Travis Wilson
An interview with the Eastern Region Highway Project Coordinator of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
1. With your experience in working to increase connectivity for our terrestrial and aquatic animals, what does your day-to-day work entail?
From a broad perspective, as a biologist with NCWRC my focus is to review NCDOT projects with the goal of avoiding and minimizing impacts to the fish and wildlife resources in the state. If you zoom in and look at the specifics of any given day it can vary greatly. I may be reviewing a bridge replacement where I’m focused on improving wildlife passage or discussing conservation measures to reduce impacts to aquatic species. I might have a larger project such as a new location highway where I’m focused on one of numerous points in planning. Or I could be looking at compensatory mitigation projects to provide feedback for sites that are intended to help replace stream and wetland habitats impacted by highway projects.
2. What are some of the challenges in habitat fragmentation that you've found all animals face despite differences in their habitats?
Continued fragmentation and loss of habitat. North Carolina continues to experience population growth. As more and more people move to the state, there’s a growing need for additional infrastructure. More residential development adds to increased commercial development and more transportation capacity needs. All of these actions remove, degrade, or fragment habitat and although some species are more adaptable to those changes, none are immune to it.
3. What are some lessons you've taken away in how our past roadway infrastructure projects impact wildlife in North Carolina? How do these takeaways influence your work towards increasing habitat connectivity in future wildlife crossing projects?
Looking at existing roadways that were designed in the 1950’s and 60’s there was an overall lack of consideration for impacts to wildlife. Roads were designed with lots of fill in floodplains and riparian areas, and hydraulics structures were often much smaller than what is used now. Those designs provided little opportunity for wildlife to move safely under the road and frequently resulted in impacts to aquatic connectivity. The overall goal is to maximize highway permeability. From new location roads to culvert replacements, the goal is to design the project to minimize impacts to terrestrial and aquatic wildlife throughout the life of the project. It may be 50, 60, 70 years before there’s another opportunity to address the impacts from what is constructed.
4. With your experience across the state, how would future wildlife crossing designs and infrastructure differentiate between coastal plains and mountainous regions?
This is not an easy question to answer because every site is a little different and objectives can vary, but there are certainly different considerations. On the coast, all of our crossings are underpasses that function very effectively for the species in those habitats. However, site design can be affected by the presence of open water or canals and how they influence passage. In the mountains, topography may provide the opportunity to consider an overpass; however those structures can be very expensive. If the objective is to address connectivity for a species that prefer riparian habitat an underpass structure is the appropriate approach. And for broader landscape connectivity it may be necessary to consider multiple approaches to meet the objective.
5. Through the years, what positive changes have you seen across the state related to agencies, NGOs, and conservationists working together to increase habitat connectivity?
Throughout my 22-year career with NCWRC, NCDOT has been a good partner to work with. However, early on, there was a hesitancy to publicize the wildlife crossing work that was being done. There was a concern with how spending transportation funds on wildlife would be received by the public. Fast forward to today and I can’t overstate how much the awareness of habitat connectivity, wildlife crossings and road ecology have increased. Recently, NCWRC and NCDOT completed a wildlife passage guidance document. That was one of several commitments included in a 2023 MOU between our two agencies that reaffirms our continued coordination to address wildlife connectivity. That same awareness has brought numerous NGOs and conservationists to the table who are interested in what has been done in NC as well as what we are continuing to accomplish. Their involvement has been valuable for continuing to grow the awareness and importance of addressing habitat connectivity. That is helping to gain more support both publicly and politically.
6. As you well know, US 64 in Eastern North Carolina is a dangerous road for wildlife, especially critically endangered Red Wolves. What projects are currently in play to help protect the path of wildlife in this area? What measures are being taken to secure future funding for these projects?
As you’re aware, from 2006-2018 I was involved in the planning of the US 64 widening in Tyrrell and Dare counties. That work resulted in a comprehensive wildlife crossing plan throughout the entire length of the project corridor. However, the project has since been deprioritized and removed from the State Transportation Improvement Program. Nevertheless, the research conducted during plan development highlighted impacts from the existing US 64, so we are working to implement components of that plan. The first project will be the replacement of the Alligator River bridge. I do not know the exact timeframe for construction to begin but it should be within the next year or two. That project will include wildlife passage on either end of the bridge as well as two additional wildlife underpass culverts one on each end of the project further down from the bridge ends. There will also be wildlife fencing installed throughout the project limits. Recently, NCDOT along with USFWS and NCWRC submitted a grant proposal to fund wildlife crossings and fencing along US 64 through the refuge. This year’s grant, if awarded, would only fund a portion of US 64 in the refuge, with a plan to seek funding for additional phases in the future.
7. Many do not realize that North Carolina already has wildlife crossings built across the state! Can you walk us through some examples of how current wildlife crossings are making a positive impact for wildlife in our state?
Aside from the individual success of each effective crossing, I really think the overall positive impact is the fact that NC has a history incorporating wildlife passage in transportation projects. We have multiple crossing structures throughout the state, and we have monitored the effectiveness of those structures for years. Having that information and learning some of the lessons we’ve learned has helped to validate the benefits of providing wildlife crossings. It’s difficult to justify something that’s never been done and that is compounded when it’s expensive. Having successful projects on the ground has played a significant role in supporting future wildlife crossing projects in NC.
8. You've been working to mitigate habitat fragmentation for many years! What led you into this line of work? What is the most rewarding part of your job and what is the legacy you wish to leave the next generation?
As a wildlife biologist I can’t say I started off thinking I would be working on road projects. I was working as a biologist in lower Alabama when this position opened and it allowed me to return to my home state of North Carolina. It didn’t take me long to realize the variety of species, habitats, and project types that always brought something a little different to work on. Obviously, in this job, I’ve seen some unfortunate impacts from road projects as it’s unavoidable. However, I’m in the position to help mitigate those impacts. I may be working on a wetland and stream restoration project, a culvert replacement that will provide passage for river herring or working on a terrestrial wildlife crossing. To have an influence on such a broad range of conservation issues is the most rewarding part of my job. Hopefully the projects, agency coordination, lesson learned, and successes that I have been part of will help increase awareness and support for future projects.
9. What advice would you give others looking to establish a career in transportation infrastructure?
Working in the field of road ecology can be very rewarding, but it can also be very frustrating. Roads and road improvement projects are a necessity. Some level of impact to wildlife is unavoidable, and most mitigation measures still don’t provide the perfect answer. However, many of the best successes are built on extensive coordination and a little compromise from all parties. And be patient, some of these projects can take 10, 15, or more years.
Travis Wilson is a biologist within the Habitat Conservation Division of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. As the Eastern Region Highway Project Coordinator for the last 22 years, he is responsible for assessing impacts from transportation projects and their effect on the fish and wildlife resources of North Carolina. Tasks include working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of wildlife passage structures to address habitat fragmentation and highway permeability issues for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife passage.
Travis W. Wilson, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, 1718 Highway 56 West, Creedmoor, NC 27522-9159: 919-707-4057; Email: travis.wilson@ncwildlife.org