PLANS FOR RIVER DISPUTED FED AGENCY CALLS FOR LARGER TOAD HABITAT.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - A small nocturnal amphibian could curtail development around the Santa Clara River, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife proposal to broaden critical habitat because the endangered arroyo toad is more widespread than previously thought.

The proposal to increase the Southwestern arroyo toad's protected habitat asserts that the current development plan for the valley's watershed is insufficient. The city of Santa Clarita and The Newhall Land and Farming Company have based river development on a document called the Natural River Management Plan that was published in 1998.

However, Fish and Wildlife officials contend that the plan might have overlooked habitat that is essential for conservation of the species.

``We had also previously stated that the Natural River Management Plan adequately protected this section of the Santa Clara River as a dispersal corridor,'' the April 28 report said. ``However, uplands along this section of the Santa Clara River remain unprotected and threatened by development.''

In other words, the NRMP - which was supposed to have mitigated the threat to the arroyo toad - may not actually do so.

The arroyo toad is a species of frog that is most active during late winter and early spring, according to the San Diego Natural History Museum's Web site: ``The main cause of decline for this species in the United States is the loss of habitat. This loss has been attributed to urbanization, agriculture, and dam construction within the toad's preferred habitat.''

The toad has been on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife endangered species list since 1994.

Peter Galvin, California and Pacific director of the Center for Biological Diversity, said the addition of extra critical habitat for the toad will help ensure survival of the species.

``(Endangered) species with critical habitat are twice as likely to recover as species without critical habitat,'' Galvin said.

Galvin added that the arroyo toad is a more valuable creature than it might appear.

``They are part of the web of life that supports all humanity. Amphibians in general are considered indicator species,'' he said.

``If we are making our environment so inhospitable that frogs and toads can't live there, how long will it be before we can't live there? They're like a canary in a coal mine.''

The critical habitat proposal will be revised after public comments are reviewed, and both city and Newhall Land officials intend to submit comments before the end of this week, which is the deadline.

``We're taking a second look at the Natural River Management Plan and continuing to evaluate whether it's adequate to protect the Arroyo toad or not,'' said Crede Clayton, a Fish and Wildlife biologist.

According to Newhall Land officials, the NRMP is already adequate and no further protection is needed for the arroyo toad.

``We did do a biological opinion through Fish and Wildlife in 2003 where there was a finding that there was no jeopardy to the species,'' said Newhall Land spokeswoman Marlee Lauffer. ``We feel that the NRMP does provide adequate protection.''

Santa Clarita officials would not comment on the content of the new critical habitat proposal but said they would provide an opinion to Fish and Wildlife later this week.

``We're reviewing this with interest and we want to make sure that the information out there about the arroyo toad is accurate,'' said Vince Bertoni, interim director of planning and building services for the city. ``We hope to work hand-in-hand with the government to make sure that the arroyo toad is protected in the best manner possible in the valley.''

Local environmental watchdog Teresa Savaikie believes Newhall Land and Santa Clarita city officials do not understand the importance of the arroyo toad species, and therefore have not made good faith efforts to protect it.

Savaikie adds that the toad's critical habitat could have the effect of creating one more hurdle for the proposed Cemex mine that the city is so avidly fighting.

``People may not care about a little 2-inch toad, however this toad has the ability and potential to protect our community from the Cemex mining project and from the massive proposed housing developments which will surely impact our quality of life,'' Savaikie said.

Nicholas Grudin, [phone]

nicholas.grudin(at)dailynews.com

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife's proposal to broaden critical habitat for an arroyo toad on the endangered species list is slowing progress of plans by Santa Clarita and The Newhall Land and Farming Company for development of sites along the Santa Clara River.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer