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THREATENED SPECIES Federal officials designate habitat for threatened Oregon spotted frog 61 acres in Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument are identified by USFWS Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman Posted May. 13, 2016 at 5:24 PM Updated May 13, 2016 at 8:01 PM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman Posted May. 13, 2016 at 5:24 PM Updated May 13, 2016 at 8:01 PM » Social News About 61 acres of spring-fed marshes and a creek within the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument were tapped as critical habitat for the Oregon spotted frog, which is threatened by everything from marsh draining to predation by bullfrogs. After nearly three years of scientific review and public comment, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week finalized its designation for habitat deemed vital to the long-term survival of this rare frog that once stretched from British Columbia to Northern California but now has only pockets of isolated populations, according to the service. The final designation includes approximately 65,038 acres and 20.34 river miles in California, Oregon and Washington, but only 61 acres protect an isolated population in Jackson County. They include a series of springs called Parsnip Lakes and a stretch of Keene Creek downstream of the Keene Creek reservoir, says Jim Thrailkill, field supervisor for the service's Roseburg office. The springs feed marshy areas used by the frogs, as well as Keene Creek, which is fed by a mix of springwater and water that flows out of Keene Reservoir, Thrailkill said. The reservoir captures diverted Hyatt Lake water before it is piped through the Greensprings power plant. "It's still generally pretty good (habitat), but it's declining," Thrailkill said. Threats include encroachment of mostly native vegetation, Thrailkill said. "We're concerned about the overall losing of water habitat," he said. "Any future restoration would be on improving the water features there." Of the critical habitat acreage, 48 acres are owned by the Bureau of Land Management and 13 acres are on private lands within monument boundaries, Thrailkill said. Monument Assistant Manager Joel Brumm said BLM staffers, service biologists and Southern Oregon University biology professor Mike Parker have discussed possible habitat improvements there, but nothing formal has begun. "We all agree we'd like to see something, and we're actively discussing what to do," Brumm said. The Jackson County designation is part of the 262-acre upper Klamath Basin unit, one of 14 areas tapped as critical habitat, said Bridget Moran, field supervisor of the USFWS Bend office. The Klamath and Upper Deschutes basins contain the lion's share of the designated Oregon habitat, according to service maps released this week. Under federal Endangered Species Act rules, designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge or preserve, and has no impact on private landowners taking actions on their land that do not require federal funding or permits. However, if federal money or permits apply, the landowner must consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure the frogs and their habitat are not illegally harmed, according to the act. One of the most aquatic frogs in the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon spotted frog lives almost year-round in water. The frog, which grows up to 4 inches long, is named for the black spots on its head, back, sides and legs. Spotted frogs were found historically from southern British Columbia to the Pit River drainage in northeastern California, but now only isolated populations exist in Oregon, Washington and Canada, according to the service. The draining or conversion of marshes to meadows, altered habitat from nonnative plants such as reed canarygrass and predation from bullfrogs and nonnative fish have been identified as their biggest threats. There are 3,463 fewer acres of critical habitat than originally proposed in 2013, according to the service. The excluded lands included some private and county lands with completed management and conservation plans already put in place to protect and enhance spotted frog habitat on them. The Jackson County final designation was unchanged from the original proposal, Moran said. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman Posted May. 13, 2016 at 5:24 PM Updated May 13, 2016 at 8:01 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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