Planning for Wildlife: Identifying Corridors

The growth of Arizona’s human population and expanding infrastructure has consequences for Maricopa County’s wildlife species and the habitats on which they depend. While human activities can adversely affect Maricopa County’s wildlife by causing direct loss or degradation of habitat, the disruption of wildlife movement patterns is a less obvious but equally important consequence. All animals move across the landscape to varying extents in order to acquire the resources necessary for survival: food, water, protective cover, and mates. Mountain lions, black bears, and mule deer roam over vast expanses that can encompass thousands of acres, while smaller animals such as desert tortoise and kit fox engage in essential movements on a much smaller scale. There is also variation in the temporal patterns of animal movement: some animal movements occur on a daily basis, while seasonal migrations may occur annually, and the dispersal of young from their natal sites to secure new breeding territories happens only once in an individual’s lifetime. Man-made barriers such as roads, urban areas, utility-scale solar projects, and railroads can affect each of these movement patterns and may pose a threat to the long-term persistence of wildlife populations.

The report available below provides background information on the importance and benefits of conserving wildlife linkages for both people and wildlife in Maricopa County, and describes the methods used in our stakeholder workshops held in 2008 and for developing the accompanying GIS products. It includes a series of maps generated from the digitized stakeholder data that depict the general locations of wildlife linkages and potential barriers to wildlife movement. The maps are followed by tables with descriptive information about the habitat areas each linkage connects, the species each linkage serves, and known threats and potential conservation opportunities associated with each linkage and barrier. The information in this report reflects the views and expertise of workshop participants and likely does not represent an exhaustive mapping of all important wildlife linkages and barriers across Maricopa County. It should instead be considered an initial assessment of wildlife movement patterns to be supplemented in the future by further analysis and refinement that includes additional expert input, GIS-based linkage modeling, and research studies of wildlife movement patterns.

Additional information on connectivity in Maricopa County can be obtained by contacting the Department’s Region 6 (Mesa Office) Habitat Program at 480-981-9400. Requests for associated GIS data should be sent to hdms@azgfd.gov.

Results from the Maricopa County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment

Maricopa County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Report on Stakeholder Input
Maricopa County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Stakeholder Input GIS Dataset
(available by contacting the Department’s Region 6 Habitat Program or the Department’s GIS Program)

Arizona’s population is currently 6.5 million people and is expected to more than double by the year 2050. While much of that growth will likely be concentrated throughout the “Sun Corridor” connecting Tucson, Phoenix, and areas of central Yavapai County, communities in other areas of the state are also expected to grow. The population of Coconino County may increase by more than 50% in this period, especially along State Route 64, Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff, and around Fredonia near the Utah border. Given the largely rural nature of Coconino County, much of this growth will involve expansion of cities and towns into relatively undeveloped areas, and expand the footprint of roadways such as I-40 and other infrastructure. Future development of wind and solar energy facilities, utility corridors, and other energy-related infrastructure may also be considerable. Growth outside of Coconino County will also influence the County’s regional landscape, as reflected in the projected increase in rail traffic through northern Arizona in coming decades which may include the creation of additional tracks of the BNSF Railroad and significant expansion of the Camp Navajo rail depot.

The effects of habitat loss and fragmentation are explained here. In order to address those concerns, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (Department), the Arizona Wildlife Linkages Workgroup, and Coconino County partnered to identify areas of concern for wildlife movement around the county. Two stakeholder workshops were held in 2009 and 2010, and the results are available below. Future project activities will include using the information in these reports to support the development of finer-scale, GIS-based wildlife corridor models using similar to the Arizona Missing Linkages. We anticipate that our selection of sites for fine-scale GIS corridor modeling and collaborative conservation efforts will evolve over time as Arizona’s developed landscape changes and our knowledge of wildlife habitat use and movement patterns grows.

Additional information on connectivity in Coconino County can be obtained by contacting the Department’s Region 2 Habitat Program at 928-214-1252. Requests for associated GIS data should be sent to hdms@azgfd.gov.

Results from the Coconino County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment

• Coconino County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Detailed Linkages (San Francisco Peaks to Mogollon Rim)
• Coconino County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Report on Stakeholder Input
• Coconino County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Stakeholder Input GIS Datasets
  (available by contacting the Department’s Region 2)

This report and the accompanying geographic information system (GIS) datasets summarize the results of two stakeholder workshops held in Prescott, Arizona in 2009 and Mayer, Arizona in 2010. At these workshops, stakeholders representing a broad range of organizations and interests identified and mapped the locations of important wildlife linkages across Yavapai County. Participants included biologists, land managers, planners, and other professionals from federal, state, tribal, private, and non-governmental organizations. The workshops were supported by a partnership between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona Wildlife Linkages Workgroup with the intention of producing the Yavapai County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment. This multi-agency, multi-disciplinary effort encouraged biologists and non-biologists alike to incorporate information about wildlife linkages and strategies for their conservation into transportation corridor and project planning as well as other community projects including land-use decisions. The workshops provided a forum for stakeholders to learn more about wildlife connectivity, outline the general locations of wildlife linkages on large maps, and provide descriptive information about each linkage on datasheets. Participants also identified the locations of barriers such as highways and railroads that may interfere with wildlife movements. The hand-drawn linkages and barriers were then digitized with GIS software, and later refined after an additional opportunity for stakeholder review. The linkages were then further refined to eliminate redundancy for this report.

This report provides background information on the importance and benefits of conserving wildlife linkages for both people and wildlife in Yavapai County, and describes the methods used in our stakeholder workshops and in developing our GIS products. It includes a series of maps generated from the digitized stakeholder data that depict the general locations of wildlife linkages and potential barriers to wildlife movement within Yavapai County. The maps are followed by tables with descriptive information about the habitat areas each linkage connects, the wildlife species each linkage serves, and any identified threats or potential conservation opportunities associated with each linkage and barrier. The information in this report reflects the views and expertise of workshop participants and likely does not represent an exhaustive mapping of all important linkages across Yavapai County. It should instead be considered an initial assessment of wildlife movement patterns to be supplemented by further analysis and refinement that includes additional expert input, GIS-based linkage modeling, and research studies of wildlife movement patterns. 

The maps and GIS data in this report illustrate approximate locations of wildlife movements on the landscape and should be regarded as the starting point for further consultation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and other wildlife and land management agencies, preferably in the early stages of project planning. This report and associated GIS data provide a framework for professionals across a range of disciplines to begin to identify opportunities for maintaining and enhancing wildlife connectivity within project areas in Yavapai County. We hope that this report stimulates detailed planning and collaborative on-the-ground actions for conserving wildlife linkages through land acquisition and open space conservation, habitat restoration, creation of highway crossing structures for wildlife, and other approaches.

Additional information on connectivity in Yavapai County can be obtained by contacting the Department’s Region 3 (Kingman Office) Habitat Program at 928-692-7700. Requests for associated GIS data should be sent to hdms@azgfd.gov.

Results from the Yavapai County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment

• Yavapai County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Report on Stakeholder Input
• Yavapai County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: GIS Datasets
  (available by contacting the Department’s GIS Program)

This effort began with a successful workshop held in Florence, Arizona in 2010. At this workshop, stakeholders representing a broad range of organizations and interests identified and mapped the locations of important wildlife linkages across Pinal County. Participants included biologists, land managers, planners, and other professionals from federal, state, tribal, private, and non-governmental organizations. The workshop was supported by partnerships between the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) and the Arizona Wildlife Linkages Workgroup. This multi-agency, multi-disciplinary effort was undertaken to encourage biologists and non-biologists alike to incorporate information about wildlife linkages and strategies for their conservation into transportation corridor project planning as well as other community projects involving land-use decisions.

The Report on Stakeholder Input available below provides background information on the importance and benefits of conserving wildlife linkages for both people and wildlife in Pinal County, and describes the methods used in our stakeholder workshops and for developing the accompanying GIS products. It includes a series of maps generated from the digitized stakeholder data that depict the general locations of wildlife linkages important to wildlife movement. The maps are followed by tables with descriptive information about the habitat areas each linkage connects, the species each linkage serves, and known threats and potential conservation opportunities associated with each linkage. The information in this report reflects the views and expertise of workshop participants and likely does not represent an exhaustive mapping of all important wildlife linkages across Pinal County. It should instead be considered an initial assessment of wildlife movement patterns to be supplemented in the future by further analysis and refinement that includes additional expert input, GIS-based linkage modeling, and research studies of wildlife movement patterns.

Additional information on connectivity in Pinal County can be obtained by contacting the Department’s Region 6 (Mesa Office) Habitat Program at 480-324-3550. Requests for associated GIS data should be sent to hdms@azgfd.gov.

Results from the Pinal County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment

• Pinal County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Report on Stakeholder Input
• Pinal County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: GIS Datasets
  (available by contacting the Department’s GIS Program)

The report available below and the accompanying Geographic Information Systems (GIS) datasets summarize the results of two stakeholder workshops held in Pinetop, Arizona in 2010 and 2011. The workshops were supported by a partnership between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona Wildlife Linkages Workgroup. At these workshops, stakeholders identified and mapped the locations of important wildlife linkages across Apache and Navajo Counties. Participants also identified the locations of barriers such as highways and railroads that may interfere with wildlife movements. The hand-drawn linkages and barriers were then digitized with GIS software, and were later refined after the additional opportunity for stakeholder review at the second workshop.

This report provides background information on the importance and benefits of conserving wildlife linkages for both people and wildlife in Apache and Navajo Counties and describes the methods used during stakeholder workshops and in developing the accompanying GIS products. It includes a series of maps generated from the digitized stakeholder data that depict the general locations of wildlife linkages and potential barriers to wildlife movement within Apache and Navajo Counties. The maps are followed by tables with descriptive information about the habitat areas each linkage connects, the species each linkage serves, and known threats and potential conservation opportunities associated with each linkage. The information in this report reflects the views and expertise of workshop participants and likely does not represent an exhaustive mapping of all important wildlife linkages across Apache and Navajo Counties. It should instead be considered an initial assessment of wildlife movement patterns to be supplemented in the future by further analysis and refinement that includes additional expert input, GIS-based linkage modeling, and research studies of wildlife movement patterns.

The maps and GIS data in this report illustrate approximate locations of wildlife movements on the landscape and should be regarded as the starting point for further consultation with AGFD and other wildlife and land management agencies, preferably during the early stages of project planning. While the impetus for this report originated from the community’s interest in promoting environmentally-sensitive transportation projects, this report and associated GIS data provide a framework for professionals across a range of disciplines to identify and incorporate opportunities for maintaining and enhancing wildlife connectivity within project areas in Apache and Navajo Counties. We hope this report stimulates detailed planning and collaborative on-the-ground actions for conserving wildlife linkages.

Additional information on connectivity in Apache and Navajo counties can be obtained by contacting the Department’s Region 1 (Pinetop Office) Habitat Program at 928-367-4342. Requests for associated GIS data should be sent to hdms@azgfd.gov.

Results from the Apache and Navajo Counties Wildlife Connectivity Assessment

• Apache/Navajo Counties Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Report on Stakeholder Input
• Apache/Navajo Counties Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: GIS Datasets
  (available by contacting the Department’s GIS Program)

This 18-month effort, funded and supported by the Regional Transportation Authority of Pima County, began with great success at a workshop in May, 2011 in Tucson. 77 stakeholders attended the workshop and identified many potential linkage areas across Pima County. After digitizing and refining the stakeholder input through meetings with local partner agencies, a follow-up workshop was held in October, 2011 to garner additional input and refinement on the linkages previously identified. A discussion on prioritizing linkage areas for further refinement through fine-scale modeling was also part of the second stakeholder workshop.

The Report on Stakeholder Input available below provides background information on the importance and benefits of conserving wildlife linkages for both people and wildlife in Pima County, and describes the methods used in our stakeholder workshops and for developing the accompanying GIS products. It includes a series of maps generated from the digitized stakeholder data that depict the general locations of wildlife linkages important to wildlife movement. The maps are followed by tables with descriptive information about the habitat areas each linkage connects, the species each linkage serves, and known threats and potential conservation opportunities associated with each linkage. The information in this report reflects the views and expertise of workshop participants and likely does not represent an exhaustive mapping of all important wildlife linkages across Pima County. It should instead be considered an initial assessment of wildlife movement patterns to be supplemented in the future by further analysis and refinement that includes additional expert input, GIS-based linkage modeling, and research studies of wildlife movement patterns.

Five additional reports describing a fine-scale modeling process for areas prioritized at the second workshop are also available below. These models were created using the approach developed by the Corridor Design team at Northern Arizona University, described at http://corridordesign.org. This least-cost corridor approach is based on habitat suitability models for a suite of focal species, with resulting models modified based on field validation. Specific recommendations are included in these reports for activities that would increase the permeability of the linkage design areas for wildlife movement, including retrofitting culverts and bridges. These reports are important at the project design and implementation level.

Additional information on connectivity in Pima County can be obtained by contacting the Department’s Region 5 (Tucson Office) Habitat Program at 520-628-5376. Requests for associated GIS data should be sent to hdms@azgfd.gov.

Results from the Pima County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment

• Pima County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Report on Stakeholder Input
• Pima County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Detailed Linkages (Coyote-Ironwood-Tucson Linkage Design)
• Pima County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Detailed Linkages (Kitt Peak Linkage Design)
• Pima County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Detailed Linkages (Santa Catalina/Rincon – Galiuro Linkage Design)
• Pima County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Detailed Linkages (Santa Rita – Sierrita Linkage Design)
• Pima County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Detailed Linkages (Mexico – Tumacacori – Baboquivari Linkage Design)
• Pima County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: GIS Datasets
  (available by contacting the Department’s GIS Program)