Register A Pool

Registering a pool is a simple process that requires a few basic tools: a film or digital camera and a USGS topo map or GPS unit. Audio-visual enthusiasts can incorporate video footage or sound recordings as part of their seasonal pool documentation. You may enter your information on the form below. Photos (non-digital) or audio/video files may be sent via the postal service to:

Ephraim Zimmerman
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
800 Waterfront Drive
Pittsburgh PA 15222

Prior to field work, you may want to download these additional materials:

Scientific Study Forms are available for download for more intense studies of seasonal pools.

Step 1. Seasonal Pool Observer Information

Observer Name:
 
Email:
 
Home Phone:
 
Address:


 
   

Step 2. Landowner Information

Land type:
 
Landowner Name:
  
Email:
  
Home Phone:
  
Address:


  
   
Landowner Permission:
  
Landowner Comments:
  

Step 3. Directions and Maps

Give detailed written directions to the seasonal pool from two locations. Example: Frog Pond is 1.6 miles SSE of the intersection of Rt. 30 and Black Gap Road, and 0.9 miles W of the town of Black Gap.

 

 

Directions:

 

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Datum:

 

If you do not have GPS coordinates, latitude and longitude can be obtained from several places on the web including TopoZone.com

 

 

Step 4. Evidence of a Seasonal Pool

Choose one of the following three options: A, B, or C. (Adapted from A field Guide to the animals of Vernal Pools, Kenney and Burne, 2000.)

Option A. Indicator species method: two required items

1. Submit a photograph of the seasonal pool holding water.

2. Submit evidence (photo, video, or audiotape) of breeding activities for at least one of the amphibian species listed below. This includes the presence of spermatophores, egg masses, larvae, or adult activities such as singing, courting and amplexus. Or submit a photo or video of fairy shrimp. Only their presence needs to be documented.

Wood Frog
Eastern Spadefoot
Spotted Salamander
Jefferson Salamander
Marbled Salamander
Fairy Shrimp
Enter additional life stages of observed seasonal pool indicator species in the space below:

 

Option B. Facultative Pool method: four required items

  1. A photo or video of the pool filled with water.
  2. A photo or video of the pool dried up.
  3. Provide evidence (photo, video, or audio tape) of any TWO seasonal pool facultative species. These two can be from the same column or one from Column A and one from Column B. For the following species, document breeding activities for animals in this column. Evidence of breeding includes the presence of spermatophores, egg masses, larvae or adult activities such as singing, courting or amplexus.


Spring Peeper
Chorus Frog
Gray Treefrog
Leopard Frog
Pickerel Frog
American Toad
Fowler's Toad
Four-toed Salamander

Only the presence of the animal needs to be documented for these species
Red-Spotted Newt Spotted Turtle
Wood Turtle Painted Turtle
Snapping Turtle Predaceous Diving Beetle (Larva)
Water Scorpion Dragonfly (Nymph)
Damselfly (Nymph) Dobsonfly (Larva)
Whirligig Beetle (Larva) Leech
Fingernail Clam Aquatic Snail

Option C. Dry Pool method: two required items

  1. Submit a photograph of a dry seasonal pool.
  2. Submit evidence from the dried pool bed of any ONE of the following:

Fingernail clam shells
Aquatic snail shells
Caddisfly larvae cases
Damselfly exuviae (shed exoskeleton)
Dragonfly exuviae (shed exoskeleton)

List Additional Observers:

 

Insert here additional observations and descriptions of the seasonal pool habitat (pool size, amount of vegetation, proximity to road, etc). This is appreciated but not required to register a pool.

  

Survey Date (mm/dd/yyyy):

  

Time spent on survey and completion of form:

  

Step 5. Submit your data:

When you have finished entering the information required to register a seasonal pool, please press the SUBMIT button below.

Once you submit the data on this form, please follow the instructions for sending photos, videos and other evidence. For all photos, please provide the following information: type of evidence, location, date, photographer. You may submit hard copies of photos or data forms