An Investigation of the Hydrological Inputs of a Sensitive Wetland Habitat

Maryland, as well as many other East Coast states, is home to the federally threatened Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii). Bog turtle populations have been declining since the late 1970s due to draining and filling of wetlands due to industrial, residential, and commercial development; pollution; poor land use practices; and the illegal pet trade. Although there has been much recent research on the habitat, genetics, and movements of bog turtles, there has been little investigation into the hydrologic inputs to bog turtle habitats. A proposal to construct a new highway bypass and industrial park in central Maryland have provided an opportunity to do this. The project is unique because there has been extensive interagency coordination in an effort to improve roadway infrastructure and economic development while also protecting a federally threatened species. An extensive biological assessment is being undertaken in order to investigate the sustainability of the bog turtle wetlands from both water supply and biological perspectives.