Department of Fish and Game (DFG) biologists will conduct a red-legged frog survey this week at Upper Blue Lake. The DFG biologists will be doing the survey to satisfy the requirement for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
Two environmental groups successfully sued the DFG, claiming that hatchery trout were having a negative impact on the red-legged frog and other endangered species. Upper Blue Lake was one of 175 bodies of water in the state listed as possible habitat for the red-legged frog and all trout stocking there was halted.
The results of the EIR will determine whether or not trout will again be stocked in Upper Blue Lake in the future. If the EIR comes back negative for the presence of red-legged frogs and the hardhead minnow, then the trout stocking program could continue. However, if either species is found at Upper Blue Lake, then trout stocking could be halted forever and it would be an economic disaster for the lake”s resorts.
The survey itself for the red-legged frog and hardhead minnow requires a lot of work on the part of the biologists. They will be working under the guidelines of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for endangered species.
The guidelines call for the biologists to first be trained so they can identify the red-legged frog by both sight and sound. The survey period for the red-legged frog must be done between the first of January and the end of February. This is the breeding period for the frog. A total of eight surveys must be conducted, including four night surveys. Surveys must take place at least seven days apart.
The night survey will start at one hour before sunset. The biologists will first listen for the sounds of a red-legged frog. If they hear the frog, they will attempt to see the frog with the aid of a special spotlight. The spotlight will pick up the frog”s eyes. Night surveys are important because the frogs are more active at night. The entire shoreline around the lake will be surveyed.
Day surveys consist of looking for red-legged frog habitat and frog eggs. If a red-legged frog is sighted and verified, the survey will stop and the frog won”t be disturbed.
It should be noted that no red-legged frogs have ever been found in Lake County. Even so, Upper Blue Lake was placed on the list by the DFG as possible habitat for the frog.
The other species the biologists are looking for at Upper Blue Lake is the hardhead minnow. The minnow is considered a “Species of Special Concern,” which means its population has been decreasing. The hardhead minnow is common in the Russian River and it has also been found in Lake Berryessa. It is unknown if the minnow resides at Upper Blue Lake.
Biologists will be using gill nets and electro-shocking techniques to search for the minnow.
The DFG crews are also on the lookout for the foothill yellow-legged frog.
This frog is common throughout Lake County and why it was placed on the list is unknown.
If the biologists don”t find any of the special species on the list, they will file a negative declaration with the USFWS. The USFWS will review the report and then determine if Upper Blue Lake should be taken off the list. Their recommendation will then be forwarded to the Superior Court in Sacramento that ordered the EIR. Only the court can remove Upper Blue Lake from the list.
Even in the best-case scenario, it will probably take several months for Upper Blue Lake to be stocked with trout again.
In the worst-case scenario — if a red-legged frog is found — the results could be devastating for Upper Lake Blue”s resorts and for Lake County because new housing developments or other construction projects could be required to file EIRs for the frog and many could be canceled or face long delays.
In fact, if the frog showed up in Clear Lake there could also be major ramifications because the bass would eat the frog. Who knows, maybe the environmental groups would sue to remove the bass from Clear Lake.
