The following topics were brainstormed at the very end of the course:

• More communication via WFT listserv.
  
  
• Transportation Bill – planning provisions are in jeopardy. Support letterer from state agencies and NGOs are needed.
  
  
• Subgroups of larger organizations specific to Road Ecology issues.
  
  
• Maintenance needs, lack of funding.
  
  
• Clean Water Act 404 process, NGO participation and weigh in. How section 404 can be used to leverage wildlife crossings.
  
  
• Peer examples of successful interagency cooperation and projects for inspiration and examples, lessons learned.
  
  
• Role of education and outreach, public awareness and political engagement.
  
  
• Retrofits at existing structures, sharing examples and information.
  
  
• White paper for building associations to educate outside of transportation agencies.
  
  
• Law enforcement on national borders that use cameras and monitoring could be an opportunity for pursuing international wildlife connections. Increased border control and fencing also poses a threat to connectivity.
  
  
• Drop professional jargon and acronyms.
  
  
• DOTs relationship to county development, county roads and zoning is important.
  
  
• How good does the science need to be before we can move forward and effect change.
  
  
• Industry trade show to provide a source for contractors to avoid retrofitting and to foster product competition and development.
  
  
• Oil and gas road and infrastructure impacts on wildlife.
  
  
• Maximizing permeability by using smaller structures with increased freqeuency.
  
  
• Comprehensive guidelines for mitigation: structure type, costs, effectiveness, utility.
  
  
• Involving commercial sector in developing crossing structures, fencing, and other products to inspire product competition resulting in better products with lower prices.
  
  
• Proactive approach to research and monitoring via predictive modeling.
  
  
• Focus on railroad and canal transportation and their effects on wildlife.
  
  
• Better animal-vehicle collision (AVC) data collection and standardization across states.
  
  
• Road Ecology curriculum for engineers, planners, etc. National Conservation Training Center (NCPC) is an opportunity.
  
  
• e.g. Curriculum: translating a blueprint of a wildlife crossing structure into what it actually looks like on the ground. 1. Show photo of crossing structure area before any work is done; 2. Show blueprint with interpretation of how it translates into actual structure; 3. Show photo (or better visit site) to show how the construction played out; 4. Discussion by engineer of what the blueprint means and how to visualize it and by biologist about wildlife needs and how met with this structure.
  
  
• Conduct a similar wildlife crossing field course in Colorado and/or WY.
  
  
• Cross pollinate engineers and biologists. Biologists need to learn enough about engineering design, construction and project detail in order to communicate better with engineers about wildlife needs. Engineers also need to be informed by biologists about wildlife movement and wildlife structure preferences.
  
  
• Engage consultants more rigorously in the Road Ecology dialogue and development.
  
  
• Utilize continuing education components, credits and courses.
  
  
• Workshop for alternatives to crossing structures (signs, intelligent monitoring systems, law enforcement, driver education and awareness, etc.)
  
  
• Literature compilation on species as well as individual learning curves to mitigation structures.
  
  
• Have environmental specialists participate in design drawings for wildlife structures.
  
  
• Ensure inspection by environmental specialists during construction so that work is done properly.
  
  
• White paper for planners that summarizes methodologies on how to assess the need and placement off wildlife crossing structures, particularly in areas with little or no data.
  
  
• Bibliography of agency reports, journals, and other sources that detail the impact of roadways on wildlife.
  
  
• Incorporate field level knowledge into decision-making, i.e. field DOT construction and maintenance personnel, agency field techs, etc.
  
  
• "Collar an Elk Day" for engineers, decision makers.
  
  
• Workshop or field course on land use planning.
  
  
• Citizen reporting of AVCs – data collection, locations, dates, stories.
  
  
• Increased media awareness and education and outreach campaigns.

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