Sprawl and other forms of poorly planned growth pose a major threat to the survival of many threatened-endangered species, including the bog turtle.  If you are concerned about how a project may impact a bog turtle colony you cherish, then contact CEDS at 1-800-773-4571 or Help@ceds.org. We've helped many citizen groups preserve species threatened by sprawl.  Our advice is available free to those seeking to preserve the environment and neighborhoods.

In addition to advice by phone, you also have the option of hiring CEDS to evaluate the impact of a proposed development project to a bog turtle population.  If we find there is cause for concern then we can assess various options for safeguarding the colony.  Frequently the options entail but minor modifications to project plans.  But some sites are so sensitive that we recommend preserving the site in an undeveloped state. 

Following is an example of a CEDS evaluation.   The local planning commission denied approval for the project due in part to unresolved threats to the colony.

Pilesgrove, NJ Bog Turtle Colony Preservation Comments (2 MB)

CEDS believes that all growth should preserve quality of life for both existing and future residents.  Environmental quality is a key quality of life component.  And nothing attests to a high-quality environment like the presence of the federally threatened bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii).  Many of those who live near existing colonies treasure the added uniqueness it adds to their environs.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USF&WS) Endangered Species Program has the primary responsibility for safeguarding bog turtle populations.  The USF&WS has released a  Bog Turtle Recovery Plan for the northern population.  The plan is the best single document for information about bog turtle ecology and preservation.

There are about 360 known bog turtle colonies in seven states: Connecticut (5 sites), Delaware (4), Maryland (71), Massachusetts (3), New Jersey (165), New York (37), and Pennsylvania (75).  As the name implies, bog turtles live in wetlands, but have been known to migrate a mile and a half when displaced from a wetland.

A proposed development project can impact a bog turtle colony through:

• direct damage to the wetland due to filling, grading, etc.;

• damage to the minimum 300-foot no-disturbance buffer that should be established around a bog turtle wetland;

• a reduction in groundwater inflow to the wetland due to loss of recharge caused by impervious surfaces, groundwater withdrawals, compression of upgradient soils, etc.;

• introduction of invasive species;

• predation by pets;

• increased input of nutrients, toxics, and other pollutants; and

• a host of other potential impacts.

At this point it is not known how much development can occur in the watershed of a bog turtle wetland without endangering the colony.  However, various scientific studies indicate that wetlands first exhibit signs of stress when there is an average of one house for every eight acres of land in the watershed.  Some would argue that various Best Management Practices (BMPs), such as filters and infiltration measures, will protect bog turtle colonies from impact.  Unfortunately, the reliability of these measures is only poor to fair at present.  Therefore, CEDS recommends keeping development intensity below one house per eight acres in the watershed of a bog turtle wetland while also using the most effective BMPs.

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