Wildlife

This report fulfills the requirements laid out in Sec. 160.2325 MN Statutes. The goal of the Highways for Habitat Program is to enhance Minnesota roadsides with vegetative buffers and pollinator and other wildlife habitat. This is the first year of this report. More information is available on MnDOT’s Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management webpage.

This research summary accompanies report 2023-38, "Identifying deer vehicle collision concentrations in Minnesota, published in November 2023.

Element occurrence records and previous studies at Camp Ripley document the occurrence of Blanding's turtles in the Brainerd/Baxter area. Protecting the species requires the protection of habitats critical to their conservation, as well as an understanding of the ways that Blanding's turtles use wetlands and uplands. This report summarizes research into the occurrence and habits of Blanding's turtles. During the project, researchers captured and marked 60 Blanding's turtles: 37 females, 12 males, and 11 juveniles. None of the turtles were found in the immediate area of the bypass, and no monitored turtles moved in or out of the bypass area. Researchers identified four areas in the Brainerd/Baxter area where turtles appeared to be concentrated. Monitored turtles used an array of aquatic habitats including inland shallow fresh marshes (type 3), inland deep fresh marshes (type 4), inland open fresh water (type 5) and shrub swamps (type 6). These wetlands ranged in size from 1.5 ha to 111 ha. Although there was considerable diversity on wetland features, the majority of turtles spent 90 percent of their days in shrub swamps. Researchers located a total of 11 nests during the 1998 field season. They found reproductive females in upland habitats from May 19 to June 18. Clutch sizes for the turtles ranged from eight to 20 eggs with a mean clutch size of 15.8 (n = 11). On the basis of current surveys, Blanding's turtles appear to be distributed throughout the Brainerd/Baxter townships. Researchers developed recommendations to help ensure the future viability and preservation of Blanding's turtle populations in the Brainerd/Baxter area. As a staff paper, this publication is intended for internal use by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT). Distribution is limited.

Deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) represent a significant hazard on Minnesota roads, with roughly 1,200 DVCs reported annually to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MnDPS) and many more going unreported. While DVCs are common across Minnesota, local variations in deer density as well as roadway characteristics and use patterns make DVCs more likely to occur on some roadways than others. Moreover, the true extent of DVC concentrations is unclear due to the high proportion of DVCs that go unreported. This report presents findings from research that (1) uses data to identify areas of DVC concentration based on the specific roadway characteristics and (2) presents a methodology to estimate DVC reporting rate across the state. This methodology is applied in a pilot study in the Duluth area, as well as in an extended search area that includes highways spread across much of outstate Minnesota to estimate the DVC reporting rate.

In 1973, a planned extension to Interstate 94 between I-694/494 and the St. Croix River was cancelled due to concerns raised by residents. This study is part of a restudy that was ordered by the Commissioner of Highways to find the best route for the freeway, taking in to account the resident's concerns. This report analyzes the effects the proposed highway would have on wildlife and vegetation.

Early in July 1973, Commissioner of Highways, Ray Lappegaard , made the decision not to award the contract for the first stages of construction of 1-94 between 1-694/494 and the St . Croix River in Washington County. The decision was made in direct response to concerns raised by local citizens over the proposed location of the highway.

This Technical Summary pertains to report 2017-44, Culvert Length and Interior Lighting Impacts to Topeka Shiner Passage, published November 2017.

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2018-13, “Use of Mussel Spat Rope for Fish Passage in Culverts,” published March 2018.

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2015-08, “Sediment Transport through Recessed Culverts: Laboratory Experiments,” published March 2015.

This Technical Summary pertains to LRRB-produced report 2019-02, Minnesota Guide for Stream Connectivity and Aquatic Organism Passage Through Culverts.