Proposal protects land in Pima County for aquatic turtles

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed protecting land in Pima County for an endangered aquatic turtle.
The agency says the designation of 12 acres as critical habitat is necessary for the survival of the Sonoyta mud turtle. The land is in the Rio Sonoyta watershed of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the only area the turtles are known to live in the U.S.
Their habitat has been threatened by diversion of surface water, groundwater pumping and prolonged dro