This species inhabits limestone outcrops in lightly to densely forested areas that are dominated by oaks and pines. These most commonly consist of oak-Gray Pine (Pinus sabinianus) woodland, as well as Douglas-fir woodland and at higher elevations, ponderosa/Jeffrey pine-oak (Bury et al. 1980, Green et al. 2014). This species is generally found in caves, although they are also encountered at the surface under rocks, logs, and leaf litter. At night, individuals are active on moist rock surfaces (Green et al. 2014). Historically this species was considered to be a limestone obligate, however surveys have since indicated that it can occupy a broader range of habitats, including some other type of rock outcrops as well as habitats with no rock outcrop associations (Lindstrand 2000, Nauman and Olson 2004, Lindstrand et al. 2012, Bingham et al. 2018). It is thought to be a habitat specialist, as this species requires moist, subterranean habitats to reproduce and shelter from high temperatures (USFWS 2021). Individuals are active above ground from November through April, although the exact timing is dependent on precipitation and temperature (Herman 2003, USFWS 2021). Its tolerance to habitat disturbance is unknown, as no long-term studies have been conducted. This species breeds by direct development. While breeding has not been observed, breeding habitats are though to include woodlands, rock outcrops, talus, and caves (USFWS 2021). Based on growth estimates and the maturation times of other plethodontids, adults of this species are thought to reach sexual maturity in 2–3 years (Gorman 1956, Wake and Papenfuss 2005, USFWS 2021).

This species is known from a small area in northern California in the vicinity of Shasta Lake Reservoir, which lies at the confluence of the Sacramento and Pit rivers south of Mt. Shasta (Green et al. 2014). This species has been restricted to the eastern portion of its former range, as two new allopatric species, Hydromantes wintu and H. samweli, have been described from the western portion (Bingham et al. 2018). Its restricted distribution now extends north from the northern edge of Shasta Lake past the community of Lakehead to Lake McCloud, and west to the community of French Gulch (USFWS 2021). This species is not directly associated with the shore of Shasta Lake, but rather is found on the surrounding ridges and other areas further from the lake itself (Lindstrand and Papenfuss 2019, USFWS 2021). It occurs at elevations between 244–1,158 m asl (Lindstrand et al. 2012). The area occupied by this species likely constitutes five or fewer threat-defined locations, due to the various land management plans and exposure to the water levels of Lake Shasta. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 1,241 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
Many of the known populations occur on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest in particular has developed a management plan for this species (California Department of Fish and Game 1990). The Shasta Salamander is listed as Threatened under the State of California Endangered Species Act and is protected on federal lands under the survey and management mitigation of the Northwest Forest Plan. Due to its Threatened status, the California Department of Fish and Game imposes regulatory guidelines through both the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) on timber harvest activities on private lands for the retention of suitable habitat and corresponding microhabitats. This is similarly done for the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) as they conduct CEQA for mines on private property, and CEQA for any vegetation management actions on other private lands (USFWS 2021). The CDFW also currently has 265 acres across six conservation easements that mitigate the impacts to 104 acres of Samwel and Shasta Salamander habitat from past, ongoing, and future mining activities (Haynes 2020, USFWS 2021). This species is also listed as a Sensitive species by the Region 5 U.S. Forest Service and California Bureau of Land Management. This species is currently under review for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act.

In an effort to prevent the introduction of Bsal into the US, an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act has been enacted that bans the importation of 201 species of salamanders (USFWS 2016). Additionally, a temporary voluntary trade moratorium of imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry the disease until such time as effective testing and treatment regimens can be developed and distributed has been recommended to all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). A North America Bsal Task Force has also been created, with working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).

Conservation Needed
Continuation of rigorous management of the public lands on which is species occurs is the best guarantee for the conservation of this species.

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats.