Protection Measures Selection Tool

Fencing and/or monitoring will be used to protect western pond turtles and will be implemented in coordination with a Qualified Biologist. If the project site is suitable for fencing, the USFWS requires an Exclusion Fencing Plan, and a Qualified Biologist will determine where ESAF will be installed to protect western pond turtle habitat adjacent to the proposed project footprint.

If complete exclusion of the project disturbance footprint with WEF is not feasible in the project area, projects may consider directional fencing (fencing that is meant to guide the movement of western pond turtles safely around a work area) to discourage western pond turtles from entering the project area from suitable habitat, or fencing off only portions of the larger project area as they are being actively worked on. The local USFWS Field Office may be contacted for technical assistance on excluding western pond turtles from a project area where complete exclusion fencing is not feasible.

WEF must be opaque, non-climbable material, at least 2.0 feet (0.6 meters) high, have one-way exit funnels away from the work area, and contoured such that western pond turtles are unable to climb over the fence. WEF will include coverboards spaced every 50 to 100 feet on either side to provide cover to western pond turtles that encounter the fence. If WEF is found to be compromised, a Qualified Biologist will conduct a survey immediately preceding construction activity that occurs in western pond turtle habitat, or in advance of any activity that may affect other species. The Qualified Biologist will search along WEF and in pipes, culverts, and beneath equipment (e.g., vehicles or heavy equipment) before they are moved (see ASP-4, Entrapment). Monitoring can be conducted in lieu of WEF at sites where installation is not practicable (see GPM-5, Environmental Monitoring; and GPM-7, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and/or Wildlife Exclusion).