Eagle Mountain highlighted in national report on wildlife habitat connectivity
Eagle Mountain’s efforts to balance growth with wildlife conservation have received national recognition in a newly released report by the Center for Large Landscape Conservation.
The document, Integrating Wildlife Habitat Connectivity into Local Government Planning: Examples, Recommendations, and Resources for U.S. Towns and Counties, showcases how cities and counties across the country are weaving habitat preservation into land use planning.
The report compiles case studies from across the western United States, drawing attention to policies, master plans, and local ordinances that safeguard migration corridors and connected landscapes. Funded in part by The Pew Charitable Trusts, it is intended as a practical guide for planners and local governments seeking to protect natural resources and wildlife habitat while accommodating growth.
“This document, based on peer-reviewed literature, makes recommendations to governments facing similar challenges,” said Todd Black, Eagle Mountain City’s wildlife biologist. “We’re doing what we can to connect habitat for wildlife through the City.”
Among the highlighted examples of what cities and counties are doing is Eagle Mountain City, where proactive planning, code adoption and hiring City staff to help implement conservation measures have placed the city on the national map for wildlife conservation.
The report emphasizes that local governments hold significant authority over land use decisions, giving them a unique role in protecting critical habitats. It notes that Eagle Mountain has taken steps beyond the ordinary by hiring a wildlife biologist, establishing a wildlife corridor overlay zone and creating zoning layers specifically for conservation.
“It specifically references Eagle Mountain City Code and the fact that we hired a wildlife biologist,” Black said. “If you really want to get serious, hire professionals to work on conservation.”
Such measures are essential for preserving connectivity of wildlife habitat, particularly for large mammals and predators that depend on expansive, linked habitats. While bird populations are less impacted by development barriers, species such as deer and mountain lions require intact migration routes to survive.
For Eagle Mountain residents, the recognition serves both as validation and as an invitation to better understand how their city fits into the larger national picture.
“To me, it’s an outreach and education matter,” Black explained. “If our residents want to get into the nitty gritty and how we fit into what’s going on nationally, this is a good read. Especially those first six to eight pages where they talk about us, this is a great outreach and education opportunity.”
Black noted that communities across North America are grappling with similar challenges. As human populations expand, the strain on natural landscapes grows.
“We’re not just an anomaly, we’re part of a bigger picture of people who are trying to preserve habitat and wildlife,” he said. “Where people live is not a finite resource, and if we’re going to co-exist, we’ve got to figure out a better way.”
Eagle Mountain’s recognition in the report follows years of investment in wildlife-friendly planning. The City has secured state and federal grants to continue building out its conservation efforts, including $350,000 this year specifically dedicated to projects such as a deer migration fence.
“To me, it’s like, ‘hey, this is a kudos,’” Black said. “Eagle Mountain continues to get state and federal grants to work on this project. Most of that will go toward the deer migration fence. So, we’re committed to it and going forward with it. We are wildlife friendly here and we’re trying to manage things in a thriving community.”
For residents interested in learning more, the full report and a summary document are available at largelandscapes.org/local-planning.