Vernal pools at the Illa M. Collin Conservation Preserve in Sacramento County. Photo taken April 10, 2026/DWR
May 3, 2026 – Vernal pools don’t immediately catch the eye’s attention. They’re stealthy and scattered across rolling grasslands – hidden beneath layers of vegetation. Appearing seasonally during the cooler months, vernal pools are temporary shallow wetlands that hold water in winter and spring until they dry in the summer heat. A keen eye for these isolated gems is rewarded with an amazing slice of biodiversity, bursting with color.
On a recent spring morning, under leaden skies, DWR Senior Environmental Scientist Clay DeLong offered a glimpse of vernal pool habitat at Mather Regional Park in southeast Sacramento County, an area he deemed a “unique grasslands system.”…