Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are listed as the most endangered and threatened species of all sea turtles. At the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery within Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS), scientists are working steadfast to repopulate the Gulf of Mexico with our beloved Kemp’s ridley.

During my time here at PAIS, I will be conducting research on the coastal geomorphology here in south Texas, and its influence on Kemp’s ridley nesting site selections. This will consist of quantitative results gathered in the field- conductivity (salinity), temperature, elevation, shoreline distance, consolidation and grain size. Along with assessing light detection and ranging data (LiDAR), a remote sensing method used to examine earth surfaces. This will be imported into ArcGIS Pro and will depict the ideal nesting conditions for Kemp’s ridley. It will also serve as an ongoing tool for the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery to gain better insight in specific regions to monitor during nesting seasons and whether any further action should be taken to ensure the endangered species are being protected.