Contact: Kathleen Jamison, Public Affairs, phone: (302) 739-9902 , e-mail: kathleen.jamison@state.de.us
or MQ Riding, Conectiv Energy, phone: (302) 451-5528

Delaware Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership Creates New Terrapin Habitat at Delaware Seashore State Park

Rehoboth Bay diamondback terrapins will have new "digs" to lay their eggs in
this year.

In a joint effort between Delaware's new Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (DCWRP) and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's divisions of Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation, and Soil and Water Conservation, tons of sand will be placed at one pilot location near the bay in Delaware Seashore State Park. The hope is that the turtles will come out of the water in search of nesting sites, lay their eyes (and their eggs) on the new nesting habitat and not even be tempted to go anywhere near Route 1.

A groundbreaking to kick off the project will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 6 behind the Old Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop on Route One just north of the Indian River Inlet Bridge.

The idea for creation of terrapin nesting habitat on the bay side of Route 1 was inspired by the need to protect nesting females from vehicle strikes. Although some suitable nesting habitat (open, sandy soils above the high tide line; often with sparse vegetation) exists on the bay side of the highway, many terrapins in search of the perfect nesting site have been attracted to the large, expansive dunes on the east side of the highway.

In an attempt to keep turtles from crossing the road, the Division of Parks and Recreation has been experimenting with different types of fencing. However, while fencing may keep them off the road, it doesn't give the turtles access to enough nesting habitat. Expanding the nesting opportunities on the bay side of Route 1 may help alleviate the real estate problem.

After creating the nesting habitat, the Division of Fish and Wildlife will closely monitor the site by collecting data on site use, predation and nesting success. This site will be compared to other nesting sites in the areas to quantify the success of creating nesting habitat for terrapins.

Breaking new ground to build habitat for diamondback terrapins is DCWRP's first project since its inception less than a year ago.

“This is an example of how we can create more benefits for Delaware’s environment through partnering with governmental agencies and allowing available dollars to go farther by pooling our resources,” said Bill Spence, president and COO of Conectiv Energy, which chairs DCWRP.

DNREC Secretary John Hughes agreed. "This is important work. Restoration of habitat for the diamondback terrapin is just one way corporate Delaware and DNREC can work together to solve environmental problems. I look forward to partnering on other restoration projects with DCWRP, especially those that enhance Delaware's resources."

Delaware's Corporate Wetlands Restoration Program is part of an innovative national initiative that is bringing together businesses, government agencies, conservation organizations, community groups and academia to restore aquatic habitat. It began in 1999 in Massachusetts and since then a number of state CWRPs have been established, and more are being developed.

In addition to Conectiv Energy and DNREC, members and sponsors of the Delaware program include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, AstraZeneca, Premcor, ERM Consulting, NTH Consulting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Coastal America and the National CWRP.


DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS

• Diamondback terrapins are the only truly estuarine turtle in North America. They are non-migratory and spend their entire lives in bays, creeks, salt marshes, andcoves.

• Terrapins produce only about 25-40 eggs per year (and may not nest every year) and do not reach maturity until a minimum of 6 years of age. The low reproductive potential of terrapins indicates that females must reproduce for many years in order for the population to grow or remain stable.

• Although the terrapin is considered an aquatic organism, it depends heavily on the near shore and shoreline habitat to complete its life cycle. Female terrapins must lay their eggs in terrestrial environments in open sandy areas to successfully reproduce. These are among the few times that terrapins must exit the water.

• Although little is known about the behavior of very young terrapins, hatchlings and first year turtles have been documented foraging on readily available prey such as arthropods, clams, crabs, and small crustaceans. Juveniles and hatchlings may spend a lot time on the edge of the marsh following the shoreline searching for food and at high tide entering into grassy, salt marsh areas.

• Much of the natural shoreline around the Inland Bays is excellent terrapin habitat because of the alternating areas of sandy beaches used for nesting and salt or fringe marsh necessary for juvenile feeding and growth. Areas where these two habitats are not found together usually do not support large populations of terrapins.

• Due to the low lying nature of many bay beaches most terrapin nesting occurs in areas that are marginally above the high tide line. In fact, many of these nesting beaches can become inundated during periodic wind driven high tides associated with a hurricane’s storm surge. In parts of the Inland Bays, terrapins cross Route One to nest in the sandy dunes on the eastern side of the highway.

• Shoreline stabilization threatens terrapin populations for two reasons. First, it destroys the narrow strip that has suitable sandy material required for nesting as well as high beach elevations necessary for the successful development of terrapin eggs. As a consequence, terrapins will nest in areas that are not sufficiently above the high tide and the developing embryos drown, or they will lay their eggs in higher grassy areas where eggs and hatchlings become entrapped or killed by grasses. Even the use of beach grasses in these areas can result in increased mortality in the upper beach areas in which grasses can entrap eggs in the nest.

• Increased competition for essential terrapin habitat is steadily increasing. Impacts include: loss of nesting habitat, poor recruitment due to limited nest and hatchling predation, beach disturbance, shoreline modifications that eliminate beach strand habitat essential for terrapin breeding, injuries and morality due to boating and vehicle impacts during both active and inactive periods in their life cycles.

• It is estimated that only two percent of terrapin eggs hatch, owing largely to predation by foxes, skunks, and raccoons, which dig into the nests and consume the eggs and baby terrapins. Survivors emerging from the nest are often eaten by gulls and crows or by herons and predatory fish after entering the water. Traditional intelligent predators increasingly target limited and fragmented nesting areas.

• Traditional nesting areas have been severely and permanently altered by waterfront development.

• Habitat loss is a significant threat to the continued existence of the diamondback terrapin in Delaware. Beach nesting areas are universally and permanently being altered through rip-rapping, bulkheading, and other shoreline stabilizing practices.

• Beach habitat is critical to the continued existence of terrapins. Research indicates that more than 95% of breeding females return to a particular area to nest year after year.




 

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