Culvert installment and removals, how they affect surrounding habitat and how we can improve our methods of maintenance

Abstract

Culvert maintenance has been a problem for watersheds and roadways. The purpose for culvert installation is to increase the water carrying capacity away from road structures and buildings within the environment. Small mammals rely on culverts as habitat corridors for reproduction, food availability, and to escape predation. There are various management strategies developed for culverts so that they do not impact the surrounding habitat in a negative way, these include beaver deceivers, intake guards, and other management barriers. There are also several factors that influence types of management strategies for wildlife protection when it comes to culvert management. This study brings together results conducted from three plots in northwestern Ontario, where vegetation comeback and animal use were analyzed from culvert extractions along deactivated roads. This study also analyzes the process of extracting and installation of a concrete box culvert within a highly populated area. The study site in southern Ontario is used for recreation and tourism, it experiences frequent flooding from spring runoff and beaver damming. Management strategies have been suggested towards flood control and beaver damage within the watershed.