The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife released a comprehensive guide focused on conserving Oregon’s native turtles and their habitats. It includes Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect and conserve Oregon’s two native turtle species, the northwestern painted turtle and the western pond turtle.
Guidance for Conserving Oregon’s Native Turtles Including Best Management Practices is intended primarily for natural resource and land managers, land use planners, and project managers, but landowners and the general public can also benefit from this resource. The guide was peer-reviewed, and the BMPs are practical and cost-effective so they can be readily used.
The guide can help with planning projects in or near permanent or seasonal wetlands, ponds, and other water bodies that are within the known range of native turtles. Actions that involve ground disturbance, changes in water levels, riparian habitat restoration, or use of heavy equipment are just a few examples known to affect native turtles.
The guide was produced by ODFW with significant financial and design contributions from the Port of Portland. Technical review was completed by the Oregon Native Turtle Working Group.
