One of the great things about the cyclical nature of our Mediterranean climate here in Sacramento County is watching with anticipation the renewing effects of the fall and winter rains. The grasses all sprout and what looked like a dry desert a few weeks ago, now is lush and the greenest of green.
Another kind of rebirth is happening as well. Unabsorbed rain is making its way down gentle slopes and gathering in ancient depressions in the ground. The water is kept from draining away by a deeper layer of compact clay soil. These seasonal wetlands are called Vernal Pools. Water continues to collect throughout the rainy season, and then slowly evaporates until there is only dry ground. The unique environment of vernal pools provides habitat for numerous rare plants and animals that are able to survive and thrive in these harsh conditions.
The Laguna Creek watershed is home to several protected grassland areas that are runoff uplands for vernal pools. They are filling with this week’s rain and the cycle begins anew.Immediately the succession of plants and animals begins, as this primeval pattern repeats itself, ending with distinctive rings of flowers in mid-April.
Many students from Sacramento County take part in Sacramento Splash, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping local children understand and value their natural world through scientific investigation and outdoor exploration. Field trips to the vernal pools of Mather are a part of the program.
http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/vernal.cfm
