Focus on Vernal Pools

Vernal pools (vernal = of the spring; pool = a small body of fresh water) are habitats covered by shallow water during the cool season and completely dry during the warm dry season. Sometimes called hog-wallows, winter pools, mudholes, and rain puddles, vernal pools are unique and dynamic natural ecosystems that have four phases: wetting phase, aquatic phase, drying phase, and drought phase.