East Bay Wildlife Connectivity Project

Every year, wildlife in the East Bay attempt to cross busy highways like I-580, I-680, and CA-84, roads that divide natural habitats and create dangerous barriers for animals and people alike. Collisions can be deadly, contribute to declining wildlife populations, and pose a serious public safety risk. These challenges are intensified by climate change, which forces animals to move in response to wildfires, drought, and floods in the short term, and long-term shifts in climate and habitat over time. As development expands and conditions continue to change, safe passageways are becoming more important than ever.

In 2018, with support from the Altamont Landfill Open Space Committee and in partnership with the UC Davis Road Ecology Center, the Alameda County Resource Conservation District began collecting data to better understand how animals move across our landscape. This early research laid the foundation for a Wildlife Conservation Board grant awarded in 2023 to launch a 3.5-year planning effort focused on improving wildlife connectivity in the East Bay.

We are working to identify four priority locations where new wildlife crossings, such as underpasses or overpasses paired with wildlife-friendly fencing, could reconnect habitat and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. Three of these crossing sites will move forward through the Caltrans project development process, with the goal of reaching the 65 percent design level during the grant period. Projects at this stage are often considered “shovel-ready,” meaning engineered designs and environmental review are largely complete and prepared for future construction funding.

Below is a map showing the general areas currently under review as potential crossing locations. Site selection is ongoing and includes scientific modeling, community input, agency coordination, and consultation with Tribal partners.