Oregon spotted frogs have disappeared from nearly 90 percent of their historic range.
Vince Patton / OPB
The Center for Biological Diversity filed a
Friday against the Bureau of Reclamation over protections for the Oregon spotted frog.
The Center for Biological Diversity says that operations of two Deschutes River dams harm the frog’s habitat. The flows out of Wickiup and Crane Reservoirs fluctuate throughout the year, based on irrigation demands. The environmental group says the alternately flooding and de-watering of the frog habitat violates the Endangered Species Act.
The Center for Biological Diversity wants dam operators to modify flows through the dam to reduce harm to the species.
The Oregon spotted frog, once abundant in the Northwest, now lives in a few scattered wetlands across the region. The spotted frog is know for its unique vocalization during breeding season.
The amphibian populations have suffered from up to 90 percent habitat loss and were listed under the Endangered Species Act last year. Federal agencies are currently working on a conservation plan for the frog.