Ongoing Work...

          Following the completion of our project, the BLM will use the data we collect to locate the best areas of habitat for further research and restoration projects. The BLM is also conducting population surveys to learn more about population size, age structure, and juvenile recruitment rates in a given habitat. In other words, the BLM will determine the “Quality, quantity, distribution, and connectivity of viable populations.”

          Following continued research, the BLM may implement restoration projects to aid in the Western Pond Turtle's recovery. Future strategies for recovery may include habitat restoration, continued population surveying, and cooperation with city and non-profit organizations, as well as local landowners. Habitat restoration strategies may include stream bank restoration, invasive species removal, connecting populations, and even small scale timber sales. Stream bank restoration may include placement of basking structures and grading slopes to allow for easier access for turtles to nesting habitat. Removal of invasive species such as Scotch Broom and Armenian Blackberry would also create better nesting habitat to aid in turtle reproduction. Connecting viable populations is important to maintain genetic diversity of the species and could be achieved through cooperation with private landowners. Additionally, improvement of upland habitat could be achieved through small scale timber removal by use of less damaging methods such as cable logging or helicopter removal.