Quiz 1: Environmental Impacts of Roads

1. Name an environmental impact of road network shown in the first picture and explain the importance.

• Landscape fragmentation prevents wildlife from migrating along migration corridors and is especially disrupting to animals requiring large unending landscapes, such as bears. Cleared areas along the side of the road may provide habitat for invasive plant species.

2. In what ways do roads impact water quality?

• Roads release sediment that enters waterways which can pollute the water and affect the organisms living in the water. Runoff from road maintenance, such as salt and oils also pollute waterways. Bridges and culverts can also block fish migration.

3. What are two ways that roads create social impacts (may be positive or negative)?

• Noise pollution, increased access to remote cottaging areas; increased access for trapping, hunting, and non-timber forest product harvesting.