Riverine Turtle Habitats Potentially Impacted.

Abstract : Changing water levels or other operations at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reservoirs may impact critical habitat parameters for riverine turtle species. This technical note identifies riverine turtle species and habitats potentially impacted by USACE reservoir or other water-control projects as reported by resource managers. Current state and/or Federal legal protection status is summarized as is the distribution of USACE Districts and reservoir projects potentially impacted by riverine turtle conservation issues (Table 1). Life-history summaries and habitat requirements are given for each riverine turtle species identified as potentially impacted at reservoir operations. This group includes the largest number of species, of which 13 have state protection, 2 are listed as Federally endangered, and 1 is a Federal candidate for legal protection (Figure 1, Table 2). Although the riverine turtle group contains the most species, only 3 species were reported as having potential environmental issues at some USACE projects.