Mountain pond turtle imperiled by drought


VOLUNTEERS—Isaac Yeltsin and Steve Engelman examine the water quality at a turtle pool. Courtesy RCDSMM Stream Team

VOLUNTEERS—Isaac Yeltsin and Steve Engelman examine the water quality at a turtle pool. Courtesy RCDSMM Stream Team

The local drought and extreme heat have been tough on many animals—and currently an effort is underway to save the dwindling southwestern pond turtle population in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The southwestern pond turtle is the only turtle native to Southern

California. Their populations are in such decline that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a petition to list them as endangered. In the Santa Monicas, their numbers are sparse.

The Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains has been monitoring turtle population in the area since 2002, looking for ways to help the reptile survive.

The turtles require ponds for food and safety. When their ponds and pools become dry, the turtles go hungry and are easy prey for predators such as ravens, raccoons and dogs.

With so little rain this year, the last turtle pools in the local mountains have begun to disappear. A team of 25 volunteers led by the conservation district stepped in to help.

REMOTE—A view looking down at the two turtle pools that were revived. Courtesy RCDSMM Stream Team

REMOTE—A view looking down at the two turtle pools that were revived. Courtesy RCDSMM Stream Team

On Sept. 4 the team deployed 20, 100-foot-long hoses and carried them up a steep 200-foot ravine to siphon water over to a pair of the last few pools left supporting the native turtle.

Manzanita School/Cali Camp donated water, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy provided extra hoses.

With the help of engineering firefighter volunteers Ken Widen, Joshua Widen and Chris Walley, the volunteers were able to manage sufficient water pressure to transfer water up the hill.

Delmar Lathers and Jayni Shuman oversaw the repair of hoses that blew out under pressure. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Chris Dellith and his wife, Melissa, made sure the water was dechlorinated and well aerated before it hit the two pools.

It took all day to deliver the more than 2,000 gallons of water needed to fill the pools. Five turtle hatchlings along with several juveniles and small adults immediately took advantage of the improved habitat.

The Resource Conservation District is seeking financial support from the community to help ensure the turtles’ survival.

The district hopes to raise $11,000 to buy the materials— pipes, valves, gages, water—to set up a more permanent solution so that pools can be filled as needed if the rains fail to come this winter.

For more information go to rcdsmm.org.

Acorn staff report