Road Ecology Center

Problem Statement In 2000 Region 4 of the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) received citizen complaints regarding the high rate of turtle mortality along NYS Route 21 in Woodville, NY, at the south end of Canandaigua Lake. A partnership including DOT Regions 4 and 6, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) was developed to identify areas of concentrated road kill of reptiles and amphibians along state routes in the vicinity of the High Tor State Wildlife Management Area. Observations made in 2000 and 2001 identified a concentrated area of turtle crossing on Rte. 21 in Woodville. It was determined that this high concentration crossing was likely due to the turtles searching for adequate nesting sites. Project Objective The project objective is to reduce turtle mortality on the identified area of Route 21 using a two-component strategy including: (1) construction of an area suitable for turtle nesting on the side of Route 21 where the turtle crossings originate and (2) construction a physical barrier approximately 1400 feet in length to funnel turtles to four existing culverts.