Type: report

Article abstract: This 2023 effort builds on the previous work by the USGS and its partners in support of pond turtle restoration and management in the MSPA (Brown et al. 2020a and 2020b). This report summarizes the search for new pond turtle populations, continued monitoring of translocated individuals, and removal of NAS from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023. This work was completed as part of SANDAG agreement 548642. Specific activities are summarized in Table 1. This work is part of a larger USGS study to assess the pond turtle population in southern California. Pond turtle translocations and habitat restoration efforts have been collaborative between the USGS and partners: San Diego Zoo, CDFW, SDMMP, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), City of San Diego (City), County of San Diego (County), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Endangered Habitats Conservancy (EHC), Department of Defense (DOD) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).