Vernal pool project
- To: m*@worldnet.att.net, m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Vernal pool project
- From: P* H* <p*@nevco.k12.ca.us>
- Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 09:22:22 -0800
mikemace@worldnet.att.net,Internet writes:
>--Some day, I¿d like to build a vernal pool. Any advice?
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One of the best vernal pool sites I've ever seen is at Vina Plains
Preserve, a Nature Conservancy preserve about 10 miles north of Chico,
CA, on old Highway 99. There are amazing wildflowers in and around
several large pools, but the site is unique for the fairy shrimp that
live there. The shrimp lie dormant in the mud until the spring, when
they emerge in the pools, mate, lay eggs, etc. I'm not sure how to get a
hold of the Nature Conservancy group there, but they do tours in the
spring. You might have better luck contacting the Mount Lassen Chapter
of the California Native Plant Society:
<http://www.maxinet.com/garmour/cnps-ml.htm>
Chapter contacts: Josephine Guardino -President (530) 895-0349 or Ruth
Cunningham at (530) 891-8462.
I've thought about trying to make a vernal pool, too. There's a part of
a path in my garden where water seems to collect, and that seems like a
good place to do it. I think you'd have to experiment with a drainage
set-up that mimics a hardpan or lava cap suboil — barely permeable.
An interesting project. Good luck!
— Sierra Sage
Nevada City, CA (Zone 7)
