This programmatic agreement (PA) outlines the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) biological opinion regarding projects funded under the Federal Highway Administration’s Federal aid program with minor effects on the federally endangered California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii). Caltrans serves as a liaison to FHWA on Federal aid projects and oversees the use of the PA in Federal aid projects in the Local Assistance Program. The PA provides guidelines to evaluate effects and minimize impacts on the red-legged frog within the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Service Office area of responsibility: San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties. The PA offers flexibility for FHWA or the project sponsor to include additional measures to protect the red-legged frog. As part of the reporting requirement in the PA, FHWA or the project sponsor must submit a site survey report and project completion form to USFWS, which provide details on project activities and measures employed to protect the red-legged frog. It should be noted that the BO identifies specific compensation requirements in its Terms and Conditions. The Federal Endangered Species Act does not mandate replacement of species habitat. However, California presents a unique environment with competing interests, stringent enforcement of state and federal laws and additional laws and requirements that are not typically encountered in other parts of the country. For example, California has its own State Endangered Species Act with low thresholds of significant adverse impact and mandatory efforts to mitigate impacts to a level below that of significance. In addition, there are the California Department of Fish and Game required agreements for streambed alterations, Section 401, Clean Water Act, permits administered by the California Regional Water Quality Control Boards and numerous other federal, state and local compliance requirements. To accommodate as many jurisdictions as reasonable and prudent, FHWA attempts to achieve BO’s that can satisfy a wide range of interests. Typically, this encompasses compensation to further address and mitigate adverse impacts to listed species. In this way, FHWA is contributing to streamlining the consultation process, accommodating the needs of other agencies and enacting progressive approaches to conservation and recovery of listed species.