The goal of this project was to solve a very specific environmental problem, the fact that thousands of amphibians were being killed each year by vehicles travelling on regional highway 220 where it crosses one of the prime wetlands in the Eastern Townships, the Lake Brompton swamp. As was the case with many other Canadian highways, environmental concerns were considered much less important when highway 220 was built. Today, an annual average of 1,600 vehicles travel the road each day. However, highway 220 cuts across approximately 400 m of the migration corridor that amphibians use to cross the Brompton Lake swamp during their spring breeding season. Observation and field counts during migrations have demonstrated that 91% of amphibians that attempt to cross the highway are crushed. This has a considerable impact on survival of the amphibian populations in this area. Nine species of amphibians have been observed on the highway. Considering the key role that amphibians play in the food chain, local residents were very concerned about the situation. They banded together to form the "Association pour la protection du Lac Brompton" (APLB), and asked the Ministry of Transportation to become a partner with them in solving this problem. After APLB members researched the problem and discussed it with the Ministry of Transportation, agreement was reached to proceed with the installation of three tunnels for amphibians under the surface of highway 220, in order to facilitate these small animals' annual migration from the neighbouring forest to the swamp and back. The APLB led an awareness campaign targeting residents, affected municipalities, and several ministries and environmental organisations, in order to raise funds to purchase tunnels and the interception devices required to guide the amphibians toward the tunnels. For its part, the Ministry of Transportation provided the machinery, supplies, and staff needed to install the three tunnels. The Ministry carried out prior geotechnical testing to determine the nature and quality of the fill beneath the pavement, to ensure that the installation method used would prevent frost heaves. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting