asia trail elephant facility - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

ASIA TRAIL - ELEPHANT FACILITY SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The proposed improvements would have a beneficial impact on the experience of visitors to the
Zoo. The proposed elephant facility would improve and enhance an area of the Zoo that was
identified to be in “fair” condition in the facility study, and is in need of modernization. The new
facility would be designed to reflect contemporary methodologies of research and observation,
and is anticipated to be an improvement in comparison to the existing elephant exhibit at the
Elephant House. The new facility would be designed to promote more natural elephant
behaviors, and would emphasize scientific research to study, protect and celebrate Asian
elephants. By visiting the elephants at the proposed elephant facility, visitors will be exposed to
the importance of conservation efforts in preserving these animals and the ecosystems that
support them.
The relocation and construction of a new elephant facility would coincide with the ongoing
development of Asia Trail Phase I. Therefore, the potential impacts to visitation and visitor
experience would add to the potential impacts of Phase I. However, as with Phase I, the project
would not increase visitation and would improve the visitor experience. Therefore, there would
be no adverse cumulative impacts from this project.
3.9 Pedestrian Circulation
Pedestrian traffic within the project area is accommodated by paved sidewalks that provide
access to animal exhibits and connect to Olmsted Walk and the Zoo’s perimeter road. Pedestrian
access to the elephant exhibit is provided by paved sidewalks leading directly from Olmsted
Walk to the Elephant House and elephant yards. Pedestrian access to the Elephant House and the
exhibits of the project site is ADA-compliant.
Potential Pedestrian Circulation Impacts
The proposed project would relocate this popular exhibit of the Zoo, which receives a moderate
amount of visitor pedestrian traffic, to an area that currently receives less visitor pedestrian
traffic. With development of the proposed facilities, visitation from Zoo visitors would be
anticipated to initially increase, as with other Asia Trail exhibits, due to its improved visitor
experience. Walkways at the project site would be designed to accommodate pedestrian flow to
the relocated exhibit and would be ADA-compliant.
The relocation and construction of a new elephant facility would coincide with the ongoing
development of Asia Trail Phase I. Therefore, the potential impacts to pedestrian circulation
would add to the potential impacts of Phase I. However, as with Phase I, the project would
improve pedestrian circulation. Therefore, there would be no adverse cumulative impacts to
pedestrian circulation from this project.
3.10 Archaeological and Historic Resources
Archaeological evidence from the region indicates that Native Americans occupied various areas
in what is now Washington, D.C. The lands along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, Rock Creek
and Tiber Creek, and the many tributaries that ran through the Washington, D.C. area, offered
tribes abundant game animals and fish, a variety of plant foods, and lithic resources. Early
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION – NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 3-16