Vernal pools are ephemeral bodies of standing water that typically form in the spring from melting snow and rainy days but dry out completely in the heat of summer. This seasonal drying prevents predatory fish from taking up residence in the pools, making them safer and, therefore, vital breeding areas for a community of animals, including frogs, salamanders, and fairy shrimp.
Some amphibian species are in stark decline with populations likely to be halved in the next 20 years if actions are not taken now. One important way to help is to protect amphibian habitat by certifying vernal pools through the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP).
Under the Wetlands Protection Act, vernal pool certification protects both the pool and a 100 ft buffer around it from potential harm caused by development and other human disturbance. Certification is a direct way that volunteers can help in the preservation of ecologically critical spaces.
Taking the Plunge
The Vernal Pool Plunge is an annual event which happens in early spring. To learn more about the current year’s Vernal Pool Plunge, check out our upcoming events or subscribe to our email list.
In 2019, Hilltown Land Trust teamed up with Wild and Scenic Westfield River and local naturalist Charley Eiseman to create a 3-day vernal pool certification training, AKA the Vernal Pool Plunge. People from all over the Hilltowns participated in the training, learning how to locate vernal pools, identify and photograph vernal pool wildlife, and complete the NHESP online certification process. Afterwards, they unleashed their new skills out in the wild and by the end of 2019, seven vernal pools were newly certified!
Since then, HLT has hosted a second Vernal Pool Plunge in 2022 along with webinars, Q & A sessions, and field trips in other years.
Read an interview with Vernal Pool Plunge Chesterfield representative Nellie Wilson and check out this video made in collaboration with Wild and Scenic Westfield River on Protecting Vernal Pools together:
How you can help
- Take a walk in your back woods in spring and see if you can locate a vernal pool on your land (listening for frog calls in the evening can help).
- Find out if you have a potential vernal pool on your land by using MassGIS on-line mapping tool MassMapper.
- Reach out to a local conservation organization or town vernal pool representative to learn more about finding and protecting vernal pools in your area.
- Contact Hilltown Land Trust if you are interested in participating in the next vernal pool plunge or if you have a vernal pool on your land.
Resources
- New England Public Media Connecting Point Coverage on the 2019 Vernal Pool Plunge
- Charley Eiseman’s VP Certification video
- NHESP Heritage Hub
- MassGIS-MassMapper
- MassWildlife Vernal Pool Field Guide
- Vernal Pool Association
- Mass Audubon: Vernal Pool
- Vernal Pool Listserv
- Vernal Pools & Wildlife – Town of Foxborough, MA
- Discovery News: Vernal Pools Spring to Life video
- Fairy Shrimp Video
- Why are frog and toad populations declining? article
