Vernal Pool

Management Goals

Apply special management consideration within the Vernal Pool Buffer Zone to provide for the needs of amphibians that use this pool. Specifically:

1. increase downed wood, a valuable habitat feature for salamanders

2. retain canopy cover to moderate temperature variation

3. protect the soil duff layer (decomposing leaves and twigs that retain moisture)

Area Description

The largest and most productive vernal pool found in the Spitzer Forest is located on the flanks of Tripp Hill in a northern hardwood stand. Relatively undisturbed, this forest supports mature sugar maple, American beech, white ash and yellow birch trees, as well as eastern hem- lock around the vernal pool (a less common species in our forest). A hillside might not seem a likely spot for a wetland, but vernal pools are often found in areas like this where a depression between bedrock outcrops impounds surface water.

How to Protect a Vernal Pool

• Identify a buffer zone around your vernal pool– preferably not harvesting trees within 100 feet of the pool, and using a light touch (retaining 85% canopy cover, creating minimal ground impact, and leaving downed wood) within 300 feet

• Maintain at least 2 fallen trees per acre, as well as standing dead trees around the pool

• Protect soils and duff layer near the pool from disturbance, especially when soils are saturated

• Keep a healthy, diverse and dense (shady) forest canopy over and around the pool

• Learn to identify species in and around your pool (look carefully… they might be hiding!). Early spring evenings are the best time to search; listen for the rough croaks of wood frogs or the shrill peeps of spring peepers. If you find a rare or endangered species, consider contacting the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Natural Heritage Program; they’ll want to hear about it, and can pro- vide useful suggestions to protect your vernal pool residents!

What is a Vernal Pool?

Vernal pools are small wetlands that lack permanent inlet and outlet streams, and do not support fish populations. They often dry up for part of the year; you might easily walk right past one in late summer and not even notice! But these seemingly minor features actually provide unique habitat that is required for certain species’ survival, thereby adding diversity to the landscape.

Although vernal pools come in many shapes and sizes, they tend to be around 1 to 3 feet deep. If they’re much shallower they’ll dry up too quickly, and if they’re much deeper they could support fish populations. Most vernal pools contain water in spring and early summer and dry up by late summer.

Some amphibians and invertebrates are considered obligate vernal pool species, meaning that they need a vernal pool to complete their life cycle. If you find them, you can be sure a pool is nearby! Examples of obligate species here are spotted salamander and wood frog. Facultative species, such as spring peepers, benefit from having a vernal pool but can survive in other types of wetlands.

Can I Build a Vernal Pool?

You can make a pool, and sometimes it happens by accident when trails become rutted or a tree falls over and leaves a dip in the ground. But unless you plan very carefully, they’re not the same as naturally occurring vernal pools!

Ruts and puddles usually dry out too fast to support the amphibians that use vernal pools. Quick-drying pools might even be harmful to these species if their egg masses dry out before hatching. Newly created ruts also tend to be silty and lacking in organic matter until many years of duff and decomposing twigs accumulate.

Your best bet is to leave it to nature, and protect the pools that are already in your forest!

Who is Living in Our Pool?