Topsham Vernal Pool Mapping Project Training

Topics: Conservation | Vernal Pools

Trained citizen scientists in 13 Maine towns are mapping vernal pools, assisted by Maine Audubon, which won a $47,000 national grant last year for voluntary vernal pool conservation that engages landowners, community leaders, and residents.

Vernal pools, or “spring pools,” usually contain water for only part of the year and serve as critical breeding habitat in Maine for species such as wood frogs, fairy shrimp, and different kinds of salamanders. They provide essential food and feeding and resting areas for endangered and threatened turtles as well as wading birds, waterfowl, deer, moose, and small mammals.

This Field Training will instruct citizen scientists how to identify and survey these critical habitats. 

Directions: Located in the Highland Green Village off the Route 196 Coastal Connector bypass in Topsham. Once you have entered Highland Green’s entrance road, just continue driving straight for 1.5 miles, all the way until the pavement ends at Junco Drive. (Do not turn off the main road; just continue driving straight on the main road). Once you get to the end of the pavement, at Junco Drive, the forest trails begin, and you will see a set of wooden steps leading down to the ecology center path on your left. Parking is available on the side of the road beyond the steps but please don’t park on Junco Drive. The ecology center is located a short walk from the main road by going down the steps and turning right – follow the signs. You cannot see the ecology center from the main road.

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