Abstract Manager

Transportation infrastructure projects frequently intersect with ecologically sensitive terrestrial and wetland habitats, requiring mitigation and compensation strategies that maintain, enhance, or restore ecological function. The extension of Strasburg Road in Kitchener, Ontario, illustrates this challenge, as the project footprint overlaps confirmed Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) habitat and Provincially Significant Wetland. To maintain habitat connectivity and reduce potential impacts, exclusion fencing and wildlife underpasses were incorporated into the road design; however, habitat loss triggered provincial requirements for overall benefit to be achieved for Blanding’s Turtles through the project undertaking. Under a directive from the City of Kitchener, AtkinsRéalis completed a habitat needs assessment and subsequently designed, sited, and oversaw the installation of five artificial nesting mounds in 2021 to offset the loss of habitat and support Blanding’s Turtles and other native turtle species. A three‑year (2021 – 2023) monitoring program included daily inspections of the nest mounds during the nesting season and deployment of trail cameras above each nest mound to document turtle activity and incidental wildlife use. Despite the proximity of the nest mounds to both wetland habitat and known turtle nesting areas, no evidence of turtles visiting or nesting in the artificial nesting mounds was recorded during the monitoring period. Trail cameras documented predators such as Common Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis), highlighting the risk that poorly sited artificial nesting habitat may inadvertently create population sinks rather than contributing to species recovery. These findings highlight broader challenges faced across Canada where habitat creation and enhancement measures must be ecologically grounded, species‑specific, and paired with long‑term effectiveness monitoring and adaptive management. Lessons learned from this project reinforce the need for adaptive management, careful habitat design, and jurisdiction‑specific approaches to compensation, particularly as transportation projects increasingly rely on habitat creation or restoration to achieve no net loss and support resilient terrestrial and wetland ecosystems.