Frog And Toad Decision Coming Soon?

A decision about whether to designate 1.8 million acres of habitat for the Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog and the Yosemite Toad could come within the next few months.

That’s according to Robert Moler, a spokesperson for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
We reported earlier this week that the US Fish and Wildlife Service has put out an economic analysis report that puts the cost of implementing the proposal between $630k to $1.5 million. Anyone can comment on the analysis through March 11. Click here to read the earlier story.

“After the public comment period ends, the service will take into consideration all comments, and we’ve received tens-of-thousands of comments on these proposals,” says Moler. We’ll look at all of those, as well as peer reviews, and look at all of the most updated scientific information that we’ve received, and we’ll move to make a final decision.”

A public hearing was held earlier this week in Fresno about the proposed designations, and another will be held later this month in Sacramento. There was also an informational event held last August at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds hosted by Congressman Tom McClintock. A strong majority in attendance were opposed to the idea.

Moler says the decision about whether to designate habitat could come as early as April of this year.