Wildlife & Traffic
10 Maintenance of ecological assets on transport linear infrastructure
Contents
Management of retention ponds to wildlife
INSPECTION TASKS
To check
- Water level variation is within limits provided in the maintenance plan.
- Water quality is appropriate and toxic elements for aquatic species are not detected in periodic biochemical analysis.
- Appropriate state and condition of vegetation growing at the pond margins and in the water is found, avoiding excessive growth.
- Margin slopes are smooth and allow the entry and exit of amphibians and other small fauna.
- No Invasive Alien Species are found.
- Check for the presence of aquatic fauna that would have to be rescued when ponds need drained.
- Record presence of flora and fauna target species and any evidence of breeding, and store the information in appropriate databases.
SPECIFIC MAINTENANCE TASKS
To do
- Prevent fauna access to hazardous ponds
- Install fencing or any other system to avoid access of animals to ponds which can pose a risk to fauna such as poor water quality and where animals may get trapped.
- Guide amphibian movements around the pond to adjacent habitats to stop them getting onto the roads.
- Adapt retention ponds as amphibian breeding sites
- Guarantee appropriate water quality and physical conditions
- Avoid the colonization of fish predators.
- Maintain appropriate aquatic vegetation community
- Enhance ponds as wildlife habitats
- Identify target species and their habitat requirements.
- Modify the slope gradient around the perimeter, water depth, flow velocity and other habitat features according to the requirements of target species.
- Manage vegetation to achieve a similar habitat to surrounding areas depending on the requirements of target species.
- Consider managing ponds at the entrances of wildlife crossings to provide drinking points or breeding sites for animals.
- Perform rescue of aquatic fauna before ponds are drained
- Seek wildlife/ecology expert assistance to identify species to be rescued, evaluate the population density and plan the best schedule and methods for rescue.
- Apply appropriate methods to rescue fauna living the pond and provide sites to keep them in good conditions while drainage is being undertaken.
- After drainage, restore conditions suitable for wildlife target species and return the animals to the pond, except any Invasive Alien Species.
- Monitor to ensure measures have been effective.
SCHEDULE
- Minimum: once a year, just before seasonal reproductive migrations or periods when target species movements are increased.
- Additional inspections should be planned following floods, strong winds, or other adverse weather events, and after road works, traffic accidents and other potential disturbances.
- The frequency and period of maintenance tasks should be adapted so that they do not affect fauna breeding in the retention ponds.
Maintenance of ecological assets on transport linear infrastructure