2022-038 Process for Identifying and Mapping Wildlife CorridorsDate: June 17, 2022 Report No. 2022-038
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Process for identifying and mapping wildlife corridors within the City of Denton.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Wildlife corridors are proposed to be defined as greenspace and manmade structures/
improvements that allow wildlife to move between larger areas of existing habitat. Staff
proposes to first generate a greenspace map to begin the identification process for wildlife
corridors and establish a working group of stakeholders to refine the wildlife corridor definition
and then generate the wildlife corridor map. Council will need to confirm that staff can proceed
with the proposed process to generate the wildlife corridor map.
BACKGROUND:
The Denton 2040 Comprehensive Plan as approved on March 22, 2022, established Key Action
#127 - Identify and map wildlife corridors throughout the City. The term wildlife corridor is not
defined within the Denton 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Staff have met with Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department to initiate discussions on wildlife corridors. Additionally, staff have
communicated with the University of North Texas as well. Staff have researched various
resources on wildlife corridors to outline a plan for this key action.
DISCUSSION:
The Denton 2040 Comprehensive Plan as approved on March 22, 2022, established Key Action
#127 - Identify and map wildlife corridors throughout the City. To begin work on this key
action, we must first establish the definition of wildlife corridor in this effort. The Merriam-
Webster dictionary defines “wildlife” as living things and especially mammals, birds, and fishes
that are neither human nor domesticated. “Corridor” has a broad definition that includes a
usually narrow passageway or route: such as a land path used by migrating animals or an area or
stretch of land identified by a specific common characteristic or purpose.
When you look at “wildlife corridor” as a collective term you find definitions like a strip of
natural habitat connecting populations of wildlife otherwise separated by cultivated land, roads,
etc. or a narrow area of land that is a habitat (a suitable living environment) for wild animals and
plants and that connects other habitats across an area where they cannot easily live.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service explains wildlife corridors may span anywhere from a stretch
of river to a whole continent. The WorldAtlas defines a wildlife corridor as an area of habitat
that provides passage for wildlife across artificial obstacles such as dams, roads, and railways. It
is also known as a habitat corridor or a green corridor. They go on to discuss categories of
wildlife corridors which are classified according to corridor width, continuity, and whether they
are overpasses or underpasses. Local corridors are less than 50 meters (164 feet) in width and
join patches of gullies, wetlands, and ridgelines. In terms of continuity, wildlife corridors may
either be continuous or stepping stone corridors. Continuous corridors are not broken up into
Date: June 17, 2022 Report No. 2022-038
various parts, while stepping stone corridors are small patches of suitable wildlife habitat.
Overpasses or underpasses are manmade and designed to facilitate safe passage primarily across
roads and railways (https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-a-wildlife-corridor.html).
Combining the definitions and concepts researched above, staff recommends the following
working definition of “wildlife corridors” for use in the City of Denton: greenspace and
manmade structures/improvements that allow wildlife to move between larger areas of existing
habitat.
The definition may be further refined as the mapping process progresses and may be formally
incorporated into City code or documents in the future.
The City of Denton has several on-going efforts that include work on wildlife areas and wildlife
corridors such as:
• Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) including Cross Timbers Upland Habitat, Water-
Related Habitat, Riparian Buffer Habitat, and Floodplain Habitat
• City of Denton – Parks, Recreation, and Trails System Master Plan (adopted 2022)
• Denton 2040 Comprehensive Plan (adopted 2022) which includes the Preferred Land
Preservation Plan.
• Urban Forest Master Plan (adopted 2020)
• Monarch City USA (established 2018)
• Bee City USA (established 2016)
• Wildflower Planting Program (established 2020)
• Bird City (pending approval in 2023)
• National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat Certification (2020- ongoing)
• Drainage infrastructure (manmade and natural assets)
The above resources will be reviewed and included in the development of the wildlife corridors
map. Some other key documents that have been and will be reviewed as part of the wildlife
corridor mapping process include:
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department publications:
o Wildlife and Habitat Management on Small Acreages in the Cross-Timbers and
Prairies Region of Texas (PWD-LF-W7000-1151).
o Land Fragmentation in Texas: Meeting the Challenge (PWD-LF-W7000-1155)
o Introduction to Ecosystem Management in Texas (PWD-LF-W7000-1156)
o Shared Wildlife Resources: An Ecological Approach to Cooperative Wildlife
Management in the Cross Timbers (PWD-LF-W7000-1189)
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/huntwild/wild/wildlife_habitat/
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN).
SGCN are native animals and plants that are declining or rare and in need of attention to
recover or to prevent the need to list under state or federal regulation.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/nongame/tcap/sgcn.phtml
• The Pima County Wildlife Connectivity Assessment: Report on Stakeholder Input
published February 2012 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Date: June 17, 2022 Report No. 2022-038
https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife/planning/habitatconnectivity/identifying-corridors/pima-
county-wildlife-connectivity-assessment/
• Washington Connected Landscapes Project: Statewide Analysis as published December
2010 by the Washington Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Working Group.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01324
While typically wildlife corridors are focused on a specific species to allow their movement
within and across an area, in urban areas it can be focused simply on greenspace. The
greenspace review should reveal general connectivity opportunities. Keeping in mind that a
corridor does not have to be continuous but also can be small areas of viable habitat.
The next step will be to establish a working group of City staff and external stakeholders. This
group will take the wildlife corridors concept further with more detailed discussions certain types
of habitats needed to support the Denton wildlife community (animals and plants). This habitat
discussion will also include various sizes or spacing of habitat for long term viability. Staff has
had initial conversations with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff as well as contact with
the University of North Texas.
CONCLUSION:
To identify and map the Wildlife Corridors, staff recommends a two-pronged approach.
1. Generate an overall greenspace map that pulls information from all existing City of
Denton resources.
The greenspace map will be developed by the end of 2022.
2. Establish a working group comprised of City of Denton staff and outside stakeholders
such as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, University of North Texas, Texas
Woman’s University, and local master naturalists.
This working group will be established in 2022. The goal will be to refine the greenspace
map into a wildlife corridor map by mid-2023 based on input from this working group.
ATTACHMENT(S):
None
STAFF CONTACT:
Michael A. Gange, Director – Environmental Services & Sustainability
940.349.7165
Michael.gange@cityofdenton.com
REQUESTOR: Initiated
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS:
Environmental Services & Sustainability, Development Services, Parks & Recreation, and Public
Works - Drainage