Remember that habitat restoration project we did last fall to improve a spot at Morven Park that was functioning as a vernal pool but not holding water long enough for tadpoles to develop?
Well…..the restoration was a fantastic success!
This February as the rains came, we went out and checked for activity. The Wood Frogs and Jefferson Salamanders that live in the woods around these vernal pools must have been watching us at work last fall because not only did they use our “improved” pool, they favored it over the other sites that are in the area.
Beth Arsenault and Sharon Kearns have been monitoring the pools, keeping watch over the eggs, and keeping track of the water level.
Last week, Sharon checked the pool and in spite of the heat, it had 6 inches of water in it.
And now, after getting more rain yesterday morning, Beth reports that the depth is not only up to 9 1/2″ but it seems to be at capacity. The most exciting part is to see the fruits of the labor in the form of tadpoles that are thriving. In years past, there had been no recruitment of new frogs or salamanders because the pools dried out too early for them to make it to adulthood. This year they’re in great shape!