Alligator Snapping Turtle

neers (USACE) reservoirs may impact critical habitat parameters for snapping turtle species. This technical note identifies snapping turtle spe-cies and habitats potentially impacted by USACE reservoir or other water-control projects as re-ported by resource managers (Table 1). Current state and/or Federal legal protection status as well as the distribution of USACE Districts and reser-voir projects potentially impacted by snapping turtle conservation issues are summarized (Fig-ure 1, Table 2). Life-history summaries and habitat requirement descriptions are given for the snapping turtle species identified as potentially impacted at reservoir operations. This group includes only two species; the alligator snapping turtle and common snapping turtles. Alligator snapping turtles are Federal candidates for protection and common snapping turtles are listed as either state species of special concern or carry harvesting regulations in 15 states. Environ-mental issues associated with these turtles were reported by 25 USACE projects from 3 USACE Districts (3 USACE Divisions). Distribution of the alligator snapping turtle is re-stricted to U.S. river systems that drain into the Gulf of Mexico, whereas the common snapping turtle range extends throughout the United States east of the Rocky Mountains (Figure 2). Both species prefer benthic living and foraging and are opportunistic omnivorous scavengers. Alligator snapping turtles most frequently occur in the deep water of rivers, canals, and lakes (Figure 3)