The following opinion was published on February 22, 2018 in the Island Park News. It discusses the profound adverse effects overpasses would have on nearby residential areas in Targhee Pass. Reprinted with permission by Island Park News and Connie Kincheloe.
There is a small but growing voice in the community of Island Park that has recently been accused of being close-minded to the idea of wildlife overpasses, calling this voice foolish. My husband and I are two of those voices that are trying to show that there is another side of this story. We, along with approximately 40 others, have homes located in the center of the area of this controversy, Targhee Pass. There are another approximate 30 property owners in this subdivision as well that will be affected. While not everyone in this community is against the idea of wildlife overpasses, the majority is. And this majority is upset. You see, what is not being said about these overpasses is how much it will affect the Big Horn Hills Estates subdivision and its residents/property owners. We all care about the human and wildlife aspect of this area but are realistic in how much it will affect us by drastically reducing our property values, our livability and our peace of mind. On one aspect alone, we agree with the special interest groups – reducing the speed saves lives. Both human and animal. In addition to being proponents for the reduction of speed, residents are in agreement for cutting back vegetation and implementing animal detection warning systems. ITD’s own study suggests a 1% difference between this alternative and the push for the animal overpasses, for millions less. But there is also a more human side to this story that is being quashed. What is not being said is that with animal overpasses comes miles and miles of tall fencing. This fencing will surround our subdivision, and for many, will be an obstruction out our front, back and side view scapes. Also for many, it will be less than 100 feet from their residence. This belies the very reason that we live and recreate here – the openness and beauty of the area. If we wanted to live in a prison, we would have chosen different paths. My husband and I, along with the help of many good friends and family, literally built our home with blood, sweat and tears. We have so many memories of this process. We enjoy sharing our home with our friends and family. So many of us in this subdivision have worked all of our lives to save and plan for retirement and have chosen this area to settle in. In our case, we have planned for our children and grandchildren to inherit this place that we share so many memories with. We love the peacefulness, the history and the solitude this little cove provides. We are not alone in these endeavors. Many others here have done the same. Residents here have the option of stepping outside back doors and utilizing the free access to forest service grounds to the east of us. We hunt, hike, and snowshoe up the valley behind us. We ride our snowmobiles across the road in the winter to access the snowmobile trails which opens up a whole other world; we ride our ATVs around the subdivision to visit with our neighbors and we cut firewood to heat our homes. To our dismay, our research has provided insight in to living within fencing and corridors and is it heartbreaking. We have discovered that with fencing and corridors comes restrictions. These restrictions will effectively put a stop to all of the activities I just mentioned. Our livability will be reduced to nothing. Our property values will be worth nothing compared to what we have all invested. For myself and my husband, we find that our worry over what may happen has produced many sleepless nights. I know we’re not alone. This is what is being pushed for the Targhee Pass area. There are plans for more of these same wildlife over/under passes in more locations along Highway 20 from the Ashton hill to the 87 interchange. In each location, 1 to 3 of these over/underpasses will be installed, provided funding is approved. Each over/under pass is suggested to be 80’-100’ wide, each located within a mile of each other. Remember, fencing comes with these overpasses. Do you see the bigger picture? If the Targhee Pass Project is approved for wildlife overpasses, this is the next phase for the rest of Island Park. If the fencing and restrictions puts a stop to our livability in the Targhee Pass area what do you think it will do to the rest of Island Park? Fremont County derives approximately $28 million in recreation fees alone from the Island Park area. It is no secret that taxpayers in the Island Park area also fund Fremont County. If you factor in the reduced taxpayer base along with the decrease in recreation fees, this paints a bleak future for Fremont County. If you do your research, you will find that the push for these wildlife overpasses all relates back to animal connectivity. There are a few loud voices in the Island Park area that are pushing for this connectivity. There are many more from outside pushing as well. The majority of which do not live or recreate here but want to tell us what we can or cannot do. Many that are connected to special interest groups. It is this push to connect Yellowstone to the Yukon that is the driving force behind these wildlife overpasses and these groups. There it is; the big picture for you. If you feel as threatened as we in the Big Horn Hills Estates community do, please join us and raise your voices against this force by contacting the Fremont County Commissioners and District 35 representatives as well as Idaho’s state transportation officials. It is time that the voices of those that will be affected the most are finally heard. As for the name-callers, remember that they won’t be imprisoned behind the walls they’re wanting to erect…. they’ll be the jailers…. We are also asking that you add your voice by signing our petition: https://www.change.org/p/keep-island-park-targhee-passfree-of-tall-wildlife-fences-and-massive-overpasses. Connie Kincheloe Big Horn Hills Estates property owner, Island Park, Idaho
1 Comment
There has been an aggressive agenda and involvement with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) by Yellowstone 2 Yukon (Y2Y) to build wildlife overpasses on Hwy 20 through all of Island Park, the most recent focus being Targhee Pass. One issue with the location of overpasses at Targhee Pass is the proximity to a residential area, and how overpasses would affect not only their view, but access, devaluation of property, and property rights. Y2Y has not given any indication of concern, or acknowledgment, regarding this issue. Yet, Y2Y, on their own website brings forth the very reason why overpasses would not be a good decision at Targhee Pass given it's location near a residential area. According to their own website, Y2Y states: "Other measures, such as movable remotely-triggered wildlife signs, are effective at alerting drivers to slow down to the presence of wildlife. This measure is highly effective for roads that are lined with private dwellings and drive-ways, which makes adding fencing and crossing structures impractical. These are just a few examples of many mitigation options." The link to this statement can be found here, however below is a picture of the web page, just in case Y2Y decides to remove it. Other studies, including the Cramer study, have documented the same conclusion. These overpasses do not work near "human activity", Elk will not use them. If an overpass is built in Targhee Pass, and the Elk will not use them, it is a logical conclusion that efforts would soon be underway to remove all human activity in that area.
Maybe it is time Y2Y engage in a conversation about all other alternatives to reduce and prevent wildlife vehicle collisions instead of clinging to overpasses as the only option. Perhaps the reason is overpasses are just the stepping stone to connectivity and other alternatives would not support that goal. If they truly believe in a "collaborative" effort, they would engage with Island Park residents who would be the most impacted by an overpass where they live, and openly consider other alternatives as their website suggests. Sign the Petition to stop all wildlife overpasses in Island Park on Hwy 20. If you are using a mobile device the link has not been working, please try on a PC, laptop, or iPad. It might also be affected by a weak wifi connection, try again with a stronger connection. The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and their contracted Langdon Group have been adamant that public involvement in the Hwy 20 road project has been transparent, open, with no biased involvement by special groups or individuals. Really? How dishonest can they be? In the Targhee Pass Environmental Scoping Report, released December, 2017, a comment was submitted jointly by the Yellowstone 2 Yukon and Greater Yellowstone Coalition, found in Appendix B, Comment #10, and cites 2 letters of reference written to ITD. Since the report is on a public domain, the information contained in it is also in the public domain. On July 30, 2016 a letter was submitted for comments on the "Draft Idaho Transportation Department Idaho Transportation Investment Program". The individuals submitting the letter included Renee Callahan, Center for Large Landscape Conservation; Elizabeth Domenech, Island Park Safe Wildlife Passage Coordinator; Meredith McClure, Center for Large Landscape Conservation; Kylie Paul, Defenders of Wildlife; Lacy Robinson, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative; Kim Trotter, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative; Brian Brooks, Idaho Wildlife Federation; Carolyn Fifer, Montanans for Safe Wildlife Passage member; Ryan Lutey, Vital Ground Foundation; Mary Pendergast, Wild Utah Project; Kathy Rinaldi, Greater Yellowstone Coalition; and John Robison, Idaho Conservation League. How can comments be submitted when the Environmental Assessment (EA) comment period had not even been opened up to the public, and the first "public" workshop in December, 2016 had not even been held??? Did the Idaho Transportation Department or Langdon group make any effort to notify Island Park residents, especially during a time when most were in residency, that comments were being sought? Contained in this letter is promotion of wildlife overpasses, not just at Targhee Pass, but in many Idaho transportation projects. On page 5, Targhee Pass is referenced as Project 14054. It states, "Several of our organizations were invited to a meeting with ITD’s District 6 to review a draft of Dr. Patricia C. Cramer’s forthcoming report, “Idaho Wildlife Connectivity and Safety Solutions on US 20 and SH 87...". These groups and individuals have always been personally involved with ITD and were given a private meeting. Based on this meeting, these individuals asked that "...ITD act on the recommendations made by...the forthcoming Cramer report, and include wildlife mitigation in the planning and engineering process for this project" and "...amend the ITIP for Project 14054 to include project funds to cover the cost associated with implementing mitigation solutions." Recommendations from Cramer's 2014 report were also supported. Which ITD employee extended the invitation? At the end of the letter are several maps that falsely give the appearance of large numbers of Elk because it covers a 3-4 year period, but on the first map no Elk are even found at Targhee Pass! The best they can do is have maps showing "anticipated potential impacts on wildlife habitat connectivity" at Targhee Pass and other targeted areas. They want millions of dollars spent on the pretense that they are correct. Animal training is another forte of theirs with fencing. Notice the maps state it is about impacts on connectivity, not wildlife mortality. That is because this is not about Elk mortality from vehicle collisions, it is about their connectivity agenda. This letter was cc'd to Brian Ness, Director, Idaho Transportation Department; Virgil Moore, Director, Idaho Department of Fish and Game; Jeff Gould, Wildlife Bureau Chief, Idaho Department of Fish and Game; and Mark Doerr, Chairman, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Commission. Any claims of no awareness by these departments that there has been no intimate involvement by special interest groups, and that public involvement has been transparent, can be challenged. In the conclusion, these individuals recommended, "...ITD coordinate any proposed transportation projects with IDFG and other relevant natural resource and wildlife managers, as well as interested stakeholders.", and they "...would be happy conduct site visits with you (ITD) as you continue the design process for the above-mentioned projects." Island Park residents, the very people who live there, must be their other plebeian "interested stakeholders", but it was this group who received the invitation from ITD. Island Park residents were never invited to a personal, private meeting with ITD for their opinion. How does that fit with the NEPA requirements for public participation that involves everyone?
The second letter cited is from the Henry’s Fork Legacy Project (HFLP), dated July 29, 2016. This letter was submitted by David Weskamp, Conservation Manager for East Idaho, The Nature Conservancy; Dennis Glick, Executive Director, Future West; Jamie Laatsch, Conservation and Outreach Coordinator, Henry's Fork Foundation; Kathy Rinaldi, Idaho Conservation Coordinator, Greater Yellowstone Coalition; Kim Trotter, US Program Director, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative; Mary and Parmer VanFleet, Residents, Island Park, Member Idaho Master Naturalists, HFLP, HLF, Henry’s Fork Foundation, The Nature, Conservancy, Teton Regional Land Trust; Renee Seidler, Associate Conservation Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society, North America Program; and Timothy D. Reynolds, Ph.D., Certified Wildlife Biologist. In this letter, these individuals also requested that "...ITD include wildlife mitigation in the planning, budgeting and engineering process." It states, "HFLP members were invited to a meeting with ITD..." to also review Cramer’s 2016 draft. This letter also acknowledges, "With close proximity to Yellowstone National Park, this stretch of US-20 is also an important linkage area for migrating elk and moose populations, as well as mule deer, pronghorn, and black bears." Again, this is not about saving Elk, it is about their agenda for connectivity and using overpasses as the first step towards linkages to Yellowstone Park.
It is time that ITD and Langdon are forthcoming about their deep involvement with special interest groups and individuals, and own up to the fact that Island Park residents have not been given even a comparative opportunity to be involved in any decisions regarding Targhee Pass. For ITD and those individuals who just can't understand why their agenda is not adopted, you need to understand you are threatening our home, where we live. If someone were to come into your community and start making plans to change it and how you live, would you sit by and let them do it? Or would you do something about it? Those who live in and love Island Park are not going to accede with your plans to change our home. Sign the Petition to stop all wildlife overpasses in Island Park on Hwy 20. If you are using a mobile device the link has not been working, please try on a PC, laptop, or iPad. It might also be affected by a weak wifi connection, try again with a stronger connection. Updated iPlan Now Includes All Hwy 20 Overpasses While the 1-3 wildlife overpasses proposed at Targhee Pass are at the forefront of the public dialogue, the entire section of the HWY 20 transportation corridor future plan now incorporates the P. Cramer study recommendations for both overpasses and underpasses. It can be viewed at the following link.
Instructions: Click on the above link, go to the far right top under wildlife, or to the menu button-drop down that will show ‘Wildlife’. Click on that tab, all segments of the highway will come up. You can further refine your search by clicking on the individual segments on the left which brings up specific details on the structures. On the map, clicking on the Legend sign at the top right explains the icon and which wildlife structure is being proposed. There are far more Idahoans who oppose overpasses being built in Island Park than there are conservation initiative members. Make your voice heard by signing this petition to keep Targhee Pass and Island Park free from all wildlife fencing and overpasses which will stop the agenda for corridors and connectivity. Be part of the Idahoans who want to keep Island Park in the hands of Idahoans.
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