This species usually occurs in or near quiet permanent water such as streams, marshes, ponds, lakes, and other quiet bodies of water. In summer, individuals estivate in small mammal burrows, leaf litter, or other moist sites in or near (within a few hundred feet of) riparian areas (Rathbun and Jennings 1993 cited by USFWS 1994, USFWS 1996). Individuals may range far from water along riparian corridors and in damp thickets and forests. Breeding occurs in permanent or seasonal water of ponds, marshes, or quiet stream pools, sometimes in lakes (G. Fellers, in Jones et al. 2005). Breeding sites may hold water only seasonally, however sufficient water must persist into the summer for tadpoles to reach a size for metamorphosis (Barry and Fellers 2013). Eggs often are attached to emergent vegetation, floating at the surface (Hayes and Miyamoto 1984). This species is able to be supported by relatively small areas of suitable habitat (Green et al. 2014). It has been known to occupy artificially created wetland environments, including stock ponds (USFWS 2010). The generation length of this species is estimated to be around three years.

The native historical range of this species extended from southern Mendocino County in northwestern California, USA, south to northwestern Baja California, Mexico (Shaffer et al. 2004). Historical subpopulations on the floor of the Central Valley may not have persisted due to extensive natural flooding (G. Fellers, in Lannoo 2005), and may never have represented breeding subpopulations (Barry and Fellers 2013). Its range is now much reduced in southern California, but the species is still present throughout much of its former range in the central California coastal area (G. Fellers, in Lannoo 2005). Its presence in the Sierra Nevada has also been reported as being greatly reduced from the historical range, however, this is being questioned and more research is needed to clarify the current range of the species in the Sierra Nevada (Barry and Fellers 2013, Fellers et al. 2017). 

Local extirpations throughout its range in southern California have resulted in a shift in range structure, as this species has disappeared from almost all historical localities spanning the US-Mexico border northward through the Transverse Ranges, with the exception of a single subpopulation that persists in the Santa Monica Mountains northwest of the Los Angeles Basin. This has led to a 500 km gap between the southernmost California subpopulations and the six remnant subpopulations in the Sierra San Pedro Martir of Baja California, Mexico (Richmond et al. 2014). This species appears to be extirpated from much of its historical range in Mexico as well (Richmond et al. 2014, Peralta-García et al. 2016). Extensive extirpation has also occurred at the southern end of the Great Central Valley (i.e., Tulare Basin) where this species was commercially harvested in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and it has completely disappeared from the southern Valley floor and possibly from the southern Sierra Nevada (Richmond et al. 2014). 

Two isolated, introduced subpopulations occur in Nevada (G. Fellers, in Lannoo 2005, Green et al. 2014). It has been reintroduced into Yosemite Valley, with releases occurring from 2016-2018 following the eradication of the American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) from the area. As of 2019, egg masses have been observed at several localities, which is a positive indication that the reintroduction efforts are succeeding (Kamoroff et al. 2020). In the USA, its elevational range extends from sea level to about 1,500 m asl, although it is most commonly found below 1,200 m asl. In Mexico, it can be found at elevations up to 2,400 m asl (G. Santos pers. comm. Mexico Red List Assessment Workshop 2014).

Conservation Actions In-Place
The U.S. Geological Survey has developed a conservation plan for this species, and about 1.7 million hectares were designated as critical habitat for it in California (USFWS 2001). It occurs in numerous protected areas, including the El Dorado National Forest, Plumas National Forest, Big Gun Conservation Bank and areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is currently listed as "Threatened" by the U.S. Federal Government under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and a species recovery plan has been published and is being implemented throughout the state of California. Reintroduction efforts are ongoing, with releases occurring from 2016–2018 in Yosemite Valley. Prior to this effort, the site was prepared through the eradication of the American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) from the area. As of 2019, the reintroduction efforts appear to be succeeding (Kamoroff et al. 2020). Several sites, particularly those in the Sierra Nevada, are closely monitored and intensively managed for the conservation of this species. In Mexico, this species occurs within the San Pedro Martir National Park.

Conservation Needed
Continued and strengthened management of protected area(s) where this species occurs, and expanded protection of suitable habitats elsewhere in its range is needed. The formation of a comprehensive species recovery plan is also recommended. The California Red-legged Frog recovery plan outlines recovery objectives for the species. These objectives include:  

1) protecting existing populations by reducing threats; 
2) restoring and creating habitat that will be protected and managed in perpetuity; 
3) surveying and monitoring populations and conducting research on the biology of and threats to the species; and 
4) re-establishing populations of the species within its historic range (USFWS 2011).

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. There is a need for monitoring the population status of this species, especially in the Mexican portions of its range, given the threats of increasing tourism and recreational activities as well as the impacts of prolonged droughts. Additional surveys are also needed to clarify the status of this species in the Sierra Nevada. Surveys to inform estimates of this species' overall population size and trends are needed in order to better evaluate its current status following the significant historic declines and range contraction.