Part of Newhall Ranch Site Under Review as Rare Toad’s Habitat

A portion of the massive Newhall Ranch housing project just east of Ventura County lies in a proposed critical habitat for the endangered arroyo toad, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said Wednesday.

The housing project is being watched closely by Ventura County officials and environmentalists who believe it could affect water supplies, traffic and the Santa Clara River, which is the region’s last free-flowing river.

The proposed Newhall Ranch development straddles the Santa Clara River near Six Flags Magic Mountain and it is an eastern section of the project near the river that is within the habitat boundary proposal.

A portion of the proposed habitat includes waterways in Ventura County where there have been reports of the arroyo toad, according to Sam Sweet, a professor of ecology and evolution at UC Santa Barbara.

The waterways are Upper Piru Creek, Lower Piru Creek between the dam at Pyramid Lake downstream to the headwaters of Lake Piru, and a portion of Sespe Creek between Sespe Hot Springs and Upper Sespe Gorge.

So far, no portion of the Santa Clara River that runs through Ventura County has been designated part of the habitat.

If the 500,000-acre habitat is approved by the federal Department of the Interior next year, the designation would add another layer of environmental review for the proposed residential development, said Grace McLaughlin, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff herpetologist.

“This is part of the whole development process,” said Marlee Lauffer, Newhall Land & Farming Co. spokeswoman. “We have dealt with endangered species . . . and we don’t think it will impact our project. If Fish and Wildlife moves forward with additional designations we will work with them on the appropriate process.”

Critical habitats are approved when it is deemed necessary to protect and recover a species. In the case of the toad, which can migrate to different areas, a critical habitat can include where it may live or watershed areas that affect its survival, said Carl Benz, a listing and recovery program coordinator for Fish and Wildlife.

The proposed habitat affects eight counties. In addition to the Santa Clara River in Los Angeles County, the proposed toad habitat areas includes sections of the Castaic, San Francisquito, Littlerock and Big Tujunga creeks and a portion of the Arroyo Seco near La Canada Flintridge.

Two public hearings about the habitat will be held. The hearings will be from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.:

* Tuesday, June 27 at the Hyatt Valencia, 24500 Town Center Drive, Valencia.

* Thursday, June 29 at the Temecula Embassy Suites, 29345 Rancho California Road, Temecula.

Public comments, data, and other information should be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura CA 93003. Comments may also be e-mailed to: fw1artoch@fws.gov.