Opequon Creek Project Team
Vernal Pond
On August 30, Project Team member, Peter Palmer, broke ground on a vernal pond near the Tuscarora Creek. The project off Horizon Drive was completed on September 6, and measures 45' x 54' x 75' x 99' by 18" deep and the bottom is 5,000 square feet.
Vernal ponds are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of amphibian and insect species. Most pools are dry for at least part of the year and fill with the winter rains or snow melt. Some pools may remain at least partially filled with water over the course of a year or more, but all vernal pools dry up periodically. Despite being dry at times, once filled they teem with life. The most obvious inhabitants are various species of frogs and toads. Some salamanders also utilize vernal pools for reproduction, but the adults may visit the pool only briefly.
This project was funded with a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Program.
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Hosting and Technical Assistance
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