California Red-Legged Frog Reintroduction & Monitoring

The purpose of this task agreement is to provide for data collection, data analysis, managerial tasks and administration related to the re-introduction of native California red-legged frogs (CRLF) to the Santa Monica Mountains (SMM). The California red-legged frog was designated as Federally Threatened by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 1996. Re-establishment of red-legged frogs in southern California is part of the recovery plan outlined by USFWS. Our goal is to re-establish frog populations through translocation of eggs into suitable stream sites within the SMM. In 2014, we began translocation of CRLF to 2 stream locations in the Santa Monica Mountains. In the coming years we will translocate CRLF to at least 2 additional stream location in the SMM. This project would implement reintroduction of red-legged frogs to two new sites and monitoring of these two sites plus two sites where eggs were placed during FY14. The goal is to achieve red-legged frogs at 4 sites in the Santa Monica Mountains and successfully establish and monitor these 4 sites for (FY15 and FY16). The recipient will actively engage in field work and project leadership for this project including helping NPS collect eggs, monitor egg masses, build tadpole rearing pens, and collect data and analyze data. Our partners at Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT) provide help and expertise with data collection and analysis for this project. NPS and MRT will work together to provide educational opportunities, threatened species protection and population expansion, and restoration with regards to the important on-the-ground conservation project. This project will implement reintroduction of red-legged frogs to two new sites and monitoring of these two sites plus two sites where eggs were placed during FY14. The goal is to achieve red-legged frogs at 4 sites in the Santa Monica Mountains and successfully establish and monitor these 4 sites for (FY15 and FY16). The recipient will actively engage in field work and project leadership for this project including helping NPS collect eggs, monitor egg masses, build tadpole rearing pens, and collect data and analyze data. Our partners at Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT) provide help and expertise with data collection and analysis for this project.