ECO Recognition Award goes to Ministry of Transportation for Rattlesnake Protection Project
TORONTO, January 8, 2002 – On December 21, 2001, Gord Miller, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) presented his 2000-2001 Recognition Award to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO). The ECO recognized the work of MTO staff in taking the initiative to protect the endangered Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake species through an innovative program to reduce habitat loss caused by highway construction on Highway 69 through the Georgian Bay region.
The Georgian Bay region is one of four remaining native Canadian habitats for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. As a result of the environmental approval process, MTO made a commitment to protect the species during highway construction and developed a habitat management strategy in partnership with MNR. Over the last construction season, MTO staff researched species characteristics, population dynamics, habitat and hibernation requirements. They also identified construction activities that could have an impact on snake habitat or population. In response to this research, MTO incorporated design features into the highway construction such as culverts under the highway to provide the snakes with summer migration paths, steep rocky slopes placed adjacent to the highway and artificially created habitats including relocated tablerocks used by brooding female snakes. MTO also provided training to all construction workers in the prime habitat area on how to respond to snake encounters. Throughout the construction period, any rattlesnakes encountered will be protected and relocated.
Following construction of the highway, MTO will continue monitoring to ensure ongoing protection of the rattlesnake population. This will include implanting ten snakes with radio transmitters to record the movement of the population. MTO hopes that this continued monitoring will contribute to the ministry’s understanding of the impacts of habitat fragmentation and the effectiveness of the mitigation strategies developed in this project.
The Recognition Award allows the ECO to formally recognize Ontario government programs and projects that best meet the goals of the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) or are considered best internal EBR practices. Each year, the ECO asks the 13 government ministries subject to the EBR to submit programs and projects that met these objectives. An arm’s length panel reviews the submissions and helps to select the winner.
At the event on December 21, 2001 in North Bay, Commissioner Miller presented plaques to MTO staff Marlo Johnson, Bob Bird and Gary Noble, all of the Northern Region office, and to Ron Black of the Field Services Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Parry Sound District, who also worked on the project. In presenting the award, Commissioner Miller stated “this is a leading-edge initiative that reflects the goals of the EBR to protect and conserve the natural environment.”
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