PILESGROVE TWP. — The South Jersey Land and Water Trust organization will conduct a training program to teach volunteers how to locate and protect vernal pools March 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pilesgrove Municipal Building.
The program is free. Registration is required — call (856) 881-2269 or firstname.lastname@example.org .
Vernal pools are ephemeral wetlands that fill with water in the spring, and then dry up in the fall. The pools are home to many amphibians that are able to lay their eggs without the threat of fish eating the eggs. These unique ecosystems provide habitat to many other species of insects, reptiles, plants, and wildlife. If properly identified, vernal pools can be certified and protected from development.
Anyone interested in protecting Jersey amphibians can be part of this program. No specific background is required.
The primary way in which the state Department of Environmental Protection is protecting vernal pools is through mapping of certified vernal pools. When a permit to build is applied for, DEP staff will review maps showing all locations of certified vernal pools. Projects proposed within or surrounding vernal pools may need to be redesigned to avoid adversely impacting them or the permit may potentially be denied. However, this protection can only be applied to vernal pools that have been previously certified.