Palustrine Vernal Pools

Concept

Two vernal pools were established in 2005 in a wet, former agricultural field of some 4 acres. The area lies below the farm lane and North of the Riparian SouthWest section of stream. The pools tend to fill up during the winter and dry out - or nearly so - during the summer. This dynamic system, too shallow to support fish, provides habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including herons of several types, frogs and other amphibians, aquatic insects, and native mammals. Whereas the pools themselves occupy only about an acre, the entire 4-acre tract is accessible by mowed paths and includes a wide variety of shrubs, trees, and gaminoids. Current emphasis is to increase the canopy over and around the pools to effect a forest setting.

The pools were designed by Adam Smith of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and built in 2005 through a grant obtained by the Penns Valley Conservation Association (PVCA) from the Pennsylvania Growing Greener / DEP Program.

Steps

• Select a site
  • The segment of the wetland noted above, selected (complete)


• Record it
  • Images
  • Plant species
  • Inventory wildlife (fish, birds, insects) in or using the site
  • Base Map


• Plan changes
  • Species whose numbers could be increased
  • Species whose numbes could be decreased
  • Species not currently pesent whose introduction could be beneficial
  • Define plant palettes
  • Planting Map


• Implement
  • Sequence of actions
  • Resources needed not currently available
  • Timeline
  
  
• Assess
  • Narrative
  • Data
  • Notes