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Eco-Logical Webinar Series

Eco-Logical webinars serve as valuable resources in fostering cooperative learning opportunities. Upcoming Eco-Logical webinars will focus on implementing each step in the Integrated Ecological Framework, a tool designed to help transportation and resource agencies work together to integrate transportation and ecological decision making.

If you have suggestions for future webinar topics, please contact Mike Ruth at 202-366-9509.

September 2017 – In-Lieu Fee Programs: This webinar featured presentations from North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and Maine Department of Transportation on their established and newly created in-lieu fee programs. The webinar included how the programs were developed, lessons learned, and advice for those going through the process. Presenters included:

  • Mike Ruth, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Project Development and Environmental Review
  • Tim Baumgartner, Division of Mitigation Services, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • Judy Gates, Maine Department of Transportation

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF. Recording available upon request.

May 2017 – Maine Programmatic Consultation on Atlantic Salmon - Expediting Project Delivery and Improving Partnerships: This webinar presented how Maine Department of Transportation, FHWA-Maine Division, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and their partners successfully created and executed a formal programmatic consultation on Atlantic salmon. The webinar covered how the agencies worked together, how partnerships were formed, challenges that were overcome, lessons learned, and recommendations from the experience. Presenters included:

  • Cassandra Chase, FHWA-Maine Division
  • Patrick Dockens, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Eric Ham, Maine Department of Transportation
  • David Williams, Federal Highway Administration

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF. Recording available upon request.

October 2016 – Improving Aquatic Connectivity at the Landscape Scale in the Southeastern United States: This webinar presented a new GIS tool, created by the University of Georgia and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration, for evaluating particular culverts of passability, using landscape-scale features and features of different aquatic organisms, to improve transportation planning in the southeastern United States. A technical application of the tool was also demonstrated. Presenters included:

  • Mike Ruth, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Project Development and Environmental Review
  • Duncan Elkins, University of Georgia
  • Evan Collins, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Nate Nibbelink, University of Georgia
  • Thomas Prebyl, University of Georgia

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF. Recording available upon request.

October 2016 – Eco-Logical Community of Practice: Innovative Mitigation Contracting and Financing: This webinar featured presentations from one State DOT, one MPO, and the Federal Highway Administration on innovative options for planning, financing, and implementing mitigation sites, including contracting for full delivery. Presenters included:

  • Kate Kurgan, American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials
  • David Williams, Federal Highway Administration
  • Marisel Lopez-Cruz, Federal Highway Administration
  • Jody McCullough, Federal Highway Administration
  • Mike Pettegrew, Ohio Department of Transportation
  • Keith Greer, San Diego Association of Governments

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF. Recording available upon request.

July 2016 – Eco-Logical Community of Practice: Pollinator Habitat Programs: This webinar featured presentations on Pollinator Habitat Programs from 3 State DOTs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Federal Highway Administration on establishing pollinator programs, how to create an agreement amongst neighboring states to collectively manage pollinator habitat, and how to fund pollinator habitat programs. Presenters included:

  • Kate Kurgan, American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials
  • Daniel Buford, Federal Highway Administration
  • Deirdre Remley, Federal Highway Administration
  • Tina Markeson, Minnesota Department of Transportation
  • Dennis Markwardt, Texas Department of Transportation
  • Brian Waymack & Diane Beyer, Virginia Department of Transportation
  • Michael Gale, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF. Recording available upon request.

June 2016 – Eco-Logical Reaffirmation Webinar - Celebrating 10 Years of Eco-Logical!: This webinar featured an overview of the Eco-Logical approach, the history of Eco-Logical and related activities, and a presentation on how the U.S. Forest Service has used the Eco-Logical approach in the field. Presenters included:

  • David Williams, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
  • Sandra Jacobson, U.S. Forest Service

The webinar also featured a panel discussion about the past, present, and future of Eco-Logical with representatives from the Eco-Logical Signatory Agencies. Panelists included:

  • Nicholle Braspennickx, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • Brian Carlstrom, National Park Service
  • Rachel Herbert, Environmental Protection Agency
  • Michelle Lennox, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
  • Catherine Liller, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Dixie Porter, Forest Service
  • Daniel Shivley, Forest Service

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF. Recording available upon request.

March 2016 – Eco-Logical Community of Practice: Wildlife and Transportation: This webinar featured presentations on Wildlife and Transportation from two State DOTs and featured information on how practitioners can develop a state-wide wildlife connectivity assessment, how data can be collected and used to track wildlife movement patterns and traffic, and how wildlife objectives and adaptive management can be incorporated into the NEPA process. Presenters included:

  • Kate Kurgan, American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials
  • David Williams, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
  • Dan Buford, FHWA
  • Kris Gade and Justin White, Arizona Department of Transportation
  • David Singer, Colorado Department of Transportation

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

November 2015 – Crucial Habitat Assessment Tools (CHAT) and Wildlife Data: This webinar provided information on the Crucial Habitat Assessment Tools (CHAT) and its history, how CHAT and other wildlife data can be integrated into the transportation planning process and relates to the Eco-Logical approach, and its practical uses in the field. Presenters included:

  • Rob Ament, Western Transportation Institute
  • Carlee Brown, Western Governors’ Association
  • Renee Callahan, Center for Large Landscape Conservation
  • Holly Michael, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
  • Gregg Servheen, Idaho Department of Fish and Game

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

October 2015 – Crediting and Ecosystem Services: This webinar described ecosystem services and ecosystem crediting in the context of Eco-Logical, how they relate to mitigation, and how agencies can use these concepts in their planning and decisionmaking processes. Presenters included:

  • Lydia Olander, Director of Ecosystem Services Program and National Ecosystem Services Partnership, Nichols Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and Adjunct Assistant Faculty at the Nichols School of the Environment, Duke University
  • Jimmy Kagan, Director of the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, Information Program Manager for the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University, Director of the Institute of Natural Resources - Portland at Portland State University

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.
Recording available upon request.

September 2015 – Mitigation Approaches: This webinar detailed Mitigation Approaches from four different agencies, including funding mechanisms, strategies for establishing mitigation banks, and how agencies can learn from each other when designing mitigation strategies. FHWA provided information on the spring 2015 Implementing Eco-Logical Mitigation Approaches Peer Exchanges and mitigation as it relates to the Integrated Eco-Logical Framework. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers presented on establishing a mitigation bank or in-lieu fee program; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service presented on conservation banking and achieving compensatory mitigation using a landscape-scale approach; the San Diego Association of Governments presented the MPO perspective on implementing advance mitigation; and Florida DOT presented on their mitigation work. Presenters included:

  • Mike Ruth, FHWA
  • Lauren Diaz, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • Deblyn Mead, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Keith Greer, San Diego Association of Governments
  • Marjorie Kirby and Xavier Pagan, Florida DOT

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.
Recording available upon request.

May 2015 – Vermont’s Staying Connected Initiative: A Partnership to Advance Landscape-Scale Conservation: This webinar detailed the Staying Connected Initiative, a partnership working to restore and enhance landscape connections for the benefit of people and wildlife across the Northern Appalachian/Acadian region of the eastern U.S. and Canada. FHWA presented how Staying Connected relates to the Eco-Logical Initiative. Vermont Agency of Transportation, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Service, and The Nature Conservancy, Vermont Chapter discussed the Staying Connected partnership, the institutional need for relationships among the Staying Connected agencies, and detailed a camera study monitoring wildlife connectivity in the Vermont region.

  • Mike Ruth, FHWA
  • Jens Hilke, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
  • Gina Campoli, Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans)
  • Paul Marangelo, The Nature Conservancy, Vermont Chapter
  • James Brady, VTrans

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.
Recording available upon request.

February 2015 – Eco-Logical Starter Kit, Overview, and Technical Assistance Launch: This webinar served as an overview session for Integrated Eco-Logical Framework and Implementing Eco-Logical Activities. CH2M HILL discussed the new Starter Kit and other Eco-Logical technical assistance resources available. Michigan Department of Transportation discussed the benefits of using the Starter Kit and Eco-Logical in general.

  • Mike Ruth, FHWA
  • David Williams, FHWA Resource Center
  • Carolyn Washburn, CH2M HILL
  • Margaret Barondess, Michigan DOT

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

November 2014 – Eco-Logical in Cross Agency Coordination: This webinar shared experiences from Federal, State, and regional agencies that are pursuing cross-agency collaboration to advance Eco-Logical projects. The speakers discussed challenges, successes, and lessons learned as they developed partnerships across agencies to implement Eco-Logical. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) discussed the Pacific’s Southwest Regions’ Regional Advanced Mitigation Program (RAMP). The Pike’s Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) spoke to their work in developing a green infrastructure plan as part of SHRP2. Maine Department of Transportation presented on their experience developing a programmatic biological assessment for Atlantic Salmon.

  • Roberta Gerson, USFWS
  • Rich Muzzy, PPACG
  • Judy Gates, Maine DOT

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

September 2014 – Eco-Plan Beta Testing: This webinar presented FHWA’s Eco-Plan, a web-based geospatial data tool. Eco-Plan was developed to address a key barrier to implementing the Eco-Logical approach: access to clear and consistent data within and across agencies during pre-NEPA screening. Eco-Plan was developed as a centralized repository for important ecological data to complement other geospatial data and early coordination. FHWA’s Office of Planning presented on the benefits and applications of Eco-Plan and ICF International demonstrated how to use the tool. FHWA asked for participants in the webinar to beta test Eco-Plan and share relevant feedback.

  • Brian Gardner, FHWA
  • Stephen Ziegler, ICF International

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

August 2014 – Eco-Logical Uses in Performance Based Planning: This webinar presented how agencies use Eco-Logical data in setting up performance measures in a performance-based planning process and how agencies are leveraging their Eco-Logical data collection to enhance transportation planning. The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) presented on how they use Eco-Logical as a performance measurement in their long-range transportation planning process. The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) explained their Natural Heritage Data collection process and how it relates to transportation planning and FHWA staff presented on performance based planning in general.

  • Egan Smith, FHWA
  • Wood Hudson, TJPDC
  • Travis Miller, OKI
  • Margo Lindahl, OKI

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

June 2014 – Step 9 of the Integrated Eco-Logical Framework (IEF): The webinar on Step 9 of the Integrated Eco-Logical Framework, Updating the REF and Ecological Data, presented the benefits of updating Ecological data and how doing so can create connections to other plans and processes. The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) presented on their GIS tool and how it influenced the planning process in the region, and FHWA staff presented on ecological data in general.

  • William Ostrum, FHWA
  • Meredith Dang, H-GAC
  • Bill Bass, H-GAC (panelist)

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

March 2014 – Step 8 of the Integrated Eco-Logical Framework (IEF): Implement Agreements and Deliver Projects: The webinar on Step 8 of the Integrated Ecological Framework, Implement Agreements and Deliver Projects, presented retrospective insights on implementing an Eco-Logical approach on the statewide and regional scales. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) presented on their TransNet advance mitigation program, and Federal and State transportation staff presented on the Interagency Team for Ecological Enhancements for Montana and experiences during its pilot corridor study.

  • Keith Greer, SANDAG
  • Deborah Wambach, Montana DOT
  • Brian Hasselbach, FHWA-MT
  • Liz O’Donoghue, The Nature Conservancy (panelist)

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.
View the one-page webinar summary in HTML or the PDF.

January 2014 – Step 7 of the Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF): Developing Programmatic Agreements and Consultations: This webinar presented experiences and insights from agencies that have implemented programmatic agreements and consultations, Step 7 of the Integrated Eco-Logical Framework, and a key strategy for implementing the overall Eco-Logical approach. These agreements enhance and streamline compliance with Federal environmental rules in the project development process. Federal and State partners presented on the Oregon Endangered Species Act programmatic consultation, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet presented on their programmatic agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers.

  • Cindy Callahan, Federal Highway Administration
  • Marc Liverman, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service
  • John Raasch, Oregon DOT
  • Danny Peake, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.
View the one-page webinar summary in HTML or the PDF.

October 2013 – Step 5 of the Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF): Establish and Prioritize Ecological Actions: This webinar detailed Step 5 of the Integrated Ecological Framework and Eco-Logical Approach (Establish and Prioritize Eco-Logical Actions), where transportation agencies and their partners move from coordination and data sharing to identifying the most important potential sites for mitigation or other ecological action. Speakers from Arizona described the prioritization of wildlife habitat and linkages statewide and how, drawing from this effort, Pima County, AZ created, funded, and implemented a regional strategy for reconnecting habitat across transportation corridors. The webinar featured the following presenters:

  • Norris Dodd, Arizona DOT
  • Carolyn Campbell, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.
View the one-page webinar summary in HTML or the PDF.

August 2013 – Step 6 of the Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF): Developing a Crediting Strategy: This webinar presented current research, strategies, and resources for creating an ecological crediting system as part of Step 6 of the Integrated Eco-Logical Framework (Developing a Crediting Strategy). The lead author of the recent white paper from the Institute for Natural Resources presented on his research and how crediting can fit into a wider Eco-Logical approach. The Executive Director of the Willamette Partnership also discussed his organization’s implementation of crediting systems and resources it has made available for transportation and resources agencies. The webinar featured the following presenters:

  • Jimmy Kagan, Institute for Natural Resources
  • Bobby Cochran, Willamette Partnership

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.
View the one-page webinar summary in HTML or the PDF.

May 2013 – Step 4 of the Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF): Assessing Effects on Conservation Objectives: This webinar provided a detailed overview of Step 4 in the Integrated Ecological Framework (assessing the potential effects of transportation projects upon natural resources). The leader of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments’ (SEMCOG) Plan and Policy Group presented their process for mapping natural resources and transportation projects and using this data for early transportation planning. The webinar featured the following presenters:

  • Spencer Stevens, FHWA Office of Planning
  • Amy Mangus, SEMCOG

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

March 2013 – Implementing Eco-Logical Panel: This webinar provided a question-and-answer forum for the implementation assistance funding opportunities offered through the Second Strategic Highway Research Program. Gary Jensen and Marlys Osterhues of FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review provided an overview of the Lead Adopter and User Incentive funding. Panelists from FHWA, California Department of Transportation, West Virginia Department of Transportation, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials answered questions about their funding and about their experience with the Eco-Logical program and the Integrated Ecosystem Framework.

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

January 2013 – Step 3 of the Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF): Creating a Regional Ecosystem Framework: This webinar provided a detailed overview of Step 3 in the Integrated Ecological Framework (How to create a Regional Ecosystem Framework). A representative from the Florida Department of Transportation presented their Efficient Transportation Decision Making Tool and discussed insights for other agencies seeking to develop a Regional Ecosystem Framework. The webinar featured the following presenters:

  • Bill Ostrum, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review
  • Peter McGilvray, Florida Department of Transportation

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

December 2012 – Step 2 of the Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF): Integrating Natural Resource, Transportation, and Land Use Plans: This webinar provided a detailed overview of Step 2 in the Integrated Ecological Framework (How to integrate natural resource, transportation, and land use plans). Representatives from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the State of Maine shared important lessons on integrating plans to identify opportunities for transportation improvements that minimize impacts on critical habitats. The webinar included the following presenters:

  • Mark Sarmiento, FHWA Office of Planning
  • Steve Walker, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
  • Judy C. Gates, MaineDOT Environmental Office

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

October 2012 – Step 1 of the Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF): How to Build and Strengthen Collaborative Partnerships: This webinar provided a detailed overview of Step 1 in the Integrated Ecological Framework (How to Build and Strengthen Collaborative Partnerships). Representatives from North Carolina’s Departments of Transportation, and Environment and Natural Resources presented best practices and strategies from their Interagency Leadership Team, and related programs and products. The webinar included the following presenters:

  • John Sullivan, FHWA North Carolina Division
  • Debbie Barbour, North Carolina Department of Transportation
  • John Dorney, Atkins North America
  • Periann Russell, North Carolina Division of Water Quality

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

July 2012 – Green Infrastructure and Transportation Planning to Improve Environmental Outcomes: The webinar provided best practices for how transportation projects can be used to improve green infrastructure networks and connectivity as well as how established green infrastructure can help to streamline the transportation planning process. The webinar included the following topics and presenters:

  • Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) introduction of green infrastructure in transportation projects and its relationship to Eco-Logical (Mike Ruth, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review)
  • Chicago Wilderness Green Infrastructure Vision (Jesse Elam, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning [CMAP])
  • Land-of-Sky Regional Council’s (located in Western North Carolina) Eco-Logical grant project to develop a Green Infrastructure Framework (Linda Giltz, Land-of-Sky Regional Council)
  • Maryland Watershed Resources Registry (WRR) (Ralph Spagnolo, Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], Region 3)

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

May 2012 – Regional Ecosystem Frameworks (REFs): Illustrations on the Use of REFs at Multiple Scales: The webinar presented participants with best practices for establishing REFs at the local, State, and National levels. Discussion also compared the benefits of REFs at the different scales and illustrated how REFs can contribute to transportation planning with better environmental outcomes. The webinar included the following topics and presenters:

  • Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Introduction of the Webinar and Overview of REFs as Part of the Eco-Logical Approach (Mike Ruth, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review)
  • The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) Landscape Approach and Eco-Logical (Karen Prentice, BLM)
  • Oregon’s Willamette Basin and Statewide Regional Ecoregional Framework (Jimmy Kagan, Institute for Natural Resources - Portland and Oregon Biodiversity Information Center)
  • Eco-Logical - An Interactive Decisionmaking Tool for Long-Range Transportation Planning (Amy Boyers, Houston-Galveston Area Council)
  • Introduction to FHWA’s Transportation Liaison Community of Practice Website (Mike Ruth, FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review))

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

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)

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

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)

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

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)

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

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)

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

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).

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

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).

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

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).

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

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).

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

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).

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.

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).

View the presentations in HTML or the PDF.