /> and what type of crossing is most suitable for a given location,knowledge of WVC, species' biological <br /> requirements, and landscape corridor data are required(Huijser et al. 2008). Other road design elements <br /> such as guard rails, fencing, and vegetation barriers are also important considerations for designing <br /> successful wildlife crossings. As our understanding of wildlife movement behavior and wildlife use of <br /> crossing structures improves, detailed structural specifications and implementation guidelines for <br /> effective crossing structures are increasingly available for different wildlife taxonomic groups(such as <br /> mammals,turtles, or salamanders) (Clevenger and Huijser 2011). <br /> North Carolina has over 79,000 miles of roads, and the NC Department of Transportation(NCDOT)has <br /> installed or modified approximately 12 crossings for wildlife statewide(Ernest and Sutherland 2017). <br /> While most of these crossings are located in the mountains or coastal plain(such as in Jones et al. 2010), <br /> the improved US 15-501 bridge over New Hope Creek(Figure 6),installed in 2007, is an example of a <br /> transportation improvement project in the project area that included modification of the bridge height and <br /> length to improve its use as a wildlife underpass. The new bridge has increased safe passage under the <br /> highway for a variety of wildlife species (Ron Sutherland,Wildlands Network,pers. comm.). <br /> u <br /> =i - <br /> y <br /> Figure 6. The improved US 15-501 bridge over New Hope Creek in Durham County,NC.Photo credit Ron <br /> Sutherland, Wildlands Network. <br /> Ernest and Sutherland(2017)recently produced a statewide map of roads that are high-priority candidates <br /> for wildlife crossing structures to mitigate WVC,based on data from NCDOT on traffic volume, WVC, <br /> and road structural characteristics. Their data, in combination with the results of this project and other <br /> conservation data layers,provide an opportunity for NCDOT and local governments to integrate wildlife <br /> crossing structures into transportation improvement projects at selected locations where they will be most <br /> effective for reducing WVC,promoting landscape connectivity, and helping to maintain healthy, diverse <br /> ecosystems. <br /> PLANNING FOR CORRIDORS AND CONNECTIVITY: THE GREEN GROWTH APPROACH <br /> NCWRC's Green Growth Program provides a framework for incorporating conservation data and <br /> principles into land use planning and development. The Green Growth approach to land use planning <br /> requires the recognition of our natural resources as fundamental to the resiliency of communities. <br /> Integrating natural resources into land use planning and policy is a critical step to ensure natural resource <br /> conservation and integrity into the future.NCWRC's Green Growth Toolbox(NCWRC 2013)is a set of <br /> resources that helps communities understand where high-quality natural areas occur and how to protect <br /> them through land use planning tools, such as plans, ordinances,and development review. To help <br /> identify conservation priorities, spatial information on natural areas,rare species locations,wildlife <br /> habitat, and other biological information collected and maintained by NCNHP is made available to <br /> planning departments and the public. <br /> 16 A Landscape Plan for Wildlife Habitat Connectivity <br />