Vernal pool certification in Massachusetts

Here in town, we have very few certified vernal pools. This I believe is because no one has documented them - we've got water everywhere here in town! Neighboring towns have many more that are documented that don't have our water resources.



These pools are an important part of the ecosystem as they hold water for a short period of time in the spring (coming up in the next month or so) but are not connected to other water normally, so large fish and such can't predate on species that breed there. They are protected also by special laws from encroachment by developers. But you have to get out and document them. I'd encourage people who are interested to take the time in the next month to document areas of vernal pools they suspect.

Photo of dry pool



Here's some links to how to do that from vernalpools.org

Overview of documentation process

Certification form for Massachusetts

Maps to show the location

USGS topographic map. All certification packets must contain a copy of a section of the appropriate USGS topographic map with the location of the pool marked. Locate your pool on the map while in the field so that you can reference your actual location with the various features shown on the map. Take the time to check the immediate area to see if there are other potential vernal pools which might be confused with the one you are maping. Label your copy of the map with the map name as shown on the cover page. If you are using a GPS unit, make note of the longitude/latitude readings. There is a space for this optional information on the certification form.

In addition to the USGS topographic map, you need one or more additional maps.

Links to additional map examples

Additional information needed

OBSERVATION FORM USGS TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OTHER REQUIRED MAPS

3a. EVIDENCE OF A WET POOL AND OBLIGATE SPECIES or

3b. EVIDENCE OF FACULTATIVE SPECIES AND A POOL WHICH DRIES or

3c. EVIDENCE OF A DRY POOL AND REMAINS OF MOLLUSKS, CADDISFLIES or ODONATE EXUVIA

Provide the following evidence:
dry vernal poolPhotograph of the pool basin without water.The photograph of the dry basin indicates that the vernal pool does not have a permanent fish population. If the pool is almost dry, you should provide a photograph of the pool in that condition and an affidavit indicating that repeated sampling of the remaining water yielded no fish.

Photograph of facultative species which are persistent after pool drying. Some of the facultative species persist or leave remains when the pool dries. Look among the dried leaves on the pool bottom for the shells of air-breathing snails and fingernail clams. Dig in the damp soil for fingernail clam adults and juveniles. Check the plants in and around the pool for the shed skins (exuvia) of dragonflies and damselflies which have emerged from the pool.
Any one of the following photographs would be suitable evidence for vernal pool certification of a dry pool.
caddisfly case in dry pool fingernail clam shells shells of fingernail clams and amphibious snails

Evidence from a dry pool via shells etc of mollusks

Stimulus without local aid?

Well all those wish lists might be gone from the stimulus package.

It makes the least sense in a way as this AP story puts it

Among the most difficult cuts for the White House and its liberal allies to accept was the elimination of $40 billion in aid to states, money that economists say is an efficient way to pump up the economy by preventing layoffs, cuts in services or tax increases.

Tough times for libertarians like Ron Paul. But Mr Paul should realize that the giveaways in terms of tax cuts and bank bailouts have passed over the majority of the middle class, who have been seen more as a source of exploiting fees from over the past 20 years than building a breadth of strength in the economy.

Personally, I like to think as a pragmatist I'm not encumbered by ideology. And lately I'm buying into the idea of a changing nature of government involvement in the economy. Republicans and conservatives are fond of mentioning (and it sounds good) that "government never created a job". But really that's nonsense. Research, construction, defense ... in fact the government is one of the ways to most quickly create jobs and in times like these, when banks have frozen things up and consumers are tapped out, one of the best ways to do that across the broad economy.

So additional school buildings, or infrastructure improvements are on the chopping block in the Senate version of the bill. This is kind of the opposite of what's needed in my opinion. Energy, education and construction even broadband improvements are exactly what's needed. Our rich Chinese overlords realize this by the way and have slated about a trillion in infrastructure spending. Of course they are spending the money from savings and we are borrowing. But in bad times that's what we need to do. Unfortunately thanks to Bush we ran up huge deficits in good times.