Review of Special Provisions and Other Conditions Placed on GDOT Projects For Imperiled Aquatic Species Protection, Volume III

Georgia has numerous protected freshwater species, which means that the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) must frequently consult with federal and state agencies to identify measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to imperiled aquatic organisms. Some of these measures, such as restrictions on in-water work during the reproductive season, impose substantial costs on GDOT projects, but their efficacy has not been thoroughly evaluated. The current system also provides limited flexibility. The research team has developed a system for assessing the impact of road construction projects on imperiled freshwater species that accounts for project characteristics, site characteristics, and species sensitivity. Called the “Total Effect Score” (TES), it is based on a comprehensive assessment of the tolerances and traits of 111 freshwater species and a thorough review of the literature on the efficacy of construction and post-construction best management practices. It employs a risk-based system to assess construction-phase effects and post-construction effects over a 50-year time horizon, making it possible to identify tradeoffs among alternative management practices. Additionally, the research team developed a template for a programmatic agreement (PA) that uses the TES as the basis for a streamlined system for evaluating projects. The PA is intended to cover both informal and formal consultation under a single system, which should reduce consultation time and increase predictability. To support the adoption of the PA, the research team conducted a biological assessment of all species. Adoption of the PA and the TES system should provide substantial cost savings for GDOT while improving outcomes for federally and state protected freshwater species.

• Record URL:
  http://g92018.eos-intl.net/eLibSQL14_G92018_Documents/18-06%20_V3.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/58645
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This volume is the third in a series. The other volumes in the series are FHWA-GA-20-1806 Volumes I through IV.
• Corporate Authors:

  Odum School of Ecology

  ,    

  Georgia Department of Transportation

  Office of Performance-based Management and Research
  600 West Peachtree St. NW
  Atlanta, GA  United States  30308

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Nelson, Jace M
  • Stephens, Timothy A
  • Bringolf, Robert B
  • Calabria, Jon
  • Freeman, Byron J
  • Hill, Katie S
  • Mattison, William H
  • Melchionni, Brian P
  • Skaggs, Jon W
  • Vick, Alfie
  • Bledsoe, Brian P
  • 0000-0002-0779-0127
  • Wenger, Seth J
  • 0000-0001-7858-960X
• Publication Date: 2021-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Maps; References;
• Pagination: 338p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aquatic life; Best practices; Endangered species; Environmental impact analysis; Fresh water; Risk analysis; Road construction
• Identifier Terms: Georgia Department of Transportation
• Geographic Terms: Georgia
• Subject Areas: Construction; Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01765551
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-GA-20-1806 Volume III, 18-06
• Contract Numbers: PI#0016335
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 22 2021 10:21AM