Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog (Southern DPS) Headstarting and Population Augmentation
Summary
SCH Number
2025041443
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4
(CDFW)
Document Title
Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog (Southern DPS) Headstarting and Population Augmentation
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/30/2025
Document Description
The proposed recovery actions include captive-rearing FYLFs at San Francisco Zoo and Gardens, following successful programs for other California Endangered Species Act listed endangered anurans that the Zoo and partners have developed since 2013 (and supported by a long-term Memorandum of Understanding between the Zoo and CDFW). Rather than captive-breed frogs, the applicant plans to captive-rear or collect partial egg masses or tadpoles from the wild for rearing for one year. The applicant proposes collecting up to 400 eggs (targeting 50 eggs from 8 separate egg masses) or tadpoles during breeding in the spring (i.e., April–May). Zoo experts will rear the eggs through metamorphosis and release frogs after they meet the minimum snout-vent length for individual marking, likely in June–July of the following year. The frogs will not be held at the Zoo for longer than one year.
Contact Information
Name
Margarita Gordus
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisor)
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Dr. Rochelle Stiles
Agency Name
San Francisco Zoo and Gardens
Job Title
Director of Field Conservation
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Merced, San Francisco, Tuolumne
Regions
Northern California, Southern California
Other Location Info
Donor Sites: Yosemite National Park, between Highway 49 and Highway 120. Individual donor sites centered around: North Fork of the Merced River: -120.037, 37.750. Hell Hollow: -120.137, 37.610. Sherlock Creek: -120.056, 37.584. Indian Creek: -120.154, 37.883. Grapevine Creek: -120.147, 37.885. Moccasin: -120.307, 37.814. Priest: -120.265, 37.800.
Receiving Sites: Individual receiving sites centered around: Moss Creek: -119.818, 37.672. Cold Canyon Creek: -119.806, 37.659. Crane Creek: -119.777, 37.680, Indian Creek: -119.766, 37.670.
Captive Rearing Sites: San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco CA.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Type - Class 7; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15307
Reasons for Exemption
The Class 7 Categorical Exemption applies to proposed “actions by regulatory agencies for protection of natural resources” projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Resources Code, 21000 et seq.). The proposed project involves re-establishing populations of an endangered species to historically occupied locations, which is required to achieve recovery. The project is not expected to result in any adverse impacts to the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.