Vernal Pool Monitoring at Cascades

On Saturday afternoon I hiked up to the Boynton Park/Cascades area in Worcester to check on the vernal pools. I've been observing these pools for three or four years now. They are primarily used by Wood Frogs but I've also seen a few salamander eggs there as well.

Unfortunately this year the water level in the pools is low. I'd estimate that the major breeding pool is only 60 - 75% of its normal level. The secondary pool (just downstream of the first major one) seems to be pretty full but some of the smaller surronding pools are completely dried up. This seem unbelievable considering the heavy Fall rains that the area experienced. But March has been pretty dry.

I have to admit that this is probably my favorite vernal pool. I don't know if the overall diversity is there but the Wood Frogs love it. Last year there must have been 10,000 tadpoles in the pool... if not more. Hopefully we get some big rains before the frogs move in.