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The Monkton Amphibian Underpasses

Learn about the Monkton Amphibian Underpasses project, collecting crucial data for informed conservation efforts. Intensive monitoring, education, and outreach to locate and map road-crossing areas, especially for reptiles and amphibians. Discover why these species are sensitive to road mortality, with a focus on significant crossing areas. Conservation priorities identified based on species diversity, rarity, and mortality rates. Follow the project timeline from discovery to underpass construction, funded by various organizations. Help ensure the survival of herptiles in Vermont through active conservation efforts.

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The Monkton Amphibian Underpasses

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  1. The Monkton Amphibian Underpasses

  2. Collecting and dispersing data for informed conservation Intensive monitoring at select locations Education&outreach Extensive survey state wide Locate and map significant road-crossing areas

  3. Mortality and injuries Reptiles and amphibians are the vertebrate groups most sensitive to road mortality.

  4. Why reptiles and amphibians? • Small size & slow speed

  5. Annual movement

  6. Long lives

  7. Limited range

  8. Impacts are on populations versus individuals

  9. Significant Crossing Areas? • Where rare, threatened, or endangered species are crossing. • Where concentrations of common species are crossing. • Where a wide diversity of species are crossing. If mortality is also high, the site then becomes a conservation priority.

  10. Significant? • Where rare, threatened, or endangered species are crossing. • Blue Spotted Salamander (S2, SGCN-Medium Priority) • 367 Blue-spotted Salamanders in 2006 • 328 Blue-spotted Salamanders in 2008

  11. Significant? Where concentrations of common species are crossing. 2,878 amphibian of nine species in 2009 Including: 533 Spotted Salamanders 509 Spring Peepers 184 Wood Frogs

  12. Significant? Where a wide diversity of species are crossing. Spotted Salamander Blue-spotted Salamander Eastern Newt Four-toed Salamander Red-backed Salamander Wood Frog Spring Peeper Green Frog Pickerel Frog N. Leopard Frog American Toad

  13. Priority? Mortality and injuries Highest mortality of the known significant sites April 2006, estimates of more than 1000 mortalities in two nights Compared to: 10 killed on 4 nights on Morgan Road in Salisbury

  14. The Timeline • 1993, site first discovered (The Vermont Herp Atlas) • 1997, the Monkton Conservation Commission begins monitoring the site • 2005, the Monkton Conservation Commission begins studying mitigation options • 2008, the Monkton Conservation Commission and the Lewis Creek Association begin raising funds • 2015, SD Ireland begins construction

  15. The Monkton Underpass was funded by: Defenders of Wildlife/TransWild Alliance - $9,000 Sally Laughlin’s Meeri Zetterstrom Award - $2,500 Davis Conservation Foundation - $5,000 Transportation Enhancement Grant - $150,000 VT F&W, State Wildlife Grant to town - $45,000 Lewis Creek Association, Direct Mail Fundraising - $67,676.69 Lewis Creek Association Indiegogo Fundraising - $42,780 Total design, construction, and oversight costs: $342,397.07

  16. Between March 10 and May 3, 2016 we had 2,208 amphibian crossings in the two culverts. 

  17. A Bonus of Popular Megafauna • Deer on railroad car

  18. More Popular Megafauna • Deer on railroad car

  19. Herptiles in Vermont will persist or disappear depending on our actions Thanks Monkton !

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