Two New Safe Harbor Agreements Offer Help for Rare Frogs

Posted: 19-Nov-2003; Updated: 07-May-2006

Chiricahua leopard frog. (Jim Rorabaugh/USFWS)

Malpai Borderlands Group offers a Safe Harbor to the Chiricahua leopard frog

In October, the Malpai Borderlands Group applied for a Safe Harbor Agreement to benefit the federally-threatened Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis) at selected sites on a 1 million-acre landscape in Arizona and New Mexico. 

The Malpai group, which derives its name from the Spanish word for badlands, was formally organized in 1994, following a series of informal conversations among neighboring ranchers. The ranchers have since engaged in innovative conservation work, pioneering the practice of "grassbanking" as a way to ensure adequate grazing for cattle while protecting grasslands and setting aside nearly 42,000 acres of land in conservation easements.

The Chiricahua leopard frog inhabits mid-elevation wetland communities, including not only lakes, reservoirs, streams and rivers, but also livestock tanks. Habitat alteration, water diversion, drought, disease and predation from non-native animals have greatly reduced the frog's numbers. Many historical occurrences have disappeared, and remaining populations are often small and widely scattered.

In their Safe Harbor agreement, the Malpai group proposes to establish new frog populations by maintaining livestock tanks and other artificial waters. Some of the other possible management actions specified in the agreement include enhancing frog travel corridors, restoring native vegetation and controlling non-native predators.

Click here to read the text of the Malpai Borderlands Group draft Safe Harbor agreement.

Robert Mondavi enrolls winery in Safe Harbor for the California red-legged frog

In September, the Robert Mondavi company signed a Safe Harbor Agreement to benefit the federally-threatened California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii) and two endangered songbirds. Under the agreement, the winery will implement a riparian (stream) restoration project at its Cuesta Ridge Vineyard in San Luis Obispo County, California.

The amphibian, our largest native western frog, is believed to have inspired Mark Twain's story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Since Twain's time, the frog has lost 70% of its habitat to development and other land use activities and is further imperiled by competition with larger, non-native bullfrogs.

The Mondavi riparian restoration project may also aid the least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) and southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailii extimus), both of which have declined primarily because of habitat loss.

As with all Safe Harbor agreements, this agreement provides the landowner with regulatory assurances. If endangered species are attracted to the Mondavi property because of beneficial land management, their presence will not restrict vineyard operations. This Safe Harbor agreement is the first for a winery, and the third agreement signed in California. Conservationists hope to see other wineries and agricultural producers enter Safe Harbor agreements to benefit wildlife.

Click here to view the full text of the Robert Mondavi Safe Harbor Agreement.

Margaret McMillan
Endangered Species Specialist
Environmental Defense