Proposal to protect California critical habitat for arroyo toad could cost $789 million, study says

VENTURA, Calif. — A federal study says efforts to protect the endangered arroyo toad in Southern California could cost $789 million over 25 years.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife analysis issued last month looked at a revised proposal to protect more than 112,000 acres of critical habitat for the toad in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and San Diego counties.

The analysis says proposed restrictions would impact the economy by making it costlier to develop land and delaying construction.

Fish and Wildlife has twice revised the amount of land that it proposes should be protected as habitat for the 2-inch toad after lawsuits by the building industry and a preservation group.

Comments on the proposal can be submitted to the agency by July 28.

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-- Associated Press

Photo: An arroyo toad near Ventura in an undated file photo. Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[EwAkID]

Riviting.

[arnold]

That darn toad is expensive!

[dick radatz]

Some things are too irrational to believe !!!
There is no rational reason to protect a this toad. There are more toads than needed in the world - and if this one does go extinct- it is just like thousands or millions of other species that have gone before it. To spend millions on foolishness like this to make a few idiots feel good just is too stupid to even have to discuss!!

[AEvangelista]

Who cares about toads. Don't save toads.