As a partner with the Michigan Vernal Pool Partnership, Chippewa Watershed Conservancy is dedicated to protecting and spreading awareness about vernal pools. Vernal pools are small, seasonal wetlands that fill with water in the spring and dry out in late summer or fall. They serve as critical habitat for diverse aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, with over 550 species documented using these ephemeral wetlands. Because of the unique dry period of vernal pools, they are unable to support a fish population. This creates an ideal breeding habitat for many amphibian species without predatory stress.

In addition to monitoring eleven vernal pools on our nature preserves, Development & Donor Relations Coordinator Autumn Baker also serves as a Program Coordinator with the Vernal Pool Patrol, a community science-based program helping to map and monitor all the vernal pools in Michigan. In this role, she supports volunteers throughout the CWC service area and conducts site visits for landowners interested in documenting vernal pools on their property. To learn more about volunteering or have your land monitored, please email autumn@cwc-mi.org.

Out in the Field

Monitoring visits are conducted three times during the vernal pool field season. Once the pools fill in early spring, data can be collected at the first site visit. We document habitat type, water temperature, and pool measurements, among other metrics. Flora and fauna are also recorded, along with any disturbances, such as invasive species present. To observe aquatic species, dipnet samples are taken from the pool basin and examined for macroinvertebrates and other tiny organisms. During the first site visit, amphibian egg masses are usually present as they migrate to the pools on the first rainy nights that reach 40 degrees or above.

The second visit occurs a few weeks after the first when biodiversity peaks. During this visit, a final count on salamander egg masses is documented and Wood Frog tadpoles may be present. Fairy shrimp may still be found but are fleeting with their short lifecycle. Many other species will be utilizing the vernal pool as a food and water source.

The final visit is completed in late summer or fall when the pool is dry. This is when other pool characteristics can be documented such as substrate and soil types. Each pool is unique and some contain water for longer periods than others.

If you would like to learn more about vernal pools, CWC offers several programs every spring about these fascinating and vital wetlands. Be sure to keep an eye out on our events page as these become available. You can also become a volunteer with the Vernal Pool Patrol to help collect data on vernal pools in our region! You can reach out to autumn@cwc-mi.org for any additional questions you may have.