Eco-Logical

April 2012 – The Eco-Logical Approach in Action: Implementation Updates from Eco-Logical Grant Recipients: The webinar provided an overview of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA's) Eco-Logical Grant Program and key findings from the FHWA 2011 Eco-Logical Grant Program annual report. Presenters from the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) provided examples and lessons learned from implementing the Eco-Logical approach as part of their respective grant projects. The webinar included the following topics and presenters:

• Introduction and Overview of Findings in Eco-Logical Implementation (Michael Lamprecht, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review)
• Integrating Green Infrastructure and Regional Transportation Planning (Steve Williams, TJPDC)
• The Cermak/Blue Island Sustainable Streetscape (David Leopold, CDOT)

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February 2012 – Western Governors' Association (WGA) Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (CHAT): A Collaborative and Networked Approach for Transportation Projects: Presenters discussed the development and application of CHAT, a tool created by the Western Governors' Wildlife Council (WGWC) for data development purposes, prioritization of crucial habitats, and as a public planning tool. The webinar highlighted the benefits and opportunities of multi-State ecological collaboration, which is part of the Eco-Logical approach to planning. The webinar included the following topics and presenters:

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Introduction and Relationship to Western Governors' Association (Mike Ruth, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review)
• Introduction of WGA/WGWC and CHAT (Madeleine West, WGA)
• Benefits of CHAT (Gregg Servheen, Idaho Department of Fish and Game)
• Initial Applications of CHAT to Utah Transportation Planning (Carmen Bailey, Utah Department of Wildlife Resources)
• Case Studies of CHAT's Use and Benefits in Washington (Audrey Hatch, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)

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January 2012 – Innovative Eco-Logical Research: Highlights of the Upcoming Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting: Speakers presented on applications of Eco-Logical in environmental and transportation research, strategies, and tools featured at the TRB Annual Meeting in January 2012. Presenters included:

• Introduction of TRB and Relation to FHWA Eco-Logical Activities (Mary Gray, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review)
• Online Information Systems and Data Tools for Eco-Logical Decision-making (Todd Lickfett, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
• A Quantitative Decision-making Framework for Environmental Commitment Tracking (Mehmet Egemen Ozbek, Colorado State University)
• Eco-Logical Components of the Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool (INVEST) (Mike Culp, FHWA Office of Natural Environment)

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November 2011 – Watershed Approaches for Mitigation and Transportation Planning: Innovative Programs from FHWA's Resource Agency Partners: Presenters from Federal resource and regulatory agencies highlighted their programs that use a watershed approach to implement Eco-Logical principles. The presentations included methods for assessing watershed health, prioritizing watersheds for conservation and restoration, and use of watershed approach in integrated planning. Presenters included:

• Overview of FHWA Context (Michael Lamprecht, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review);
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Healthy Watersheds Initiative (Laura Gabanski, EPA);
• U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Watershed Approach (Nat Gillespie, USFS); and
• Watershed-Based Approaches for Mitigation and Transportation Planning (Barbara Walther, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

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October 2011 – Highlights from the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation (ICOET): Applications of Eco-Logical from the U.S. and Beyond: Three presenters from ICOET and one recipient of a FHWA Environmental Excellence Award provided overviews of their research and projects. The webinar showcased the latest technologies and strategies for integrating ecology and transportation through the Eco-Logical approach. Presenters included:

• Overview of ICOET (Mary Gray, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review);
• A Systems View of Sustainability: Incorporating Sustainability into New York State Department of Transportation's (NYSDOT) Strategic, Tactical, and Operational Decisions (Debra Nelson, NYSDOT);
• Ecosystem-Based Protocols for Systematic Sustainable Roadside Development (John Walewski, Texas A&M University);
• Washington Connected Landscapes Project (Kelly McAllister, Washington State DOT); and
• Landscape Analysis in Early Planning – Green Infrastructure (Henrik Wahlman, Trafikverket Swedish Transport Administration).

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September 2011 – Mitigation Banking, Conservation Banking, and In-Lieu Fee Programs: Mitigation Options Using the Eco-Logical Approach: Speakers described programs and case studies related to conservation and mitigation banking, and in-lieu fees, which are tools that can help implement the Eco-Logical approach. Presenters included:

• Overview of FHWA Mitigation Banking and In-Lieu Fee programs (Corrie Veenstra and Mike Ruth, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review).
• Mitigation and In-Lieu Fee Programs (Steve Martin, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers);
• Conservation Banking (Deblyn Mead, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service); and
• Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Mitigation and Conservation Banking Program Case Study (Brad Livingston, ODOT).

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May 2011 – Eco-Logical and Wildlife Crossings: Concepts in Innovative Planning: This webinar featured research and projects related to wildlife crossings that help to decrease the number of animal vehicle collisions and support the placement of effective wildlife crossing structures. Presenters included:

• Overview of FHWA wildlife crossing research and projects (Mary Gray, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review).
• I-70 Mountain Corridor & Eco-Logical Grant (Colorado Department of Transportation, an Eco-Logical grant recipient);
• Wildlife Crossing Hotspots (Normandeau Associates, Inc.); and
• ARC International Wildlife Crossing Infrastructure Design Competition (Western Transportation Institute – Montana State University).

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April 2011 – Intersections between Eco-Logical and PEL: FHWA Programs to Improve Environmental Outcomes: This webinar included presentations on the following topics linking Eco-Logical and FHWA's Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) program:

• Background and applications of the PEL program (Gina Filosa, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center);
• Connections between Eco-Logical and other strategic FHWA environmental programs (Mary Gray, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review);
• North Central Texas Regional Ecosystem Framework (North Central Texas Council of Governments, an Eco-Logical grant recipient); and
• Planning and Environment Linkages Applications (Denver Regional Council of Governments).

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March 2011 – Using Eco-Logical to Identify Priorities for Conservation and Mitigation: Three Eco-Logical grant recipients presented tools that help transportation practitioners and resource agencies to identify ecosystem priorities and related mitigation projects in their States and regions. Presenters included:

• Regional Ecological Assessment Protocol (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 6);
• Creating a Regional Decision Support System (Houston-Galveston Area Council); and
• North Carolina's Strategic Conservation Planning (North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources).

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October 2010 – The Eco-Logical Approach as a Path to Livability: This webinar included Eco-Logical grant recipients presenting implementation lessons and successes from their grant projects and connections between the Eco-Logical approach and the six livability principles of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities. Presenters included:

• Blueprint Jordan River (Envision Utah);
• Central Texas Greenprint for Growth (Capital Area Council of Governments/Envision Central Texas);
• Green Infrastructure for Great Cities (Chicago Department of Transportation); and
• FHWA Livability Activities (Gabe Rousseau, FHWA Office of Human Environment).

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