Building Connections for Wildlife in Utah
In 2020, Wildlands Network moved its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah. We were excited to relocate to an area with optimal access to outdoor spaces, as well as significant opportunities for the kind of collaborative, wildlife-focused conservation that we have been leading for decades.
That year, we hit the ground running. Sensing that Utah legislators were hungry to demonstrate support for homegrown conservation efforts, we spearheaded an effort that resulted in the unanimous passage of House Concurrent Resolution 13 (HR13), which expressed support for continued investment in wildlife connectivity and the study of wildlife migration corridors.
The resolution came on the heels of two milestones for wildlife connectivity in Utah.
The first was the creation of the Utah Migration Initiative through the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). This initiative focused on collating and analyzing the reams of data on wildlife movement and habitat use that had been collected throughout the state to identify important wildlife corridors and start implementing projects to restore and protect them. Wildlands Network was pleased to be named an official partner in this effort and support the work of DWR staff.
The second milestone was the completion of the wildlife crossing and associated infrastructure over Interstate 80 in Parley’s Canyon by Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), just east of Salt Lake City. This crossing, which spans six lanes of busy highway, began as an afterthought to another highway project. Ultimately, however, its impact has been tremendous, securing safe passage for hundreds of moose, bear, deer, elk and other wildlife moving through the Wasatch Mountain Range.
The project has since been spotlighted by international media and is a symbol of the potential for these efforts across the world. Wildlands Network was proud to support our partners, Save People Save Wildlife, who tirelessly advocated for the crossing and continue to build community support and raise money to expand on its success in Summit County, Utah.
Both during and after the passage of HR13 in Utah, we heard from numerous partners about the need to bring more NGOs and resources to the table in Utah. This goal? To build on what DWR had created and ensure continued community and political support for crossings and other restoration projects, which require state and local funding.
Luckily, we found a like-minded collaborator in Utah Wildlife Federation and joined forces with them to cofound the Utah Wildlife Connectivity Working Group. Together, we recruited state, federal and tribal agencies, a vast array of NGO partners, and consultants and scientists working on these issues across Utah. With representation from communities and interests across the state and support from the University of Utah’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Program, the Working Group is the first collaboration of its kind in Utah dedicated to identifying, promoting and undertaking wildlife connectivity restoration projects at a scale that will result in meaningful wins for wildlife.
In many ways, the group’s work is just beginning, but already, it has proven fruitful.
A subset of working group members interested in securing additional funding for wildlife crossings like overpasses and underpasses is collaborating on a proposal with Representative Doug Owens at the Utah legislature to secure funding for projects identified by UDOT and DWR.
The legislation’s introduction is timely. In November, President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which included a new $350 million Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. This competitive grant program will provide funding to projects like the ones DWR and UDOT are planning. However, it requires a 20% match, making state funding necessary to increase Utah’s chances of leveraging these federal dollars.
Meanwhile, in addition to supporting funding and implementation for existing wildlife connectivity projects in Utah, Wildlands Network is also laying the groundwork for new projects and initiatives in priority regions in the state, working with diverse partners and land managers.
With staff on the ground, a growing list of collaborators and allies, and a desire to sustain relationships and investments for long-term conservation, we’re well-positioned to make a lasting difference for the wildlife and people that call Utah home.
