News & Events

UPDATE Houston’s Alligator Snapping Turtles NEED YOUR HELP! comment period extended!

September 12, 2022

AST|USACE-AST-Impact-Statement|Eric-and-El-Gigante|AST-Jim-Olive_Thank-YOU

The Alligator Snapping Turtles of Houston, Texas, and their habitat, Buffalo Bayou, NEED YOUR HELP!

A proposed project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to reduce the impacts of flooding in the Greater Houston metropolitan area would not only significantly change the natural qualities of Buffalo Bayou, but put its unique population of Alligator Snapping Turtles at risk of extirpation. This is particularly concerning to us at the Turtle Survival Alliance as the Alligator Snapping Turtle population inhabiting Buffalo Bayou is among the largest and most demographically robust populations in Texas, and of paramount conservation value to the species as a whole. We would know, it’s the focus of our long-term population study for this State Threatened species!

The TSA has studied this population of Alligator Snapping Turtles since 2016. The proposed project by the USACE / HCFCD poses a clear and present danger to their survival.

See the proposed project and read the Interim Report HERE.

**Note pages: 82 ‚Äì 87, 115, 142, 152 – 153, and 161 – 162 in the Interim Report, including the below photo of the USACE’s stated impact to the Alligator Snapping Turtle population, for which their projected time of population recovery is grossly inaccurate.**

The TSA and our constituents believe that in a best-case scenario it would take ~100 years for the Alligator Snapping Turtle population to rebound following this project.

BUT, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD and help preserve the bayou’s biological integrity and its Alligator Snapping Turtles.

The TSA has written a formal letter to the USACE expressing our concerns of the proposed project for you to use as a reference. We’ve also crafted an EDITABLE DOCUMENT for download, so you can email your own letter to the USACE.

CLICK HERE TO RETRIEVE DOCUMENTS

In the EDITABLE DOCUMENT, please insert the appropriate information in the yellow highlighted areas, and of course, please feel free to add any additional information you deem helpful. After inserting the appropriate information, please remove the yellow highlights from the document and save as: Attn_BBTRS_USACE Galveston District_(insert your name)

Please send your comment to: [email protected] with the Subject Line: Attn: BBTRS – USACE Galveston District

Public Comments DUE DATE: NOVEMBER 1

***UPDATE*** NEW PUBLIC COMMENT DUE DATE NOVEMBER 20

***In response to numerous requests from the communities within the study area, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is extending the comment period for the BBTRS until November 20th, 2020.***

Thank you and please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you might have!

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL US!