Atlantic Environmental, LLC has been busy this summer with a range of projects that include coastal docks and piers, shoreline stabilization, and wetland delineations. Most recently, AE staff completed a wetland delineation on a parcel of land located in Richmond, Maine. Wetlands are delineated in accordance with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Northcentral and Northeast Regions. The wetland boundaries are flagged and located with a Trimble GEO 7X GPS unit. While on-site, a potential vernal pool was identified. Although we are outside of the active breeding season, the vernal pool was flagged and will be revisited again during the breeding season which takes place during the springtime.
Overview of potential vernal pool that was flagged during a recent wetland delineation in Richmond, Maine
Importance of Vernal Pools
Vernal pools are important because they serve as an essential breeding habitat for certain obligate species that include wood frogs, spotted and blue-spotted salamanders, and fairy shrimp. These species mate and lay their eggs in these pools during the spring season and return to the upland where they spend most of their lives. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers regulate these important habitats so it is important to determine if they exist on your property. AE can work with property owners to assist in delineating the boundary of these pools. Because the pools are most active in the springtime, it is important to assess vernal pools once the snow melts. AE collects the necessary information and submits the required paperwork to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. If a potential vernal pool is located on your property, we can help guide owners in the best approach to meet their project goals while ensuring that the project complies with environmental regulations.
For more information regarding vernal pools:
http://www.maine.gov/dep/water/wetlands/vernal.html