Wildlife crossings are a win-win for wildlife and society by reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and improving habitat connectivity. Recent federal and state programs have infused millions of dollars into the science, planning, design, and construction of wildlife crossings. This presentation will explore what it takes to go from problem to solution in both policy and execution. We’ll learn about the wide variety of measures that can be implemented to reduce wildlife-transportation conflicts. We’ll also learn about the scientific methods used to determine optimal locations, the importance of public involvement, and the challenges of planning and design. Case studies will include projects from Colorado, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, and more.

We are super excited to have people from both HDR and CDOT speaking at this event, giving our guests a unique opportunity to hear insightful information from two of the key players in this space! Come sip a beer from the famous New Terrain Brewing and learn with RMAEP!

BIOS

Nathan Jones is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Project Manager at HDR. He specializes in transportation ecology and wildlife movement analysis. Nathan is experienced in wildlife crossing feasibility studies, wildlife connectivity plans, statewide prioritization studies, and micro-scale siting of wildlife crossings and other roadway mitigation measures. He enjoys synthesizing multiple spatial datasets to inform wildlife management decisions and priorities. Nathan is passionate about helping clients efficiently meet and exceed regulatory requirements for the mutual benefit of multiple stakeholders. Nathan founded and co-leads HDR’s Wildlife Crossing Practice Group.

Francesca serves as an Environmental Program Manager/Ecologist for the Colorado Department of Transportation- Region 1. Her technical background is focused on wetland ecology and wildlife biology. She serves as an Environmental Program Manager in the R1 Environmental Unit and manages the categorical exclusion and biological resources program. Francesca has been fortunate to work on a variety of wildlife crossing projects and serves as steering committee member of the Colorado Wildlife and Transportation Alliance. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver. Francesca grew up in Colorado and has been working as an environmental professional in her home state for the past 23 years and has supported a variety of complex transportation projects. She also credits RMAEP for providing the networking opportunity that led to her first environmental consulting position out of college (feel free to ask her the story)!