South County : San Joaquin Reservoir Free of Clawed Frogs

Despite some reports of unofficial sightings, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California said the San Joaquin Reservoir, located in the hills above Newport Beach, is now free of the African clawed frogs that have plagued the water source on and off for several years, a spokesman said.

Last year, the frogs flocked to the reservoir in epidemic proportions, clogging it with their tiny bodies. After “millions” of frogs were carted off, a fine mesh screen was affixed to the fencing around the site to discourage other frogs from flinging themselves in.

Although the new barrier does not prevent sea gulls from dumping the frogs into the water, the measure seems to have worked. “I’m not going to tell you that it is frog-proof, but as of this time, there are no (reports of sightings),” said Water District spokesman Jay Malinowski.

He said that the frogs secrete a substance from their skin to ward off predators, and that a heavily diluted form was possibly circulating in the water before the frogs were removed. He said that the secretion’s effect on predators is not known, but there have been no reports of humans being harmed by it.

“We have closed the problem to our satisfaction, so there is no longer a water contamination problem,” he said.