Wildlife Crossing for Transmountain Road?

Culverts on south side of Transmountain - ramps are needed for access. Pictured: Jamie Ackerman and Bill Hoover

Culverts on north side - no ramp necessary. Pictured: Judy and Jamie Ackerman

There can be a way for hikers and mountain bikers; but will there be a way for wildlife, especially deer, to safely cross under Transmountain Road?

As I mentioned in my last elpasonaturally e-letter, TXDoT is holding a meeting this Wednesday, March 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Canutillo High School "to present new design information and to solicit public comments for the proposed improvements to Loop 375 [Transmountain] from I-10 to east of the Franklin Mountains State Park entrance . . . " For more information and meeting location go here.

The concern with the expansion of Transmountain is having a crossing for hiking and bicycling. Bob Medley of the El Paso Ridgewalkers says: "Now would be a great time to include an underpass for a trail to make it possible to hike from the southern end of the Franklin Mountains all the way to Las Cruces, New Mexico via the Sierra Vista Trail."

In fact, TXDoT has previously committed to such an underpass. The plan is this: just to the east of the entrance to the Tom Mays Unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park are three culverts that pass under Transmountain road. Ramps will be constructed to give hikers and mountain bikers access to the culverts on the south side of the road.

Dr. Rick Bonart, formerly with the Open Space Committee then Board and now on the Public Service Board, is an avid mountain biker and open space advocate. Several years ago he single-handedly negotiated with State Park planers from Austin and TXDoT officials to build the ramps. "It took years of negotiation between the State Park and TXDoT to get the ROW, permission and money to plan and build the ramp," Dr. Bonart told me.

There is also interest to create a wildlife crossing especially in light of the fact that recently five mule deer have been killed in the past four weeks crossing over Transmountain Road.

The drawback to the existing culverts is the fact that they are not suitable as a wildlife crossing. According to Lois Balin, the Urban Wildlife Biologist for this area with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the culverts aren't high enough. The height of the culverts should be a minimum of 10 feet and fencing to funnel the animals toward and into the crossings must also be a minimum of 10 feet high.

Ms. Balin points out another drawback: "The deer will not walk on the corrugated metal. Concrete or packed soil would be better for them."

Master Naturalist, Judy Ackerman, finds signs of deer nibbling brush on the north side of the culverts not far from the State Park entrance.

This past Saturday, the Ackermans and I visited the site of the culverts and went through them. On the south side of the road, we looked for deer sign and found plenty of indications that the deer are there. However, on that side, there is no means for them to access the entrances to the culverts and there is an eight-foot plunge to the pool floor beneath.

As Gary Williams of the El Paso Community Foundation says: "A wildlife crossing is a must at this location."

Hopefully, Wednesday evenings meeting will be attended by wildlife advocates as well as members of the hiking and mountain biking communities.

Mule deer doe and young buck at Fusselman Canyon 4 August 2009