Goal – That all general site security and habitat improvement measures are executed in time to ensure that 2024 breeding and nesting activities might be maximized, secured funding utilized on time.

Habitat

South western pond turtles (SWPTs), require both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The turtles can be found in fast-moving water habitats, but also need slack-water pools, underwater cover, and structures in or beside the water for basking.

There are no preferred substrates with turtles using anything from bedrock to sand and mud. Aquatic vegetation, while a potential food source, does not need to be present.

Maintain and increase deep pool structures in streams and channels by reducing sedimentation and restoring natural flow regimes. Manage and maintain open fields and woodlands within 500 m of streams, rivers, ponds, and wetlands for over-wintering. Maintain the integrity of shoreline areas. Often shoreline banks provide protected shade and shelter for both SWPTs and some of their prey.

Habitat Improvement Action Plan

• Remove cattle by installing fencing at perimeters.

• Install silt barrier above upper spring pond location 

• Remove non-native vegetation.

• Clean up off stream areas, remove cow dung, etc. Reconstruct eroded streambanks using native boulders, rocks, logs, sand, and soils.

• Leave in place and allow existing vegetation plants to revegetate naturally before additional plantings?

• Please note that instream work necessary to enhance and create new pond sites must wait as is not permitted to begin at this time.

Nesting

Pond turtles move onto land for nesting, overwintering, dispersal, and aestivation. Nesting typically occurs within 100 meters (328 feet) of aquatic habitat in areas with compact well-drained soil, sparse vegetation, and good solar exposure. Females choose to nest in open canopy sites. Nesting occurs in sun-warmed (typically south or west aspect) loose soil. The soil is typically clear of vegetation. Nesting mounds of soil can be created that attract female pond turtles.

Overwintering is typically done in dead vegetation and duff overland or underwater. Underwater mud or silt deposits can also host overwintering turtles. Overland habitats generally include native grasslands and forests. Many SWPTs overwinter on land at sites within 500 meters (1640 feet) from the water.

Eggs are typically laid in nests dug in soft soil in open areas within 100 meters of water. Eggs in nests incubate by the heat of the sun (via the soil) and hatch in approximately 75 days (up to 125 days). Clutch size ranges from 3-13 eggs, with 4-7 being the average. Hatchlings may emerge from the nest September to October and head to water, but most overwinter in the nest, hatching from the egg and remaining in the soil until the following spring. Nesting mounds of soil can be created that attract female pond turtles. Studies show that broken soil releases chemical cues to native predators. Avoid unnecessary ground-breaking activities in nesting locations during nesting and hatchling seasons.

Nesting Sites Action Plan

• Restore and enhance existing, create new nesting areas above streambanks.

• Inspect sun exposure, prune overstory back if necessary to enhance and create open and sunny conditions.

• Import sand from surrounding areas, if necessary, to improve and create existing and new nesting sites.

Basking

SWPTs favor habitats with large numbers of emergent logs or boulders, where individuals congregate to bask. Trees or logs, floating platforms, stumps and root balls, or small rock islands separated from the shoreline may provide both protective basking sites as well as sites visible for monitoring purposes. Turtles will spend more time basking if nearby human activities are obscured. One important key to use is the ability to mount the basking structure. While turtles are excellent climbers, grading a slope or a few steps from subsurface to platform surface helps to diversify the age structure using the platform.

Basking Sites Action plan

• Design and construct restored stream banks with boulders, logs and ramps that enhance accessibility for all age groups of turtles.

• Design and construct observation sites and site access points from parking areas and pathways with screening to obscure human activity from the turtles vision as much as possible.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,

Marty Reed
San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society
January 15th, 2024