Prioritising Stream Frogs for environmental outcomes monitoring

Stream frogs are frog species that require in-channel stream habitats to thrive and survive. In NSW, there are at least 50 native stream frog species that breed or occupy these habitats within rivers and creeks. Eighteen of these species are listed under the NSW Biodiversity and Conservation Act 2016 as at risk of extinction. Frogs are listed as priority species for measuring the environmental outcomes of NSW’s water sharing plans, but relatively little is known about their  water requirements compared to other animals like native fish.

Our latest research article about stream frogs and their water requirements has been published in the journal Ecohydrology. We have identified key water needs which can be used to inform new water sharing rules aimed to protect and restore flowing habitats required for stream frogs.

This project is part of our Environmental Outcomes Monitoring and Research Program. Our research identifies frogs that are most likely to respond to changes in flow conditions, and we use them to monitor the environmental outcomes of water management rules and policies aimed at protecting flowing habitats. We use threatened stream breeding frog data to inform coastal and inland water sharing plans. This information helps the department to make water management decisions that consider the environmental water requirements of stream frogs.

For more information see: Environmental Outcomes Monitoring and Research Program