Vertebrate Species in progress

Arroyo Toad Monitoring and Management

The USGS has been studying known areas occupied by toads since 1998 and investigating new localities. USGS will inspect all known areas occupied by toads to identify threats and stressors and in particular identify initial Management actions for implementation. Additionally disease screening and genetic samples will be collected at all sites where toads are detected for future analysis. USGS will hold a workshop for land managers to train them how to implement appropriate management during the breeding and tadpole presence period.
Project Groups
  • SDMMP1 Arroyo Toad Monitoring and Management

Project Focus

Arroyo toad

riparian forest & scrub

Chris Brown

Robert N. Fisher

U.S. Geological Survey

City of San Diego, Public Utilities Department Watershed and Resource Protection Team; County of San Diego, Department of Parks and Recreation; U.S. Forest Service Cleveland National Forest

Robert N. Fisher

Cheryl Brehme; Tritia Matsuda; Chris Brown; Denise Clark

Project Protocol
Strategic Elements
  • FY15-16 - 1.2
Project Location
San Diego
File name Lead Author Year Type
Arroyo Toad and Western Pond Turtle in the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program Area, 2002 Meyer, Kathie; Ervin, Edward; Madden-Smith, Melanie; Hathaway, Stacie; Fisher, Robert N. 2003 report
Arroyo toad study design for San Diego County, California Tracey, Jeff; Brehme, Cheryl; Brown, Chris; Rochester, Carlton; Fisher, Robert N. 2020 powerpoint presentation
Arroyo Toads (Bufo californicus) in MCBCP; Findings from 5 years of Population Monitoring and Program Review Brehme, Cheryl; Fisher, Robert N.; Schuster, Sara L.; Turschak, Greta 2010 powerpoint presentation
Assessing the Risk of Loveland Dam Operations to the Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) in the Sweetwater River Channel, San Diego County, California Madden-Smith, Melanie; Atkinson, Andrea; Fisher, Robert N.; Danskin, Wesley R.; Mendez, Gregory O. 2003 report
Baseline Surveys for the Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) in the Sweetwater River Channel, San Diego County, California. Madden-Smith, Melanie; Ervin, Edward; Fisher, Robert N. 2005 report
Data Summary for the 2005 Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) Surveys Conducted in the San Bernardino National Forest Schuster, Sara L.; Fisher, Robert N.; Hathaway, Stacie; Backlin, Adam R.; Hitchcock, Cynthia J. 2005 report
Daytime Habitat Assessment Survey Protocol for the Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) U.S. Geological Survey, San Diego Field Station 2003 other
Developing a Countywide Arroyo Toad Monitoring Plan San Diego Management and Monitoring Program; U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center 2020 powerpoint presentation
Distribution and Status of the Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) and Western Pond Turtle (Emys marmorata) in the San Diego MSCP and Surrounding Areas Final Report 10/11/05 Madden-Smith, Melanie; Ervin, Edward; Meyer, Kathie; Hathaway, Stacie; Fisher, Robert N. 2005 report
Distribution and Status of the Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) in the San Diego MSCP and Surrounding Areas, 2002-2003. powerpoint presentation
Habitat Assessment and Surveys for the Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, 2002 Ervin, Edward; Hathaway, Stacie; Fisher, Robert N. 2002 report
Habitat Assessment and Surveys for the Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and Lucky 5 Ranch in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, 2003 Ervin, Edward; Fisher, Robert N. 2003 report
Integrating Multiple Distribution Models to Guide Conservation Efforts of an Endangered Toad Fisher, Robert N.; Fitzgerald, Lee ; Treglia, Michael 2015 journal article
Longevity and population age structure of the arroyo southwestern toad (Anaxyrus californicus) with drought implications Brehme, Cheryl; Fisher, Robert N.; Hathaway, Stacie; Hovey, Tim; Stokes, Drew; Warburton, Manna 2018 journal article
MCB Camp Pendleton Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) Monitoring Results, 2003 Brehme, Cheryl; Atkinson, Andrea; Fisher, Robert N. 2004 report
MCB Camp Pendleton Arroyo Toad Monitoring Protocol: 1. Summary of results from a workshop on August 27, 2002 2. Monitoring protocol and targeted studies Atkinson, Andrea; Fisher, Robert N.; Ervin, Edward; Yang, Brian S.; Case, Ted J.; Scott, Norman; Shaffer, H. Bradley 2003 report
MCBCP Arroyo Toad Monitoring Program: 3-Year Trend Analyses for 2003- 2005 Brehme, Cheryl; Schuster, Sara L.; Rochester, Carlton; Hathaway, Stacie; Fisher, Robert N. 2006 report
MCBCP Arroyo Toad Monitoring Results for 2006 with Multi-Year Trend Analysis Turschak, Greta; Brehme, Cheryl; Schuster, Sara L.; Rochester, Carlton; Fisher, Robert N. 2008 report
MCBCP Arroyo Toad Monitoring Results for 2009 with Multi-Year Trend Analysis Brehme, Cheryl; Turschak, Greta; Schuster, Sara L.; Fisher, Robert N. 2011 report
MCBCP Arroyo Toad Monitoring Results for 2011 Brehme, Cheryl; Matsuda, Tritia; Fisher, Robert N. 2012 report
MCBCP Arroyo Toad Monitoring Results for 2012 and Multi-Year Trend Analysis from 2003 to 2012 Brehme, Cheryl; Matsuda, Tritia; Fisher, Robert N. 2013 report
MCBCP Arroyo Toad Monitoring Results for 2013 and Multiyear Trend Analysis from 2003 to 2013 Brehme, Cheryl; Matsuda, Tritia; Fisher, Robert N. 2014 report
Multi-scale effects of land cover and urbanization on the habitat suitability of an endangered toad Treglia, Michael ; Landon, Adam C.; Fisher, Robert N.; Gerard, Kyle; Fitzgerald, Lee 2018 journal article
Range-wide persistence of the endangered arroyo toad (Anaxyrus californicus) for 20+ years following a prolonged drough Hitchcock, Cynthia J.; Gallegos, Elizabeth; Backlin, Adam R.; Barabe, Russell; Bloom, Peter; Boss, Kimberly; Brehme, Cheryl; Brown, Chris; Clark, Denise; Clark, Elizabeth, R.; Cooper, Kevin; Donnell, Julie; Ervin, Edward; Famolaro, Pete; Guilliam, Kim, M.; Hancock, Jacquelyn, J.; Hess, Nicholas; Howard, Steven; Hubbartt, Valerie; Lieske, Patrick; Lovich, Robert; Matsuda, Tritia; Meyer-Wilkins, Katherin; Muri, Kamarul; Nerhus, Barry; Nordland, Jeff; Ortega, Brock; Packard, Robert H.; Ramirez, Ruben; Stewart, Sam, C.; Warburton, Manna; Wells, Jeffery M.; Winkleman, Ryan; Winter, Kirsten; Zitt, Brian; Fisher, Robert N. 2022 journal article
Residence Tract Surveys For: Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana muscosa), California Red-Legged Frog (Rana aurora) and Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) Backlin, Adam R.; Kahacza, Zsolt; Fisher, Robert N. 2002 report
Studies of the Arroyo Toad and Coast Range Newt on the Upper San Diego River Watershed - Annual Report Lovio, John; Fleury, Scott; Ervin, Edward; Hathaway, Stacie; Warburton, Manna 2002 report
Studies of the Arroyo Toad and Coast Range Newt on the Upper San Diego River Watershed – Annual Report Technology Associates (TAIC); U.S. Geological Survey, San Diego Field Station 2002 report
Survey Results for the Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) in the San Bernardino National Forest, 2001 Brown, Chris; Fisher, Robert N. 2002 report
Understanding the Demographics of Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) Reproduction to Develop Management Strategies. Fisher, Robert N.; Hathaway, Stacie 2002 other