Since much of California Tiger Salamander habitat lies on homeowner’s property, landowner’s practices play a major role in the conservation of this salamander. I believe a law should be created restricting homeowners living in California Tiger Salamander habitat from vehicular activity, recreational activities, or development within 300 feet of natural pools, wetlands, or ravines. This will keep California Tiger Salamander habitat as pristine as possible without entirely restricting development.

      A law should also be established to ban the draining or covering of any and every vernal pool or wetland for any purpose. Without vernal pools, the California Tiger Salamander will be unable to lay eggs and create a stable population. California has already lost 90% of its vernal pool habitat and all life within it (No Room To Roam, 2015). We can not continue to compromise the future of California’s environment for economic gain.

      Livestock should also not be allowed to access pools or wetlands. A simple yet highly important law would be to require farmers to provide separate water basins for livestock to drink out of rather than from a river or pool. The animals can degrade the  salamander’s habitat by trampling on the land or  contaminating water with fecal matter.

      The California Tiger Salamander has a permeable skin layer. Without this layer, it would be impossible for the salamander to develop both under and above water for long periods of time. However, permeable skin also causes the salamander to be extremely sensitive to damage from chemicals and pollutants. For this reason, all roads near California Tiger Salamander habitat should be lined heavily with tall grasses and shrubbery to reduce chemical runoff from cars and machinery. Fresno, CA is a major area which California Tiger Salamander live. But according to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation in 2002, nearly two million pounds of the pesticide Metam-Sodium were used in the range of the California Tiger Salamander. And according to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Metam-Sodium is corrosive to human skin and very harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Now imagine what the effects must be on the tiny salamander several times smaller and with permeable skin! For this reason, it is crucial we do everything we can to limit the amount of toxins flowing into the salamander’s habitat .

      Though the California Tiger Salamander has been listed on the Federal Endangered Species Act for several years, it is still facing major decline. By 2004, only six tiger salamander meta-populations within 48 breeding ponds remained in Santa Barbara County.” (Natural History of California Tiger Salamander, 2013).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department continues to permit “large amounts of

California Tiger Salamander habitat and has required insufficient mitigation requirements to protect the species. Therefore, the Department should not issue any take permits for this species in Sonoma County until the status of the species has been fully evaluated and potential mitigation strategies have been fully evaluated.” (Center for Biological Diversity, 2004)