Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs were once the most abundant amphibian in Yosemite's high country. Populations have declined by 95%.
Park staff are hard at work developing a plan to restore and provide long-term stewardship of the high elevation aquatic ecosystems in the park. The ecosystems addressed in this plan include the lakes, ponds, marshes, and wet meadows found above approximately 5,500 feet. These ecosystems include the range of two formerly abundant endemic amphibian species, the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog and the Yosemite toad.
The High Elevation Aquatic Ecosystem Recovery & Stewardship Plan will provide guidance to the National Park Service in order to protect Yosemite's diverse high-elevation aquatic ecosystems and to restore natural composition, structure, and function to systems that have been disturbed by past or ongoing human activities. This plan is expected to be implemented over the next 15 years.
Print a fact sheet with more information about the High Elevation Aquatic Ecosystem Recovery Plan [80 kb PDF].
The plan was initiated in June 2008 with a public scoping period and public meetings. The received during this period have aided park staff in the development of a range of alternatives. The alternatives include restoration of aquatic ecosystems and native biodiversity by removing non-native fish from a select number of water bodies where it is feasible to use tools such as gill nets and electro-fishing. The use of chemicals is not being considered at this time.
The precipitous decline of the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, a federal candidate species of high priority for listing under the Endangered Species Act, was the primary impetus for the current experimental project, and development of the recovery and stewardship plan. Removal of non-native fish has been shown to be of great benefit to the frogs and a vast number of other native aquatic species. Even with the implementation of this plan, Yosemite would continue to provide a high-quality recreational fishing experience, where many fish populations would continue to exist without the need for artificial augmentation, especially in the park's hundreds of miles of streams and rivers.
The Yosemite toad has also experienced a major population decline of at least 50% from its historic abundance. The factors contributing to the decline in Yosemite toad are not well understood. Impacts from administrative and recreational packstock use and grazing, infrastructure such as trail placement, increased early-summer drying of meadows as a result of climate change and air pollution are among the possible factors that have been identified. The alternatives for this plan include the development of Best Management Practices for recreational and administrative use of high elevation aquatic ecosystems, including management of packstock camps and grazing in Yosemite toad habitat.
For more information about about amphibians in Yosemite visit the park Nature and Science pages.
The High Elevation Aquatic Ecosystem Recovery & Stewardship Plan/Environmental Assessment is expected to be available for public review in spring 2010.
A downloadable version of the document will be available on this website. To request a hard copy or CD ROM version of the EA and to submit written comments:
Superintendent
Attn: High Elevation Aquatic Ecosystem Recovery & Stewardship Plan
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Phone: 209/379-1365; Fax: 209/379-1294
