Contra Costa Water District, which is developing the East County reservoir, has proposed creating 34 acres of frog habitat to compensate for 17 acres that would be flooded. It should be easy to create red-legged frog habitat because the species does not migrate long distances, some biologists say. However, it isn't clear whether that will be sufficient. Nobody has really tried. The decline of the California red-legged frog is part of a larger mystery.
Scientists report a global loss of amphibians including salamanders, newts and toads.
So far, there is no conclusive explanation. Loss or change of habitat is part of the problem, DiDonato says. Biologist say something else is happening, too. Amphibians might be harmed by ultraviolet radiation from a thinning of the Earth's protective ozone layer, some say. Others suggest acid rain might be responsible.