NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

Vernal pools are small, shallow ponds characterized by lack of fish and by periods of dryness. Vernal pool habitat is extremely important to a variety of wildlife species including some amphibians that breed exclusively in vernal pools, and other organisms such as fairy shrimp, which spend their entire life cycles confined to vernal pool habitat. Many additional wildlife species utilize vernal pools for breeding, feeding and other important functions. Certified vernal pools are protected if they fall under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.00). However, the certification of a pool only establishes that it functions biologically as a vernal pool. Certification does not determine that the pool is within a resource area protected by the Wetlands Protection Act. Certified vernal pools are also afforded protection under the state Water Quality Certification regulations (401 Program), the state Title 5 regulations, and the Forest Cutting Practices Act regulations.

季节性池塘（vernal pools）是一类小型浅水池塘，其典型特征为无鱼类栖息且存在干涸期。季节性池塘生境对多种野生动物物种至关重要，其中包括仅在季节性池塘中繁殖的部分两栖类动物，以及如仙女虾这类终生仅栖息于季节性池塘生境中的其他生物。另有诸多野生动物物种会利用季节性池塘开展繁殖、觅食及其他重要生命活动。若经认证的季节性池塘处于马萨诸塞州《湿地保护法案条例》（310 CMR 10.00）的管辖范围内，则可获得保护。但池塘的认证仅能证明其生物学功能符合季节性池塘的定义，无法判定该池塘是否处于《湿地保护法案》所保护的资源区域内。经认证的季节性池塘同时可依据该州水质认证条例（401项目）、该州第5号标题条例以及《森林采伐作业法案条例》获得保护。