Town-Wide Volunteer Vernal Pool Survey presentation by Hank Gruner

WE NEED YOUR HELP...

The Conservation Commission and the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission would like to enlist your help in conducting an inventory of a very important natural resource in Andover: its vernal pools. Vernal pools are temporary wetlands—shallow ponds in the spring that dry out completely in summer. These ponds provide necessary habitat for a diversity of amphibians that depend on a fish-free environment for their early development.

WHAT IS THE VERNAL POOL PROJECT?

In 2021 the Conservation Commission working with UConn’s Climate Corps Municipal Assistance Program mapped the occurrence of potential vernal pools within the boundaries of Andover. The next step is to conduct biological surveys to confirm the existence of these pools. Information collected during the project will be used to refine our natural resources maps and provide recommendations for the next Andover Plan of Conservation and Development, to be completed in 2025.

WHAT WILL I BE EXPECTED TO DO?

Volunteers will be assigned up to five potential vernal pools to survey by identifying and counting amphibian (wood frog and spotted salamander) egg masses. Each pool needs to be surveyed two times from mid to late March through the end of April (the onset of the survey period is dependent upon the onset of the breeding season). Each survey is expected to take approximately 30-60 minutes. No special equipment is required. However, a good pair of waterproof boots and polarized sunglasses are recommended.

WILL I BE PROVIDED TRAINING AND SUPPORT?

Yes. A training session has been scheduled for Saturday March 12, 2022 from 2:00-4:00 PM in the Community Room located at the Town Hall. The project’s coordinator, Hank Gruner, will provide technical support to volunteers throughout the survey.