Mission

We flew with state agencies and conservationists, wildlife experts, and officials from the towns of Vail and Breckenridge, and Eagle and Summit counties, as well as the Denver Zoo.

Summit County has seen wide-spread support in protecting regional wildlife. The Summit County Safe Passages Plan, the outcome of a comprehensive scientific study, recommends three wildlife passages on East Vail Pass -one overpass and two underpasses - across westbound I-70 lanes.

Our overflights with ECO-Resolutions examined East Vail Pass, the Plan's focus area that is highly congested but surrounded by rugged natural landscapes and some of the Colorado's most important wildlife habitat that provides for threatened Canada Lynx, Rocky Mountain Elk, and mule deer. On the north side of the roads is the Eagles Nest Wilderness area containing over 133,000 acres of undeveloped forest. The south side is undeveloped Forest Service land, which is managed to protect habitat connectivity. The only barrier between the two wildlife areas is I-70, which sees on average 23,000 vehicles a day.

Existing span bridges on the eastbound lane provide passages that wildlife use to travel from the forest to the lush habitat in the wide median between the highway lanes, where West Tenmile Creek and the Vail Pass Recreation Trail are. But, without a way to cross the westbound lanes, wildlife is cut off from important habitat. The fragmentation has serious impacts on the health and viability of wildlife populations.

Studies have shown the implementation of wildlife crossing structures and preserving migration corridors can significantly reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by 80-90%, creating a safer environment for motorists and wildlife, like deer, elk, bear, and countless smaller critters. Thank you to our passengers for joining us and for your investment in the safety of our communities and wildlife.

Click for the photos, and geo-referenced photos (download then open in Google Earth)