Softening the Causeway Road-kills on the highway 59 causeway have been documentedperiodically since 1979 by the Canadian Wildlife Service. The issue of reducing these roadkills was identified in the Community Action Plan which the Biosphere Board facilitated. A public workshop was organized by the Biosphere board to discuss softening the causeway involving the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Long Point Region Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Transportation(MTO). Several options werediscussed ranging from: Reducing the speed limit. MTO responded that it would require a written request before it could be investigated or implemented. Putting in underpasses or culverts along the roadbed forwildlife. MTO responded that these would be expensive to install and no major road maintenance was scheduled for the area in the near future. MTO did note however, that an old culvert existed near the CWS buildings that could be checked for suitability as an experimental crossing. Use of signs or painting symbols on the road surface to alert drivers of wildlife crossing areas. MTO indicated they would erect the turtle crossing signs again but that many were stolen by souvenir hunters. It was suggested that someone might be willing to try to sell similar signs to reduce thefts of the steel signs. MTO also indicated that it would be difficult to get the necessary approvals to paint symbols on the road surface.. Place wildlife basking/resting pads along the base of the road-bed to reduce wildlife exposure to the road surface.Turtles and snakes would use the alternative sites for sunning themselves or as nesting sites rather than the road This summer the MTO and the CWS set up the culvert at the CWS buildings to direct wildlife under the causeway. Long Point Region Conservation Authority loaned the fencing material used to direct animals into the culvert. As well, the two Environmental Youth Corps students hired by the Biosphere Board carried on the roadkill monitoring program from May to September. The MTO also erected the turtle crossing signs this summer. While there were plans to install at least one sand pad along the causeway this spring time did not permit its initiation. The culvert crossing has not been used to any great extent up to this writing as the hot, dry summer has seen little in terms of frog production, which would have benefited most from the crossing. In mid October, the bullfrogs will move across the causeway in search of hibernation sites in the bay and there may be some benefits realized at that time.While the Biosphere Board has not been carrying out any of these activities, it helped them to happen through the organization of the information session to address the issue.Related to the causeway, the Biosphere Board has indicated an interest in participating in the "Adopt-a-road" program of the MTO. The Board has requested the stretch of highway 59 from the intersection with Lakeshore Road to the Causeway Restaurant. The papers have been received by MTO but the required training sessions and equipment have not yet been supplied, but we have been told that we will be responsible for that stretch of highway if, and when the program starts up again in the spring.
