Seasonal Pool Wetlands
Our reservoirs in the Catskills and Hudson Valley are surrounded by many interesting habitats that are home to sensitive plants and creatures. Some of the most unique and delicate habitats are seasonal pool wetlands.
These pools are typically less than an acre in size, less than three feet deep, and are often fed exclusively by precipitation. Some of these pools dry up completely in summer, while others remain inundated most of the year.
Many species of amphibian, from wood frogs to spotted salamanders, depend on seasonal pools to reproduce. Because these wetlands lack fish, they make ideal habitat for laying eggs and growing tadpoles. These seasonal pools also support several invertebrates, including fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, caddisfly larva, and predaceous diving beetles.
Much of the ability for life to survive in seasonal pools depends on the condition of the surrounding land. Undisturbed and connected forests are particularly valuable for the diverse critters that depend on seasonal pools. Much of the wildlife found in their shallow waters spend at least some portion of their life cycle in the surrounding forests.
Our wetland scientists study and monitor dozens of seasonal pool wetlands to learn about their ecology and examine their role in storing and conveying water throughout the watershed. We use information about these seasonal pools to guide land management practices on parcels in the watershed.
These sensitive habitats, and the critters that depend on them, tell us about the quality of our water, protection of the land, and the overall health of our planet.
