Grant may turn the tide for River Murray's freshwater turtles

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The River Murray is home to three species of freshwater turtles that play a key role in the ecosystem.

Unfortunately, due to adverse changes within their habitat and predation of turtles and nests, freshwater turtle numbers are in serious decline.

Due to this, the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board has just received state funding to start a new project to help freshwater turtles.

A total of $450,000 was granted to create the Together Understanding and Restoring Turtles in our Landscapes and Ecosystems project (TURTLE).

Senior citizen science project officer Sylvia Clarke hopes to collate all the knowledge the board has received over time to create a turtle management strategy.

"We can use a lot of the knowledge that First Nations, experts and community have and there's lots of research projects going at the moment," Ms Clarke said.

"Then we can share it out, whether that's a department, landholder, or a council in need of more information."

The funding will also be going to on-ground conservation actions such as fox-proof fences, nesting islands, and working with councils for more turtle signage.

"It's pretty rare that people see (turtles), and if you do see them, they're often squashed on a road," she said.

Turtles helped clean and move nutrients around the water in our rivers and lakes, she said – like little vacuum cleaners.

"They do like to bask out of the water as it increases their metabolism (and) gets their body warmer, but often snags and things are taken out of waterways, so you don't often see them," she said.

The three species of freshwater turtle local to the Murraylands are:

• Murray short-necked turtle, or thukubi in the Ngarrindjeri language
• Eastern long-necked turtle, or malinthaipari
• Broad-shelled turtle

"Two of the species are listed as vulnerable currently, and the third one isn't, which is the long-neck, but they're looking like they're in a really bad way in the Murray system," Ms Clarke said.

How can you help?

• Record turtle sightings and nesting locations using the TurtleSAT app
• If you find a turtle on the road, move them to a nearby safe place in the direction they were travelling. 
• Leave snags in the water as they provide habitat and shelter for turtles and fish 
• Use turtle-safe fish traps

"This is how we really learn, by everyone sharing those stories and sharing any sightings of turtles, nests or if they help a turtle crossing the road," Ms Clarke said.

Landscape Priorities Fund will get nature going

More than $4.76 million were distributed in 12 Landscape Priorities Fund grants to various landscape boards around the state.

The Murraylands and Riverland board also received $998,733 for the River to Recovery project, which will stop the flow of post-flood pests.

The board hosts several opportunities annually for members of the public to be involved in turtle conservation.

• Register your interest in volunteering: Email Sylvia Clarke at sylvia.clarke@sa.gov.au.