This project proposes the fee title purchase of the 442-acre bear creek ranch, which hosts one of only seven known reproductive populations of california red-legged frog (rana draytonii crlf) in the…

This Project Grant award, totaling $3,008,301.00, was provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.615) program. The grant funds the fee title purchase of the 442-acre Bear Creek Ranch in California, which hosts one of only seven known reproductive populations of the federally threatened California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii). The grant supports permanent habitat protection and conservation efforts for this species, as well as the protection of 2.5 miles of stream frontage and a 3.5-acre pond on the property. The grant recipient, the State of California Department of Fish & Wildlife doing business as the Wildlife Conservation Board, will acquire and manage the property in partnership with a non-profit land trust to promote the recovery of the California red-legged frog and protect critical habitat. The award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

This project proposes the fee title purchase of the 442-acre bear creek ranch, which hosts one of only seven known reproductive populations of california red-legged frog (rana draytonii crlf) in the sierra nevada, a federally threatened species. During recent years, the property has been utilized as the sole collection site for the successful reintroduction of ZOO-reared crlf to yosemite valley. In addition, bear creek ranch has been identified by american river conservancy (ARC), a nonprofit land trust, as one of the ten largest private landholdings in EL dorado county, CA that is not owned by a timber company, making IT one of the largest strategic conservation efforts in the county. This project benefits crlf by meeting goals and conservation needs identified in the federal recovery plan to provide permanent habitat protection and promote crlf recovery adjacent to an identified core area (united states fish and wildlife service USFWS 2002), as well as to protect a major tributary to the south fork american river, including 2.5 miles of stream frontage and a large 3.5-acre pond. The proposed purchase and long-term management of the property by ARC will permanently protect an existing crlf reproductive population, its habitat, and local connectivity, which supports the federal recovery plan strategy to protect existing populations by reducing threats.