Balancing Growth with Wildlife Corridors in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs

As Utah County’s fastest-growing cities continue to expand, a centuries-old mule deer migration corridor faces increasing pressure from development. Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs are now at the heart of a statewide debate: Can rapid urban growth coexist with meaningful wildlife conservation?

Rapid Growth and Habitat Pressure

Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs in Utah County are among the fastest-growing communities in the state. Eagle Mountain has exploded from a tiny town of 250 residents in 1996 to over 50,000 today, and it is projected to reach as high as 150,000 by 2060. Saratoga Springs likewise has swelled to nearly 58,000 residents as of 2024 and is on track to double in population within the next decade. This rapid urban expansion is converting former rangelands and open spaces into subdivisions and infrastructure, pushing development into key wildlife areas.

Wildlife Corridors Intersecting Development Zones

One of the most important wildlife movement pathways in northern Utah County is the mule deer migration corridor. Every spring and fall, roughly 2,000 mule deer migrate between the Oquirrh Mountains and the Lake Mountains. This route passes directly through Cedar Valley, including large portions of Eagle Mountain, and skirts the foothills near Saratoga Springs. But development now intersects with that path, increasing roadkill and habitat fragmentation.

Eagle Mountain’s west side encompasses much of Cedar Valley where the deer travel. A mule deer migration corridor runs through the currently undeveloped western portion of the city. As Eagle Mountain’s footprint has expanded, subdivisions have begun encroaching on mule deer habitat, and busy roads like State Route 73 (Cory Wride Memorial Highway) and Redwood Road have become major hazards for wildlife.

Specific locations where wildlife movement and development intersect include the SR-73 pinch point in Eagle Mountain and the foothill areas of the Lake Mountains by Saratoga Springs. In Eagle Mountain, deer funnel through a narrow section of open land to cross SR-73 – a spot that became notorious for crashes. Similarly, as deer move toward the Lake Mountains, they historically had to cross Redwood Road near the southern end of Saratoga Springs to reach winter habitat.

Ecological Impacts of Development

Habitat fragmentation from suburban expansion threatens the integrity of this migration corridor. Road collisions have killed as many as 100 deer per year in Eagle Mountain alone. Night lighting, ornamental landscaping, and noise from new neighborhoods further stress wildlife. Biologists warn that without mitigation, the migration could collapse entirely as deer abandon disrupted routes.

Land-Use and Zoning Decisions

Eagle Mountain introduced a Wildlife Corridor Overlay Zone in 2020, limiting development in designated areas and requiring wildlife-friendly infrastructure. Developers must follow restrictions on lighting, fencing, and construction timing. The city has also altered road plans to avoid disrupting critical areas. Some projects predating the overlay remain exempt, but city planners are trying to minimize their impact.

Local government and planning authorities in Eagle Mountain have recognized the threat to wildlife corridors and are taking unprecedented zoning measures. In 2020, Eagle Mountain formally adopted a Wildlife Corridor Overlay Zone into its city code, one of the first of its kind in Utah*. This overlay zone maps out the critical mule deer migration route across the city and imposes special regulations to safeguard the corridor from development. According to city statements, “No development shall occur in the critical mule deer migration corridor,” except for approved mitigation structures and recreation trails*. Essentially, the overlay prohibits new subdivisions or buildings in the designated corridor swath.

Under these rules, developers who own land in the corridor face strict limits. Within the Wildlife Corridor Overlay Zone, any allowed projects must incorporate wildlife-friendly design features. As reported, these stretches of habitat require that “developers must install animal-friendly fencing, minimize artificial lighting, avoid construction during deer migration and bird-nesting seasons, and abide by other restrictions”*. City ordinances also mandate that new major roads crossing the corridor include wildlife underpasses or overpasses to allow animals safe passage*. Eagle Mountain’s long-term transportation master plan has been amended so that any arterial road intersecting the migration path will have a built-in wildlife crossing (such as a bridge or culvert)*. This kind of forward-thinking requirement aims to prevent future “death traps” for wildlife on city streets.

One notable planning adjustment was relocating proposed roads to avoid cutting through sensitive areas. Early on, local advocates pointed out that a north-south collector road had been drawn through a key section of the deer corridor on the city’s draft master plan*. In response, planners agreed to shift the road alignment westward, away from the heart of the migration route*. Similarly, an east-west road was moved further south to reduce its impact on a canyon wash that deer use*. These changes were a direct result of public input and data on deer movements, illustrating how land-use maps were revised to accommodate wildlife needs.

It’s important to note that not all development can be halted or redesigned – especially projects that were approved before the new wildlife overlay existed. Eagle Mountain officials have acknowledged that some prior development agreements are “grandfathered” and thus not subject to the corridor protections*. (For example, if a subdivision’s plans were vested years ago in an area now identified as corridor, the city may lack legal leverage to impose new wildlife requirements on that project.) This has been a point of tension: conservationists worry about any gaps in protection, while city leaders must balance property rights and avoid overreach. In one planning commission meeting, city staff explained that because a certain development agreement predated the Wildlife Corridor Overlay Zone, the city “cannot impose requirements” on that project*. Cases like this present ongoing challenges – essentially, working around existing entitlements to still preserve a functional migratory path.

In Saratoga Springs, the approach to land-use and wildlife is a bit less defined by formal corridor zoning, but there are related planning considerations. Much of Saratoga Springs lies east of Redwood Road, away from the core mule deer corridor, but the city does border the Lake Mountains open space on its west. Saratoga Springs’ general plan emphasizes preserving open space and natural resources as the city grows, and the city has been involved in regional discussions (with Utah County and Eagle Mountain) about trail systems and habitat on Lake Mountain. Saratoga Springs officials note that with such rapid growth, they have an opportunity to “proactively plan” with developers and landowners for future needs* While not explicitly stated, this proactive planning could include ensuring wildlife habitat connectivity is maintained in critical areas. For instance, any proposals to develop higher up on the Lake Mountain foothills would likely face scrutiny due to wildlife impacts. In practice, Saratoga Springs has supported projects like the Harbor Point underpass on Redwood Road, which, while primarily a pedestrian/bicycle tunnel, helps keep a corridor open beneath the busy highway at the south end of the city*. Keeping such crossing points open (for people and potentially for wildlife) is part of the patchwork of solutions needed to maintain connectivity between Utah Lake, the Lake Mountains, and Cedar Valley’s wildlands.

Conservation and Mitigation Strategies

Projects include over 20 miles of wildlife fencing—dubbed the “mule deer luge”—and planned underpasses and overpasses to guide deer safely through urban areas. Conservation easements, federal partnerships through the Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape, and grants are funding these efforts. Community-driven groups like the Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance have been instrumental in moving these initiatives forward.

• Establishing a Protected Corridor
  Eagle Mountain City, with strong encouragement from local residents, officially set aside a contiguous corridor for mule deer migration. This involved mapping the GPS data from collared deer and negotiating with multiple landowners (including private developers, state agencies like Utah’s School and Institutional Trust Lands, and even the U.S. Army’s Camp Williams) to secure a continuous route
• Wildlife Fencing and the “Mule Deer Luge”
  One of Eagle Mountain’s most ambitious projects is the construction of an extensive wildlife funneling system humorously nicknamed a “mule deer luge.” This will be a network of over 20 miles of 8-foot-high wildlife fencing lining both sides of the designated corridor, effectively creating a guided chute through the city
• Wildlife Crossings (Underpasses and Overpasses)
  Fencing alone would simply block animals if not for controlled crossing structures. Eagle Mountain’s plan calls for nearly a dozen dedicated wildlife crossings to be constructed as the city builds out. These will include at least one major underpass (for highways like SR-73), potentially one or two wildlife overpass bridges, and multiple at-grade crossings on smaller city streets.
• Federal and State Support
  The conservation efforts got a boost in 2024 when the Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape (GSLSL) was federally recognized. The Eagle Mountain Wildlife Corridor lies within this Sentinel Landscape – a designation that brings together the Dept. of Defense, USDA, and Dept. of Interior to support land preservation around military installations and sensitive habitats.
• Community Engagement and Stewardship
  Local conservationists formed a nonprofit, the Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance, which has played a pivotal role. Led by residents Bettina Cameron and Marian Burningham, this grassroots alliance effectively put the issue on the city’s agenda starting in 2018-2020

Community Perspectives and Controversies

Residents, conservationists, and local officials largely support the effort. Some landowners and developers have been hesitant, but public support and national attention have turned the corridor into a model for other cities. However, growth pressures remain intense, and continued commitment is essential.

Private property rights are a delicate issue in Utah, and not all landowners were immediately on board with restricting development on their land. Both the city and the Wildlife Alliance have been careful to avoid heavy-handed tactics. They’ve instead leaned on incentives and voluntary cooperation. Still, a few developers have quietly pushed back by simply not engaging. The good news is that at least some major landowners have come to the table, as evidenced by land donations and reconfigured plans, but the process required overcoming many obstacles.

Public feedback in Eagle Mountain has been largely positive regarding the corridor project. Residents who enjoy the area’s outdoor lifestyle see the value in keeping wildlife around. A local resident, quoted in a city newsletter, expressed appreciation that efforts have reduced roadkill and hopes they continue: “We still lose deer… but losses on have been significantly reduced due to our new detection and crossing system,” said one Eagle Mountain resident (Todd Black, in his role as city biologist)

A local example of controversy is the plan to build a Tyson Foods meat processing plant in Eagle Mountain (mentioned on a billboard thanking locals*). Some residents have questioned whether industrial facilities align with the city’s open-space vision. While not directly a wildlife issue, it feeds into the broader dialogue of what kind of growth is welcome. Additionally, Utah’s wider debates – such as a proposal to build housing on artificial islands in Utah Lake – have tangentially raised concerns about habitat, though that particular issue is more aquatic and affects Saratoga Springs from the lake side (beyond our focus on terrestrial corridors).

Conclusion

The experience of Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs highlights the delicate balance between urban development and wildlife conservation. On one hand, these cities are thriving and must accommodate tens of thousands of new residents with homes, roads, and services. On the other hand, they sit at the crossroads of an ancient wildlife highway that could easily be severed if growth proceeds unchecked. The case of the mule deer migration corridor shows that thoughtful planning and community-driven advocacy can identify solutions: zoning tools to protect critical lands, engineering projects to reduce animal-vehicle collisions, and collaboration with state and federal partners to fund crossings and preserve open space.

There are real trade-offs and challenges involved – not every acre can be saved, and not every stakeholder will be happy. Yet, Eagle Mountain’s proactive approach offers a hopeful example. If successful, it “could provide a blueprint for other Western towns trying to strike their own precarious balance between development and conservation”*. If it fails (i.e., if the execution falls short or development pressures win out), the consequences will be borne by the region’s wildlife and by future generations who may lose the chance to live alongside these animals.

For now, the momentum is toward making it work: fences are going up, plans are being altered, and conservation has a seat at the table in local development decisions. The coming years will test how well this vision holds up, but it represents a forward-thinking attempt to ensure that urban growth does not irrevocably erase the wild heart of northern Utah County.

Sources

• Cedar Valley Sentinel – “Mule Deer and Antler Shed Hunting in Eagle Mountain”, Jan. 1, 2025
• Eagle Mountain City News – “Migration season is here: Drivers urged to watch for deer”, Nov. 25, 2024
• Salt Lake Tribune/HCN – “This Utah city is building a ‘luge’ to guide wildlife through its fast-growing neighborhoods”, Sep. 1, 2024
• Eagle Mountain City – “Federal recognition of wildlife corridor enhances conservation efforts”, May 15, 2024
• Eagle Mountain City – “Wildlife Conservation” (webpage), accessed 2025
• Eagle Mountain Nature & Wildlife Alliance statements, 2020
• BLM Environmental Assessment (public comments), Trail Development in the Lake Mountains (2021)
• Saratoga Springs City – Growth & Demographics (accessed 2025)

Photo by christie greene on Unsplash