Vernal pools are depressions in the ground which fill up with snow melt and spring rain for at least two months out of the year(Kenny 1995). The name vernal comes from the Latin word for spring. There are also temporary autumnal pools that are filled in the fall, caused by the rising groundwater table(Kenny 1995).

A Vernal Pool

The drying of the pool every year prevents it from supporting a population of predatory fish(Kenny 1995). This is extremely important to allow the successful existence of obligate vernal pool species that are dependent on vernal pools for their survival(Colburn 1995). Such species include mole salamanders, wood frogs and fairy shrimp. Vernal pools are also habitats to facultative species, such as spotted turtles, caddisflies and spring peepers. Facultative species are not dependent on vernal pools for their survival, yet are commonly found in them(Colburn 1995).

Wood Frog Egg Mass