California's Fish and Game Commission adopted regulations at its August 12-13 meeting that allow qualifying solar energy projects to move forward while protecting the western spadefoot frog, a species experiencing population decline.
The commission found that listing the western spadefoot as threatened or endangered under the California Endangered Species Act may be warranted, granting it candidacy status and initiating a one-year scientific study of the species.
The decision emerged from collaboration between conservation advocates and the solar energy industry. The Center for Biological Diversity, which submitted a petition to list the species, worked with the Large-scale Solar Association to develop regulations allowing exceptions to CESA protections under Fish and Game Code Section 2084.
Solar energy projects will be required to take extensive measures to avoid harming the species while mitigating impacts by constructing new habitat such as ponds and reestablishing native grasslands.
The western spadefoot, measuring 1 to 3 inches in length, faces threats including habitat loss and fragmentation in California's foothills, Central Valley and central and southern coast regions, largely due to urban and agricultural development. Current abundance estimates are needed, and the species may no longer be present in some of its historical range.
The commission also unanimously listed the Morro manzanita plant as threatened under CESA. Found only in San Luis Obispo County, Morro manzanita faces threats from habitat loss to development, geographically restricted distribution, changes in fire frequency and severity, fire reduction activities and disease. Recommended management actions include protecting remaining habitat, removing eucalyptus trees, seed collection and fire impact research.
The commission received presentations on 15 marine protected area petitions, five of which are tribally led or co-led, expected to be considered at the commission's October 2026 meeting. The petitions include 67 proposed regulatory and non-regulatory changes to the marine protected area network.