Road Expansion Threatens At-Risk Species

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Tuesday, June 26, 2007 | Updated at 7:23 AM EDT


New road hits salamander snag
Endangered species find delays long-planned River Road extension
JEFF OUTHIT


SALAMANDER


KITCHENER (Jun 26, 2007)

A proposed road long planned for south Kitchener is suddenly on hold, after the surprise discovery of rare salamanders in the area.

Planning for the extension of River Road through the natural Hidden Valley area, south of Fairway Road, is to be delayed by at least a year.

This will allow consultants to review impacts on a "threatened species" that was not found in previous biological inventories of the area.

The Record has confirmed that consultants found Jefferson salamanders in parts of Hidden Valley. That's after consultants went searching for the rare amphibians this spring.

Jefferson salamanders are protected by federal and provincial legislation, and are classified as a threatened species in Canada.

Government officials refused to identify the species found in Hidden Valley, saying the secrecy is meant to protect its habitat.

"By not letting people know that it's there, we're hoping to avoid people being made aware of it, then potentially going out and collecting it," said Ken Cornelisse, a water resources co-ordinator with the Ministry of Natural Resources.

He said the ministry was startled by the discovery of the threatened species this spring. "I was surprised by the outcome of the most recent study," Cornelisse said.

Disruption of River Road plans at such a late stage has implications for taxpayers and for drivers.

Construction has now been delayed until 2010, at the earliest.

This assumes the proposed road is not abandoned over salamander concerns.

"The project could do one of three things," said Steve van De Keere, head of transportation expansion for regional government. "It could move ahead. It could move ahead with adjustments. Or it's possible that it could not move ahead, although I would say that's less likely."

Extending River Road to Manitou Drive has been on the books for more than two decades, to help ease chronic traffic congestion on Fairway Road and in south Kitchener.

Estimated costs range between $42 million and $66 million.

Even if the proposed road goes ahead, it now appears regional government has missed its chance to fully co-ordinate it with Ministry of Transportation plans to widen Highway 8 in the same area, starting next year.

Instead, highway widening and the construction of a highway interchange at River Road would happen at different times and under different contracts.

This is likely to increase taxpayer costs, while extending driving disruptions.

"It's looking unlikely that we'll be able to get the entire (River Road) interchange included as part of the ministry's tender," van De Keere said.

"What we've asked the ministry is to design Highway 8 so it doesn't preclude the interchange being built."

jouthit@therecord.com

 

[scarberiankhatru]

"He said the ministry was startled by the discovery of the threatened species this spring. "I was surprised by the outcome of the most recent study," Cornelisse said."

Maybe if it wasn't named Hidden Valley, someone would have looked in it sooner and found these salamanders who can't be named, as if they're celebrities or young offenders.

 

[Transportfan]

Another case of "when is an endangered species not an endangered species" Jefferson Salamanders are only rare here because they are near the northern limit of their range.

 

[TJ O'Pootertoot]

A similar thing happened in Richmond Hill when they were extending Bayview Avenue. They built wee tunnels for the salamanders to use for commuting under the road. I've heard nothing on whether they are actually used etc.

 

[Urban Shocker]

They're nocturnal, secretive and prone to cannibalism: I say don't build tunnels for them - let them take their chances on the open road.

They'll only lurk in the tunnels, jump their buddies, and devour them if we pander to them.

 

[Prometheus The Supremo]

and if they loose a limb, they can always re-grow it.

 

[unimaginative2]

Salamander Update

Naturalist questions salamander secrecy

JEFF OUTHIT


KITCHENER (Jul 17, 2007)

Neil Taylor feels "absolutely vindicated" by the discovery of rare salamanders in the Hidden Valley area of south Kitchener.

But he's upset that government officials are still guarding details of the surprise discovery.

"That seems rather absurd," he said yesterday.

Taylor figures government officials are using secrecy to frustrate efforts to prevent development in Hidden Valley.

"To me, they're actually playing a game, perhaps brinkmanship," Taylor said.

"They don't want those of us who are really seriously interesting in protecting it, to know its abundance, its location with respect to the project. It is frustrating."

A regional official denied that secrecy around Jefferson salamanders is a pro-development tactic. "I find that accusation to be inaccurate," said Eyad Soltan, the regional manager in charge of a proposed Hidden Valley road project.

Secrecy was demanded by the provincial government to protect a threatened species from intruders, Soltan said.

Taylor is an avid birdwatcher and former president of the Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists.

He's a leading critic of proposed development in the Hidden Valley area.

"It's a priceless piece of natural heritage," he said. "What is remarkable is that it hasn't been developed up to now."

This spring, Taylor persuaded Waterloo regional government to look for Jefferson salamanders, after complaining that an earlier search was flawed.

"I kept pestering them," he said.

The spring search was undertaken with the help of Jefferson salamander experts. Last month, its results led officials to announce the discovery of a "threatened species."

The Record has confirmed the species is the Jefferson salamander.

The discovery has delayed a proposed Hidden Valley road for at least a year, pending more research. The proposed road is meant to ease chronic congestion on Fairway Road.

Officials are refusing to identify which threatened species was found, say how many were found, or reveal how close they are to the proposed road.

This makes no sense to Taylor, whose requests for more information have been denied.

Jefferson salamanders are elusive by nature and Taylor sees little risk that somebody will now go out to hunt them down.

According to a federal agency: "The species' secretive nature makes population estimates difficult."

Jefferson salamanders are protected by provincial and federal laws. Ontario law makes it illegal to kill, harass or capture the salamanders.

jouthit@therecord.com