Thanks to the community’s generous support, our project to track and study Livermore’s Western pond turtles is making significant strides. We’ve successfully tagged 20 turtles—11 males and 9 females—across three study sites, using GPS transmitters to monitor movements and nesting behaviors. Surprisingly, some males traveled over 5 kilometers from water sources, challenging previous assumptions and highlighting the need to protect upland habitats. Our student-led nesting study also revealed key insights: over half of the tracked females re-dug their nests before successfully laying eggs, and many buried themselves under grass or dirt overnight—a risky but effective strategy. Notably, no nests have been lost to predation so far, and our habitat data shows strong site preferences for nesting. Moving forward, we plan to expand our tracking to a new pond, continue our female nesting study, use camera traps to observe hatchling emergence, and analyze climate impacts on nesting success. Community support is driving meaningful conservation for this vulnerable species—thank you donors for making it possible!

The ACRCD, in partnership with City of Livermore and Swaim Biological, recently hosted a BioBlitz at the Springtown Preserve. The event was a great success, drawing 50 enthusiastic participants to explore the unique ecology of the Springtown Preserve—a rare alkali sink habitat. Throughout the event, attendees recorded an impressive 446 observations, leading to the identification of 126 distinct species. From specialized plants to diverse wildlife, the findings highlighted the rich biodiversity supported by this uncommon ecosystem. The bioblitz not only deepened scientific understanding but also underscored the importance of protecting such rare natural areas through community engagement and citizen science. The Springtown Bioblitz was one of many events held around Livermore and around the world as part of the 2025 City Nature Challenge, an international effort to engage people in documenting nature and promoting biodiversity awareness in urban areas.

ACRCD is proud to announce the awarding of $15,000 in mini-grant funds to five Bay Area producers and community groups through our Urban Farms Mini-Grant Program. These funds, made possible entirely through generous community donations, will support natural resource conservation and farm operational efficiencies across urban and urban-edge sites in Alameda County. Project locations include Oakland, San Leandro, and Hayward. The awarded projects focus on enhancing soil health, improving water quality, increasing on-site habitat, and boosting water use efficiency—delivering tangible benefits to both local communities and the surrounding ecosystems. Project implementation will begin in May 2025 and is expected to conclude by September 2025.