River Raisin Watershed Council holding vernal pool patrol training workshop

Vernal pool in Manchester area. Photo courtesy of Sybil Kolon.

The River Raisin Watershed Council is co-sponsoring a Vernal Pool Patrol Training Workshop on Saturday, April 6, from 10 am to 3:30 pm at Hidden Lake Gardens, 6214 W. Monroe Road (Hwy. M-50) in Tipton.

Vernal pools are small, isolated, temporary wetlands that are important for maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. Because these wetlands dry up and are fishless, they provide critical breeding habitats for amphibians and invertebrates. They provide habitats for a diversity of other animal species and play an important role in nutrient cycling, water storage, groundwater recharge, and flood control. However, due to their small size and temporary nature, vernal pools are vulnerable to various land use practices and a changing climate. Limited information is available on vernal pool abundance, distribution, and ecology in Michigan. They also are not well-protected under current wetland laws. Conservation of vernal pools requires increased awareness, knowledge, and protection of these unique and important wetlands.

Manchester resident Sybil Kolon stated, “I stumbled across this training last year and was so glad I did. I knew vernal pools were special, but I had no idea why. Now I know that salamanders, wood frogs and fairy shrimp depend on these short-lived pools to survive.”

The Vernal Pool Patrol is a statewide, citizen science-based vernal pool mapping and monitoring program. This program relies on trained citizen scientists, educators, and community partners to help identify and map vernal pools and collect information about their biological and physical characteristics.

This training workshop, presented by Michigan Natural Features Inventory, a program of MSU Extension, in partnership with the River Raisin Watershed Council and Hidden Lake Gardens, will provide information on vernal pool ecology, how to identify these unique pools, and standard methods for monitoring a vernal pool(s) in your area. Data collected will contribute to the Michigan Vernal Pool Database and will help inform vernal pool conservation and management efforts.

Registration for this workshop is $15.00 per adult. Children/youth (ages 10-18) can attend with a parent/adult guardian free of charge. Payment can be made with credit card or a check (payable to Michigan State University). Register by April 4 at https://events.anr.msu.edu/MNFI_Vernal_Pools/ (Event ID 7683).

Kolon continued, “I encourage anyone who wants to help find these hidden treasures to sign up for this class. This is a citizen science project that will help natural resource professionals understand more about these special habitats.”

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.