Reclamation Information Sharing Environment (RISE)

Reclamation oversees extensive canal systems where animal burrows near earthen embankments can create significant risks, including seepage, settlement, and internal erosion. These voids may lead to structural failures that threaten water supplies, cause property damage, and endanger nearby populations. Traditional deterrent methods, such as hunting and trapping, are costly, highlighting the need for innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions. The 2016 Science & Technology (S&T) Program prize competition solicited ideas for deterring animals from burrowing into canal embankments. This research evaluates three selected approaches from the competition: an acoustic emitter, noxious plants, and animal impervious liner. Motion-activated video monitoring indicated a reduction in rockchuck activity following the deterrent installations, although external factors like predator presence and human activity complicated the results. Future research aims to expand field testing in collaboration with additional Reclamation regions and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to encompass a broader range of species and deterrent strategies. This includes further assessment of the acoustic deterrents by varying frequency parameters and incorporating predator sound recordings. The results and lessons learned from this study will be used to conceptually develop and prototype an embankment armoring strategy tailored to the burrowing characteristics of target species.