In the 2002 Haines Highway improvement project from 25 Mile to the border, Alaska DOT created 22.6 acres of wetlands, 3,945 lineal feet of relocated stream and 10,000 lineal feet of new stream to mitigate the impacts of the reconstruction on fish and wildlife resources and habitats. A10-year study showed all the mitigation sites met mitigation objectives, and two sites showed fish where there were none before, exceeding mitigation objectives. The study can be found at DOT’s website.
The upcoming Haines Highway improvement project will have even more mitigation using better technologies and up-to-date practices. We tend to focus on safety improvements, but let’s not forget that a slew of legal and federal requirements assure that this project will also leave improved environmental conditions.
Jerry Lapp
