Construction in occupied wetlands poses acute risks to southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys pallida), yet many projects proceed with limited field guidance. We report practitioner lessons from two construction efforts at UC Irvine’s San Joaquin Marsh—a 3-acre/4,100 linear-foot road removal and a swale/water-flow improvement—implemented with embedded, on-site turtle monitoring. Methods combined pre-activity surveys, real-time observation alongside operators, authority to pause work, and soft capture–relocation of turtles entering work areas. During grading and excavation, multiple nests were exposed; hatchlings were relocated short distances to suitable microhabitats at pond margins, handled with temperature awareness, and checked post-release. We describe operational cues for detecting nests in compacted substrates, criteria for relocation site selection, documentation practices, and daily briefings that integrated crews, contractors, and biologists. Outcomes indicate that proactive, boots-on-the-ground management can maintain construction progress while reducing risk to A. pallida through rapid field decision-making and clear stop-work authority. We conclude with a field-tested framework practitioners can adapt: (1) designate a turtle-qualified monitor with operational authority; (2) treat roadbeds, berms, and scrub ecotones as high-probability nesting zones; (3) keep relocations adjacent and minimally invasive; and (4) pair concise records with fast communication to agencies. These practices translate monitoring into actionable protection during active construction.