Western Pond Turtle Conservation
The time is NOW to gather important data on California’s only native turtle species, the Northwestern and Southwestern Pond Turtle (WPT)! Urban expansion and climate change-related stressors continue to reduce WPT populations across their entire range (California, Oregon, and Washington). In response to their declining population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed federal protections for both species of pond turtle under the Endangered Species Act.
You have a unique opportunity to help change the trajectory of these species here in Livermore/Tri-Valley at this critical juncture by donating to purchase GPS units that will help track the movements of these vulnerable species, allowing scientists to protect habitats critical for their survival.
In June of 2023, researchers at the Alameda County Resource Conservation District and collaborating institutions, with support from the USFWS, began investigating upland habitat use by WPT in Alameda County rangelands using state-the-art wildlife tracking GPS telemetry. Using these GPS units, researchers can get real-time updates on the location of the turtles throughout the year, allowing them to better understand their lifecycle and help inform conservation efforts.
To build on this study, the ACRCD and its collaborators want to expand the scope of this project to include another critical stronghold for WPT, urban waterways. Livermore, the largest city in Alameda County’s Tri-valley, is an ideal geographic region to conduct WPT research, as it is home to both species of WPT and its developed and rangeland landscapes allow researchers to study turtles at the intersection of urban and rural environments.
Help expand this critical research by donating today!
The Western Pond Turtle Conservation Fundraising Goal is $30,000 or 20 GPS Units
1 Radio GPS Unit* costs $1,500
Donation Levels
Northwestern Pond Turtle: Full GPS Unit $1,500
Southwestern Pond Turtle: Half GPS Unit $750
Turtle Hatchling: Quarter GPS Unit $325
Turtle Bale (Group of Turtles): $ Donors Choice
Every single donation counts! Thank you!
The deadline to make your impactful donation is April 30, 2024, due to Western Pond Turtle migration. Project implementation will begin in June 2024. If you have questions about making a donation or the conservation research, please contact Dr. Farley Connelly below.
Alameda County Resource Conservation District is a governmental unit and charitable contributions are tax-deductible under section 170(c) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax I.D. #94-2216653.
