HOME : CONSERVATION MATERIALS : CREATING VERNAL PONDS
A vernal
pond makes an excellent outdoor classroom. Students can enjoy catching frogs,
toads, salamanders, and invertebrates while learning important facts about these
disappearing ecosystems. Vernal ponds, otherwise known as ephemeral wetlands,
do not contain fish yet provide critical habitat to wood frogs, spotted salamanders,
fairy shrimp, and many other species.
It is now possible to make a vernal pond on a school ground that provides habitat for amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans and many plant species. The USDA Forest Service, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., and the Izaak Walton League of America are pleased to announce the publication of A Guide to Creating Vernal Ponds. This easy to understand book contains techniques that the teacher, suburban homeowner, public land steward, and private landowner may use to establish vernal ponds.
This publication is available for download from this web page, or you can request a copy via the Order Form. To view and print A Guide to Creating Vernal Ponds you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have the reader on your own computer, you can get it for free here:
Alternatively, please visit the Daniel Boone National Forest web site to view an online version of the book, or to download an order form for a paper copy.
HOME : CONSERVATION MATERIALS : CREATING VERNAL PONDS
Bruce Kingsbury, Director
Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management
Science Building
Indiana-Purdue University
2101 East Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499