Take of Turtles Sample Clauses

Take of Turtles. ‌ The Western Chicken Turtle is rare throughout its range, and only nine individuals have been documented in the Trinity River Basin (personal communication, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, University of Houston). The Western Chicken Turtle utilizes habitat that is largely outside the operational areas managed as part of this agreement, namely ephemeral wetlands and other temporary waterbodies that are used seasonally for reproduction. When not engaged in breeding activity, the Western Chicken Turtle spends most of the year underground, estivating in upland areas. Nests are constructed in uplands also outside the operating area of the Covered Activities; therefore, no nests or eggs are expected to be impacted. Based on these species-specific factors, the potential for take of this species is believed to be highly unlikely; however, since the Western Chicken Turtle does occur in the basin, a minimal level of risk should be assumed no matter how unlikely. Therefore, take of one Western Chicken Turtle may occur due to Covered Activities during the 10-year life of the CCAA. The Alligator Snapping Turtle is more common than the Western Chicken Turtle and is found in a variety of riverine and reservoir environments across its range, including East Texas. Estimates of abundance vary, but Alligator Snapping Turtles are thought to number in the thousands in the Trinity River Basin alone (personal communication, Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx, USFWS). Relative to freshwater mussels, the Alligator Snapping Turtle is generally less vulnerable to disturbance or modification of habitats associated with the Covered Activities due to their motility and use of upland areas for nesting. Individuals would likely leave the immediate area when conservation or maintenance projects involve in-stream activity. The vast majority of activities conducted by the Covered Parties will be in previously disturbed areas, thereby lowering the potential for impacts. Additionally, the Alligator Snapping Turtle prefers deeper water habitats available within the river system. Projects that require disturbance in new areas will likely have a small, quantifiable footprint (e.g., mussel surveys, invasive plant control, or riparian restoration). Therefore, potential take of Alligator Snapping Turtles would be rare and up to one Alligator Snapping Turtle per year may be taken due to Covered Activities during the life of the CCAA.