wes_von_papineäu
Our Roving Correspondent
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- Wes von Papineäu
THE RECORD (Kitchener, Ontario) 10 July 08 Road plan may die so Jefferson salamanders can live; Region's plan to ease congestion on Fairway Road with route through Hidden Valley may be halted by 18 amphibians (Jeff Outhit)
Kitchener: How many rare salamanders does it take to stall a $57-million road?
Genetic testing has confirmed about 18 Jefferson salamanders live in natural areas of Hidden Valley. There are probably more, but not hundreds, salamander expert Jim Bogart says.
Planners have responded by stalling the extension of River Road until next spring. They are waiting for Ontario to finalize new rules to protect the creatures.
It now seems possible the threatened road, approved to ease chronic congestion on Fairway Road, may never be built.
Genetic testing is required to tell them apart from other salamanders that coexist with them.
Jeffersons are classified as threatened but not endangered in Ontario.
"There's a lot of constraints in that area, to get a road through there," said Steve van De Keere, head of transportation expansion for Waterloo regional government.
Jefferson salamanders are elusive creatures that live in rodent holes and rarely see the light of day.
Politicians have made it illegal to disturb them and their habitat, under the Endangered Species Act.
Bogart, a University of Guelph professor, co-chairs a Jefferson salamander recovery team that's trying to keep them from extinction.
He confirmed their presence in Hidden Valley this spring, after searchers trapped salamanders and clipped tiny pieces from their tails, which grow back. The salamanders were then released back into the wild.
The few Jeffersons found are part of a larger population of unprotected salamanders, estimated at 200 to 400 creatures.
Bogart was surprised to find the rare species.
"Hidden Valley is pretty far west from where they have ranged," he said in an interview.
Jeffersons are interesting, Bogart says, because they are particular about where they live and breed, and extremely sensitive.
They reproduce in the spring, only in ponds that dry up in summer. Other salamanders are more flexible about where they breed.
Their presence suggests a robust environment that can support rare plants and animals.
"If the Jefferson salamanders are fine, we know that it's a healthy environment," Bogart said. As the environment degrades, they are among the first species to disappear.
Today, Jeffersons survive in about 30 pockets in southwest Ontario, including at least three local sites. They are also found in the U.S.
"If salamanders weren't there, maybe we'd get a lot more mosquitos, maybe we'd have problems in the pond system. . . and in the forest system as well," Bogart said.
Planners say the Jefferson habitat is in the way of the approved route to extend River Road, from King Street to Bleams Road. The plan, approved in 2006, includes a new Highway 8 interchange.
Can the road still be built, while safeguarding the creatures?
"I think there's a possibility that they can do it," Bogart said. "But I'm not an engineer and I don't know exactly what's involved."
Challenges include:
- Keeping salamanders from traffic.
- Preventing threats from road salt.
- Protecting them from tree-clearing and drainage impacts that might threaten breeding ponds.
Van de Keere can't say if the road is still possible. Altering the route could be a problem because it was chosen to cause the least environmental damage.
"Not building the road will have negative impacts," van de Keere said.
This includes increased traffic congestion on Fairway and other roads, which could in turn damage air quality, increase noise pollution, extend travel times, and cause economic damage.
Delaying the road has increased its ultimate cost, as construction prices soar. It's unlikely it will can be built for the current $57 million estimate.
Planners have also lost the chance to co-ordinate a new interchange with Highway 8 widening that commences next year.
This missed opportunity is expected to add costs and extend construction, assuming the new road is ultimately built.
Road critics are campaigning to stop the road. Preserving rare salamanders means preserving ourselves, they contend.
"They're like our smoke detectors, the DEW Line, and dogs barking a warning," road critic Daphne Nicholls said. "It's up to us to appreciate them and take some responsibility for protecting their habitat."
http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/380686
THE RECORD (Kitchener, Ontario) 10 July 08 Letter: The salamanders have nowhere else to go
Re: Get On With Roadwork -- July 5
The Jefferson salamander is a federally protected species. They are loyal only to the pond of their birth. They will only lay their eggs in that pond. Relocating these animals will negatively affect their ability to reproduce and survive as a species.
The cost to "move their habitat" would make the River Road extension look dirt cheap. Their habitat is nine square kilometres, including the ponds, trees and all the animals within this area. In addition to this, the weather conditions must also be identical.
The simple truth is, there are no alternate locations for these creatures.
A bigger question begs to be asked: Why in the world would anyone want to get to work faster?
Samantha David, Waterloo
http://news.therecord.com/article/380714
Kitchener: How many rare salamanders does it take to stall a $57-million road?
Genetic testing has confirmed about 18 Jefferson salamanders live in natural areas of Hidden Valley. There are probably more, but not hundreds, salamander expert Jim Bogart says.
Planners have responded by stalling the extension of River Road until next spring. They are waiting for Ontario to finalize new rules to protect the creatures.
It now seems possible the threatened road, approved to ease chronic congestion on Fairway Road, may never be built.
Genetic testing is required to tell them apart from other salamanders that coexist with them.
Jeffersons are classified as threatened but not endangered in Ontario.
"There's a lot of constraints in that area, to get a road through there," said Steve van De Keere, head of transportation expansion for Waterloo regional government.
Jefferson salamanders are elusive creatures that live in rodent holes and rarely see the light of day.
Politicians have made it illegal to disturb them and their habitat, under the Endangered Species Act.
Bogart, a University of Guelph professor, co-chairs a Jefferson salamander recovery team that's trying to keep them from extinction.
He confirmed their presence in Hidden Valley this spring, after searchers trapped salamanders and clipped tiny pieces from their tails, which grow back. The salamanders were then released back into the wild.
The few Jeffersons found are part of a larger population of unprotected salamanders, estimated at 200 to 400 creatures.
Bogart was surprised to find the rare species.
"Hidden Valley is pretty far west from where they have ranged," he said in an interview.
Jeffersons are interesting, Bogart says, because they are particular about where they live and breed, and extremely sensitive.
They reproduce in the spring, only in ponds that dry up in summer. Other salamanders are more flexible about where they breed.
Their presence suggests a robust environment that can support rare plants and animals.
"If the Jefferson salamanders are fine, we know that it's a healthy environment," Bogart said. As the environment degrades, they are among the first species to disappear.
Today, Jeffersons survive in about 30 pockets in southwest Ontario, including at least three local sites. They are also found in the U.S.
"If salamanders weren't there, maybe we'd get a lot more mosquitos, maybe we'd have problems in the pond system. . . and in the forest system as well," Bogart said.
Planners say the Jefferson habitat is in the way of the approved route to extend River Road, from King Street to Bleams Road. The plan, approved in 2006, includes a new Highway 8 interchange.
Can the road still be built, while safeguarding the creatures?
"I think there's a possibility that they can do it," Bogart said. "But I'm not an engineer and I don't know exactly what's involved."
Challenges include:
- Keeping salamanders from traffic.
- Preventing threats from road salt.
- Protecting them from tree-clearing and drainage impacts that might threaten breeding ponds.
Van de Keere can't say if the road is still possible. Altering the route could be a problem because it was chosen to cause the least environmental damage.
"Not building the road will have negative impacts," van de Keere said.
This includes increased traffic congestion on Fairway and other roads, which could in turn damage air quality, increase noise pollution, extend travel times, and cause economic damage.
Delaying the road has increased its ultimate cost, as construction prices soar. It's unlikely it will can be built for the current $57 million estimate.
Planners have also lost the chance to co-ordinate a new interchange with Highway 8 widening that commences next year.
This missed opportunity is expected to add costs and extend construction, assuming the new road is ultimately built.
Road critics are campaigning to stop the road. Preserving rare salamanders means preserving ourselves, they contend.
"They're like our smoke detectors, the DEW Line, and dogs barking a warning," road critic Daphne Nicholls said. "It's up to us to appreciate them and take some responsibility for protecting their habitat."
http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/380686
THE RECORD (Kitchener, Ontario) 10 July 08 Letter: The salamanders have nowhere else to go
Re: Get On With Roadwork -- July 5
The Jefferson salamander is a federally protected species. They are loyal only to the pond of their birth. They will only lay their eggs in that pond. Relocating these animals will negatively affect their ability to reproduce and survive as a species.
The cost to "move their habitat" would make the River Road extension look dirt cheap. Their habitat is nine square kilometres, including the ponds, trees and all the animals within this area. In addition to this, the weather conditions must also be identical.
The simple truth is, there are no alternate locations for these creatures.
A bigger question begs to be asked: Why in the world would anyone want to get to work faster?
Samantha David, Waterloo
http://news.therecord.com/article/380714