Training

See also: California Red Legged Frog, Habitat Restoration

Workshop Objectives: This was an opportunity to receive training in species identification, an overview of the habitat requirements, and field surveying techniques for the California red-legged frog (CRF). Workshop information was designed to be useful for evaluating CRF habitats, assessing potential impacts from projects within the range of CRF, conservation planning, and for educational outreach to agricultural producers and others who are considering projects that may impact CRF. The instructors covered only minor regulatory and permitting information in this workshop.

Workshop Details:

Workshop registration included a classroom session and afternoon field component on May 12.  Registration also included optional attendance at a night time field training session on the evening of May 12.  Night training is conducted from 8:00 pm until midnight at a site on Contra Costa Water District land. 

During the evening field training, instructors trained participants on detecting frog eye shine and identifying adult frogs. 

Workshop Format:

May 12 Classroom Session (8:00am-2:00pm) - An overview of the ecology of the California red-legged frog, including biology and management of the species. At the Robert Livermore Community Center.

May 12 Afternoon Session (2:00pm-6:00pm) - Field trip to Contra Costa Water District’s Los Vaqueros Watershed Lands (http://www.ccwater.com/losvaqueros/): Hands-on training in habitat requirements and assessment, pond designs, equipment demonstrations, tadpole identification and survey techniques. 

May 12 Night Field Practicum (8:00pm-midnight) - Registration included optional attendance at a field training sessions at Los Vaqueros.  Trish and Greg demonstrated USFWS survey methodology, as well as catching, handling, sexing and measuring adult frogs. Students then practiced the USFWS CRF Survey Protocol, which does not include sampling or handling the species in the pond.