ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION CREDIT SUMMARY

Vernal Pools

These pools are found throughout the site on the Capay, Solano, and Pescadero series soils. Vernal pools on the Gridley Bank site are distinguished from other wetland types by their general size and presence of prolonged standing water. Vernal pools can be variable in size, ranging from les than 0.1 acre to over 1 acre, and tend to be characterized by shallow, less than 18 inches in depth, clear to tea-colored water. Vernal pools also typically support a support extensive populations of common vernal pool species such as woolly marbles (Psilocarphus brevissimus var. multiflorus), stipitate popcornflower (Plagiobothrys stipitatus), vernal pool buttercup (Ranunculus bonariensis), mesa mint (Pogogyne sp.), coyote thistle, hairgrass (Deschampsia danthonioides), goldfields (Lasthenia spp.), downingia (Downingia spp.), Pacific meadow foxtail (Alopecurus saccatus), and little spike-rush (Eleocharis acicularis).

Species associated with these small to medium sized depressional vernal pools/wetlands and include:

  • Vernal pool fairy shrimp
  • Baker's navarretia
  • Conservancy fairy shrimp
  • Baker's navarretia
  • Dwarf downingia