Restoring streams of the Somuncura Plateau to recover Valcheta frogs
The Valcheta frog has adapted to this unusual environment over thousands of years. Now it's under threat.
Valcheta frogs struggle for survival in fragile habitat
High on the Somuncura Plateau in northern Patagonia, Argentina, lies a network of warm, spring-fed streams that supports species found nowhere else on Earth. Among them is the Valcheta frog (also known as the El Ricon Stream frog), a small amphibian that has adapted to this unusual environment over thousands of years. Its entire known range sits within a handful of interconnected springs at the headwaters of the Valcheta stream.
These fragile habitats have been damaged by invasive rainbow trout, which prey on young frogs and block their movement along the stream. Livestock trampling has further reduced vegetation and eroded the banks, making the springs less suitable for breeding. As the springs degrade and become more isolated, this tiny population of frogs has struggled to recover.
Restoring a unique spring system in the Patagonian plateau
Fundación Somuncura is leading an ambitious effort to restore this extraordinary ecosystem. The team is building a permanent barrier to prevent trout from moving into the headwaters, and removing the fish from a 1.2-kilometre stretch of stream. They’re also fencing several key springs to exclude livestock and replant native vegetation that stabilises the banks and improves water quality.
Earlier work has shown how quickly Valcheta Frogs can recover once the springs are restored. In several areas where trout were removed and fences installed, frogs and native fish began to recolonise the waterways within months. This new phase of the project aims to expand those successes, reconnecting isolated groups of frogs and strengthening the long-term stability of the population.
By restoring the Valcheta Stream, we’ll protect a remarkable community of species that depends entirely on this small corner of Patagonia.
We want to give Valcheta frogs a brighter future; with your help we can make a difference.
Image credits Hernán Povedano, Fundación Somuncura.