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Hilltown Land Trust

Dedicated to protecting the working lands, native habitats and rural beauty of the Hilltowns since 1986

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You are here: Home / Announcements / What’s Up With Vernal Pools?

What’s Up With Vernal Pools?

April 21, 2025

By Mariel Hohmann, TerraCorps Land Stewardship Coordinator

A graphic containing a photo of Nellie reaching into a body of water with a net, with the caption "Vernal pool volunteer Nellie Wilson," and a spotted salamander, on a light yellow circle.

As snowmelt and rainy days fill the vernal pools of the Hilltowns, salamanders, frogs, and fairy shrimp are on the move. And so is HLT!

You don’t have to be a land trust to conserve these sensitive habits. In fact, anyone can help get a vernal pool certified by submitting their observations to the state!

Hilltown Land Trust has held vernal pool certifications over the years to help educate people about this powerful community science opportunity. This winter, we hosted a reunion for our intrepid Vernal Pool Plunge trainees to reconnect, celebrate their accomplishments, and look to the future.

Going forward, we’re banding together to conserve more vernal pools and educate more folks about them. Head to our Vernal Pool Plunge page to learn more and keep an eye out for these fragile environments in your area!

Help Vernal Pools
Silhouettes of the HLT logo bear and cub.

Filed Under: Announcements, Newsletter

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Woodland Connections for Women
Woodland Connections for Women
May 5th, 2019    
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
  • Hike
  • Workshop
With support from UMass Extension and the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, HLT is hosting an event for women landowners about conservation options for [...]
More Info
Windsor Jambs Hike
Windsor Jambs Hike
May 17th, 2019    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Windsor State Forest
  • Hike
  • Partnership Event
We are partnering with The Trustees to enjoy one of the Westfield River’s headwater tributaries. We will hike the recently-cleared Windsor Jambs Trail from the [...]
More Info
Hike & Plant ID in the Williams' Forest
Hike & Plant ID in the Williams' Forest
May 24th, 2019    
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  • Hike
We will be exploring the springtime forest and beaver ponds on this privately owned land in Plainfield. Nancy Goodman will lead hikers in identifying plants [...]
More Info
Events on May 5th, 2019
Woodland Connections for Women
Woodland Connections for Women
5 May 19
Events on May 17th, 2019
Windsor Jambs Hike
Windsor Jambs Hike
17 May 19
Windsor
Events on May 24th, 2019
Hike & Plant ID in the Williams' Forest
Hike & Plant ID in the Williams' Forest
24 May 19
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