wisconsin ephemeral ponds project march, 2008 an invitation to
Contents
1. Leopard Frog 1 Blue spotted Salamanders 1018 Wood Frog x x TCE Tiger Salamanders J ee E T Spring Fortes Salamander J Gray Treefrog 1 1 e R Gray Trestog Unidentified Salamander L Aquatic Invertebrate Evidence Observed check if observed characteristic of ephemeral pond V ePeces V sreces f Aiderfly Cranefy FishingSpider Marsh Treader SeedShrmp W Scomion Craw Mussel May Water Sticer _ Aauaticwom Mosquito Whirigig Beetle Backswimmer Damselfiy Ged Snail Phantom Midge Stonefies Bristle Worm Daphnia Gordian Worm Pianaria TubitexWorm Dragony Hydra Pianorbid Snail Water Boman Chironomid Midge x Fairy Shrimp isopod 5 __ Fngemail Ciam teen P Dunge WPs f Copepod Fishy Pygmy Backswimmer W M Observer Comments attach additional sheets as needed Pond basinhardeep hole that may be an inactive spring Vireo obyerved foraging ow branches on water surface gut telly me thir IS a VEP If spring iy not active next visit I wll call it Co2. Conducting the Pond Survey Ephemeral ponds are fragile environments Many amphibians and invertebrates are very sensitive to the effects of disturbance to water and or the vegetation surrounding within the pond When conducting survey work in the pond PLEASE walk very carefully to minimize the amount of disturbance to sediments and vegetation Always watch ahead in the water so you don t disturb amphibian adults or their eggs or emerging aquatic invertebrates which are often attached to vegetation just above or below the water s surface Pets should not be allowed to enter the pond basin or walk along its edge which is the most sensitive area Note The basin of the pond is the entire depression that the pond could fill when the water level is highest The basin may extend beyond the ponded area depending on the level of water at the time of your survey 1 Complete terrestrial component of survey v Assess weather conditions and time v Develop pond sketch including describing land cover and disturbance 2 Complete amphibian and macroinvertebrate survey Search pond areas for amphibian evidence Search substrate open water and vegetated areas for macroinvertebrates 3 Monitor water quality v Collect surface and bottom water temperature Collect pH Dissolved Oxygen DO and conductivity measures optional v Assess water color and clarity 4 Record basic structural features v Measure current maximum water depth within
3. J Reptile Evidence Observed list species observed within basin SPECIES SPECIES SPECIES SPECIES List all reptile species observed within the pond basin K Amphibian Evidence Observed Amphibians may be documented by live trapping visual encounter surveys and in the case of frogs and toads by hearing their calls Live trapping is conducted at long term monitoring sites and requires setting and checking multiple traps in each pond on several consecutive days within each monitoring period The Baseline Survey protocol uses only a combination of visual encounter surveys and calls which require much less observer time and effort Visual encounter surveys are best conducted prior to disturbing the pond substrate and water column to avoid prematurely stimulating a flight response by the animals occupying the pond This requirement can conflict with the need to also assess water quality prior to disturbing the pond substrate and water column To address this two or more individuals should conduct the water quality and animal surveys simultaneously where each individual or team focuses on the collection of one set of measures while contributing the least amount of total basin disturbance For more information see Visua encounter Dip net Surveys below Since adult frogs and toads call during their mating season hearing these calls is evidence of the presence of these animals even when they are not seen Often
4. 04 04 2008 Page 15 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 fixed object located along the pond s basin edge then zero the tool s meter by turning the dial so all zeroes show in the window Now walking in the upland component of the basin edge follow the edge as close as you can around its perimeter until you reach the place you tied the string Read the length meters or feet which is an estimate of the basin s circumference Record this value one end of the pond s basin and fed out while traversing the pond basin in a straight line to the opposite side at which the measurement is read from the unit s scale The pond circumference is a measure of the basin s high water mark usually delineated by a defined edge or bank and interpreted visually by the investigator as they traverse the basin s perimeter For now leave the string along the edge as this will help you in measuring the L and W of the basin and to minimize disturbing the pond basin Length Using the forester s hip chain tool tie the hip chain string to a tree shrub or other fixed object located at one of the two extreme ends of the pond basin at the place the string is used for circumference Zero the meter then walk along the center axis of the basin to the opposite end and stop when you arrive at the basin edge the string should be there too Record the value from the tool s dial meter Leave the string there for now
5. if the landowner has granted permission for access Permission is also required to gain access to a public site by crossing private lands Print City State Zip Phone Landowner grants permission for volunteer to access site Yes Basin Physical and Hydrologic Status D Basin Physical and Hydrologic Status Weather Conditions see codes on instruction sheet in methods WIND SKY _____ AIRTEMP ____ cv F Weather Comment Basin Isolated 2 STREAM DITCH CULVERT WOODED SWAMP OPEN MARSH SPRING LAKESHORE Are there other ponds in the area within view from this pond Y N CONNECTED NOT CONNECTED Hydroperiod History dry by late spring by late summer O dry by late fall O doesn t annually O Not Sure O SW cover 0 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 Canopy Cover 0 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 SW in contiguous pool Y No 2 or more separate pools Trees in basin Dom Sp Water Depth in cm est O Edge defined Y partial No High Water Mark ____ meas O Basin size L ft m Circ ___ft m T P Water Temp surface so bottom__ ec Substrate Moist PondedO SaturatedO moist dyO Water pH 0 00 ___ 5 Substrate Cover Type tree leafO herbO mixO 0 Water color clear cloudy dark green tint brown tint
6. Figure 1 Illustrated representation of a hypothetical pond basin exhibiting different percent water cover classes Black represents percent basin area covered by ponded water in center of basin with a single pool of water Surface water in contiguous pool When ponded water begins to draw down during late spring or summer it often maintains a single receding pool of water Circle Y if this is observed In certain cases where the basin topography is not uniform 2 or more separate pools may develop within the same basin Technically there is no minimum pool size limit so use your best judgment when assessing whether a small puddle in a micro depression is to be considered a separate pool As a rule of thumb any pool that is more than 1 meter diameter and is not near the basin center should be noted Water Depth current maximum Pond basins are variable both in surface shape and in substrate firmness In many pond basins the bottom uniformly descends from the basin edge to a point where the water is deepest At the deepest point measure this water depth to a 1 centimeter inch precision using a stiff ruler from the pond bottom to the water surface Prior to recording the water depth first test measure several places in the immediate area to be sure you are obtaining a representative measure Often a depression created by a boot or a submerged hummock will result in an unrepresentative maximum depth Use a slight downward hand press
7. Forested Upland nO landscape Shrub Upland yes no O non wetiand landscape Upland Grassland no non wetiand open areas Forested Wetland yes wooded wetland areas lt Marsh yes o no open perennial wetlands Roads RR s yes for motorized travel G Basin Disturbance not sure Cultivation Y N Erosion YINI Livestock Nutrients 7 Sediments Y N TAKE PHOTO IF POSSIBLE PHOTO 10 __ e g Initials CameraPhoto Rutting ENI Basin shape round oval egg shaped oblong irregular Draining iN Refuse Prox to nearest road lt 30m 30 100 100 300 gt 00 Filling Inv Plants Y N Road type 2 paved 2 other driveway field ATV comment F Adjacent Land Use Land Use Type Nine broad land use categories are listed on the data form Use these land use categories to describe the landscape setting of the ephemeral pond Determine the presence of each land use type within 30 meters of the pond basin edge Check yes if present and no if not present For land use categories determined present record the that represents the land use type on the basin sketch in the approximate location No lines are necessary but you add more s if you want to be especially clear that
8. if for tree leaves herb for matter consisting mostly of dead grasses and forbs or mix if a combination of both are present Select bare if the pond bottom looks mostly like exposed mineral soil 04 04 2008 Page 16 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 Substrate type Substrate is best evaluated once the pond is dry or nearly dry and exposed to air Basin substrate can provide an indication of the plant community erosion effects nutrient input and the hydroperiod of an ephemeral pond Depending upon the region of where the pond occurs there may be different substrates characterizing the pond basin Select the option that best reflects the substrate type Mineral soil is common in wooded pond basins that are ponded for just a few months Mineral soils are either fine textured as in clays and silts or coarse textured as in sands and gravel Organic soil is common when lots of vegetation grows in the pond but water is present is longer so that the vegetation decomposes more slowly Organic soil is usually very dark in color and light in weight compared to mineral soil If conditions do not allow you to make a determination about substrate type circle SHOULD THIS SITE BE CONSIDERED A VEP Answer this question ONLY once you have completed all of the remaining parts on page 1 of the observation form Your role in visiting a Potential Pond PEP is extremely imp
9. Visual encounter surveys use a professional grade D frame 10 dip net or a student grade dip net with an approximately 1mm 500x900 microns size mesh bottom When used each dip net effort should be evaluated for captured amphibian and macro invertebrate species to be identified and released If identification will take more than a few minutes consider keeping the contents of each dip net effort in a bucket of pond water until you complete the 30 minute survey then identify as many taxa as possible and release them all M Observer Comments Include any comments that may help interpreting the information collected and recorded in the data form Observations of threatened and endangered species other wildlife species and any environmental hazards could also be noted here If you encounter fish in your visual encounter survey note the number and the species if possible in this comment section If additional space is needed please include an attached sheet Observer Comments attach additional sheets as needed WI EPHEMERAL PONDS PROJECT WI Dept of Natural Resources WT 4 P O Box 7921 101 S Webster St Madison WI 53707 04 04 2008 Page 23 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol Appendix A Suggested personal equipment for conducting ephemeral pond surveys Chestwaders or Hip Boots Pocket Thermometer Orienteering Compass Folding Ruler Pocket Lens GPS Receiver Personal Field Noteboo
10. feet on relatively smooth and level ground 2 starting with both feet together at the zero mark begin walking in your normal pace and count each second step always the Left or Right foot until you reach the end of the measured distance if you end in a gt pace counts as 0 5 3 calculate your pace by dividing the total length of distance by the of paces you counted e g 50m 33 5p 1 512m 4 repeat steps 2 amp 3 twice more then calculate their average The result is your average pace factor Substrate Moisture Substrate moisture properties are evaluated after the pond is dry or nearly dry exposing the material at the bottom of the basin the substrate to air This often occurs during the 3 or 4 survey periods but can be influenced by heavy seasonal rains If the ponded water no longer exists evaluate the basin substrate for moisture content Select saturated if water pools around your boot when pressing down moist if the substrate is wet but does not exhibit pooling around your boot and dry if the material feels relatively dry to the touch Substrate Cover Type Many pond basins develop a substrate cover or layer of organic matter that settles to the pond basin This material originates from leaves dropped from trees or by the annual growth of herbaceous plants Check the box that best represents what type of material is covering the substrate of the pond basin Select leaf
11. the basin or if the pond is dry assess substrate moisture v Measure width and depth of basin at high water mark v Assess canopy cover and cover of water vs exposed bottom v Determine if the pond is connected to other wetlands and or streams 5 Complete plant community basin structure assessment Determine dominant plant species if possible and the plant community within the basin v Determine the percent cover of each plant community type Describe the plant community within 30 of the pond optional Complete soil profile assessment once after pond dries optional 04 04 2008 Page 6 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol IV Additional Observations Record any additional observations that can help characterize the landscape at and surrounding the pond These observations should be recorded in a field book and or on an additional sheet of paper to accompany the data form Some examples are e Noting birds associated with the ephemeral pond e g blue winged teal or mallards on pond sandpiper flushed from pond edge scarlet tanager heard calling over head red eyed vireo observed feeding from pond surface an agitated house wren fleeting back and forth over pond pileated woodpecker cavity nest with young in dead green ash along pond s East edge etc e Identifying mammals associated with the ephemeral pond e g a very small mammal seen scurrying alongside log at pond edge small mammal seen swimming across wate
12. the pond basin is surrounded by a particular land use type See basin sketch example Developed Commercial and residential development farm building areas parks parking lots sidewalks and paths and mowed utility corridors Ag Cropland f f Active farmed lands such as row crops hayfields and tilled lands Ag Pasture Active farm land dedicated to livestock grazing Look for indirect evidence such as livestock tracks and manure or short even cropped grass Forested Upland Wooded non wetland landscapes Shrub Upland Non wetland landscapes dominated by shrubs or short tree species It may be mixed with some tall grasses Upland Grassland Non wetland open and grassy landscapes few shrubs may exist but grassland predominates Forested Wetland Wooded wetland or lowland areas Marsh Wetland Wetlands with water at least six inches deep most of the year and without trees Often tall herbaceous vegetation grows along the margins of open water or covers the entire area Roads RR s Corridors developed for local roads highways and railroad lines 04 04 2008 Page 18 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA 2008 G Basin Disturbance Indicate which if any disturbance you observe in the basin using the disturbance categories described below Cultivation Livestock Rutting Draining Filling Erosion Nutrients Sediments Refuse Invasive Plants S
13. too Width Using the forester s hip chain tool tie the hip chain string to a tree shrub or other fixed object located along the basin edge that best represents the basin s middle Tie the tool s string at the place where the circumference string is located zero the meter then walk straight across the basin to the opposite side perpendicular to the Length axis and stop when you arrive to where the circumference string is located Record the value from the tool s dial meter one last time Now start collecting the string used for measuring the circumference by walking along the upland edge When you get to the spot where the Length string is tied break it from its attachment collect it then continue collecting the circumference string Repeat this when you get to the W string attachment then complete collection of the circumference string so that there is no used string left at the site though this string is considered biodegradable it takes multiple years to decompose so that it is no longer a wildlife hazard so please dispose of in a waste bin Determining Your Pace To pace a distance means using a 2 step method to estimate ground distance by walking and multiplying the total of paces every other step by a pre determined factor A pace factor of approximately 1 50 is common for those with an inseam length of 30 32 inches How to determine your own pace 1 pre measure an even and straight length 50 meters or 100
14. yes B wooded wetara areas 8 Open Marsh yes iopen perennist wetancs 9 Roads RR s yes amp tor moterizes traven 3 G Basin Disturbance not sure Cultivation Erosion AN Livestock Y N Nutrients Y AN Rutting Sediments _ Ny Draining Refuse Filling Inv Plants comment Found old engine cil carvalong edge 04 04 2008 Page 8 WISCONSIN EPHEMERAL PONDS PROJECT EPHEMERAL DATA FORM 2222 Page 2 Basin Vegetation Trees 0 1 5 6 25 1 26 50 51 75 76 100 Dom Shrubs 77 0 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 Dom Degwoor Emera 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 Dom Sedge sp Floating 0 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 78 100 Dom puck weed Submerg 0 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 Veg Flats 1 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 Dom Algae present 1 5 6 25 28 50 51 75 76 100 filamentous other not sure Bare Soil O 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 CWD gt 47 0 1 5 6 29 26 50 51 75 76 100 oS 1 5 6 25 25 50 5175 76 100 l Birds Mammals Observed ist species observed within basin Vireo peces J o 12 J Reptile Evidence Observed 1 species observed within basin K Amphibian Evidence Observed x check if observed characteristic of ephemeral pond a
15. Substrate MINERAL ORG MUCK ORG PEAT SAND GRAVEL SHOULD THIS SITE BE CONSIDERED VEP Y NOTSURE comment Weather conditions Conduct surveys during daylight hours under weather conditions that allow for adequate visibility to assess the physical and hydrologic status of the ephemeral pond Acceptable weather conditions will vary as the growing season progresses Surveys should not be conducted when hazardous weather conditions exist which include when wind speed exceeds 12 mph wind code 4 or during moderate to heavy rains sky code 6 Suitable weather conditions include days where winds are less than 12 mph skies are partly cloudy or overcast with light to no rain and water temperatures 50 F or above Record the appropriate wind and sky codes in the appropriate sections using the following guidelines 04 04 2008 Page 11 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 Wind code Sky code 0 lt 1 mph calm 0 clear or few clouds 1 1 3 mph vapor or smoke would drift 1 partly cloudy or variable 2 4 wind felt on face leaves rustle 2 cloudy or overcast 3 8 12mph leaves small twigs in constant motion 4 fog 4 gt 12 mph wind raises dust and small branches move 5 drizzle 6 showers Weather Comment Note any special weather conditions that may affect the results of the survey for example heavy smoke in air gt inch hail storm hit Pond Isolated Ephemeral ponds ar
16. WISCONSIN EPHEMERAL PONDS PROJ ECT EPHEMERAL POND MONITORING INVITATION SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND PROTOCOL MARCH 2008 AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN MONITORING EPHEMERAL 8 2 EPHEMERAL POND VERNAL POOL 3 EPHEMERAL POND MONITORING PREPARATION 4 SURVEYING AN EPHEMERAL POND siciccscsescscnnsssceccasessecvesncsscewooncadwesacdeanwsseancuwsanceiwanecau 5 EPHEMERAL POND OBSERVATION FORM 1 8 EPHEMERAL POND OBSERVATION FORM INSTRUCTIONS 222 2 10 APPENDIX A RECOMMENDED AND OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT 10 APPENDIX ELEVATION VIEW OF A HYPOTHETICAL POND BASIN 10 APPENDIX POND SURVEY SETUP nsnssssssnssnsnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 10 APPENDIX D CITIZEN MONITORING LEVELS 10 Partial Funding Provided By AED 57 4 panot N aGenci Ya Wisconsin Coastal re MANAGEMENT PROGRAM gt 2 AL WISCONSIN EPHEMERAL PONDS PRO Xtension An Invitation to Participate in Monitoring Ephemeral Ponds The Wisconsin Ephemeral Ponds Project WEPP was initiated in the spring of 2006 through the collective efforts of i
17. acro invertebrate species or group observed within basin Specific notes to qualify observations Does not include equipment prep form management or travel 1 WEPP provides training support for the 2008 and 2009 seasons Indicates Map level option depending upon observer interest 04 04 2008 Page 27
18. arks on several trees The measures should give a consistent High Water Depth In deeper ponds trees may not occur near the lowest point of the basin but only at the pond edge To determine the High Water Depth in this case measure the distance from the water surface to the high water mark The High Water Depth is the sum of this distance plus the Water Depth measured above Without trees rocks or other structures to provide high water marks near a ponded water surface it may not be possible to measure High Water Depth accurately without a land survey Plan to visit the pond when water levels are high for example very early in spring or after a major rainfall Water Depth under those conditions will be at least a lower limit on the High Water Depth Water Temperature Collect water temperature near the deep point of the basin preferably where the water and substrate have not been disturbed Often water temperature is uniform due to the shallow depth of many ephemeral ponds but for deeper ponds and those that receive ground water the bottom temperature may be cooler than the surface water Measure the water temperature within 3 5 inches of the pond bottom as well as 3 5 inches from the water surface Allow a minimum of 1 minute for your hand held thermometer to stabilize prior to interpreting the temperature Read the thermometer within 5 10 seconds once you pull it out of the water for an accurate measure Circle C for Centigrade and F for Fahre
19. aypoint confirm good batteries 4 Protect equipment and form from the weather 5 Clean equipment after each survey at site parking area to help minimize spread of invasive species If multiple people are involved identify a team leader and delegate survey tasks responsibilities to individuals teams Surveying an Ephemeral Pond route to pond after leaving vehicle A Initial Survey 1 Once you are within about a football field s length 300 from the pond move quietly and slowly while frequently stopping to scan for animals plants and land use changes associated with the pond Use binoculars to make these observations from a distance if you have them available 2 Listen for sounds of birds frogs and mammals coming from the pond area Record your observations on the data form or in a field book I On arriving at the pond edge A Assemble your group and equipment in secure area near pond edge 1 Avoid hazardous settings e g under dead overhangs or poison ivy patch 2 Avoid areas prone to erosion 3 Avoid areas representing potential rare flora or animal use B Re evaluate initial plan to ensure the safety of team members and success of the survey 04 04 2008 Page 5 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol 1 Re assign tasks responsibilities if necessary 2 Abandon survey if necessary e g unsafe human activities nearby weather change presence of breeding threatened or endangered bird species
20. circle Reasons may include the site is too large for an accurate estimation the basin edge cannot be determined the shape and location of the pond basin is very irregular 04 04 2008 Page 14 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 OO O O O 5 25 50 75 Figure 2 Representation of a hypothetical pond basin exhibiting different percent tree canopy cover classes Black represents percent basin area covered by canopy assuming no trees in basin Trees in Basin Circle Y when live standing trees are present within the pond basin Trees as opposed to saplings or seedlings have a diameter of at least 4 inches about 4 feet from the ground or dbh diameter at breast height gt 4 If possible determine what tree species are dominant or most common If conditions prevent you from making this determination circle Edge Defined Characterizing the pond s edge is useful to help understand the transition between the pond and its adjacent upland habitat This is determined while traversing the upland area along the pond s waterline Often this area is a transition zone with an elevation change due to slow natural erosion caused by the ponded water snow melt and rainwater runoff It is typically visible as an edge where different habitat types come together If you can clearly distinguish the pond basin s edge along the entire perimeter of the pond basin circle Y for we
21. e What mapped PEPs Early Late Late Sample When Spring Spring Summer Summer Fall Data Form Sections A Basin Location X B Observer Contact X C Landowner Information x D Physical amp Hydrologic Status X E Basin Sketch X F Adjacent Landuse X G Basin Disturbance X H Vegetation Structure Bird amp Mammal Evidence J Reptile Evidence K Amphibian Evidence L Aquatic Invertebrates M Observer Comments X Monitoring Effort 30 60 min site DATA FORM PARAMETERS See Table 1 on page 4 for date guidelines PLSS location Site name and ID Directions GPS coordinates system used and error Ownership type Full Name and WAMSID Mailing address Form completion Owner Name and contact Mailing address Access permission Residential Association Weather condition Basin isolation and type Surface water cover Depth Temp pH Color Canopy cover Basin dimensions and edge type High water mark height Substrate type and moisture Sketch of shape and proximity to other features Basin photo and ID Road proximity and type Land use cover and type Disturbance presence and type Vegetation cover and dominant species Optional plant species list Bird and mammal species sign observed within basin Reptile species sign observed within basin Amphibian species or group observed within basin M
22. e spring thaw when adult salamanders are migrating to ponds for breeding Peak conditions generally coincide with first warm spring rains that occur after the ground has thawed and the edges of most ponds contain melted ice water or the pond is entirely open A local nature center in your area can provide advice on when these conditions are expected to occur during a particular year Before departing for site i e at nature center home or other location A Assemble necessary equipment forms and notebooks B Acquire maps directions 04 04 2008 Page 4 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol C Obtain permission from landowner s to access the ephemeral pond site s where you will conduct the survey D Inform someone else of your field work schedule and location In parking area or place to begin hike into A Evaluate your personal safety prior to approaching the pond area Consider 1 Weather lightening flash floods high winds 2 Orientation provide a description of route destination and time on car dash 3 activities e g hunting logging other activity that may hamper the survey 4 Personal health i e is your health limiting in any way B Prepare all necessary equipment and forms prior to approaching the pond area 1 Fillin date location observers pond ID 2 Make compass and map s or photo of area easily accessible 3 Calibrate electronic meters activate GPS and fix vehicle w
23. e wetland features that exhibit a depression or defined basin that contains ponded water for portions of a year When the ponded water draws down the exposed edge often creates a visible edge that separates the pond s basin from surrounding habitat types e g upland deep marsh streams lakes Identifying where the basin s edge is can be very helpful to determine if an ephemeral pond basin is isolated When practical walk the entire perimeter of the potential ephemeral pond basin to determine where the basin edge is in relation to other surface water features such as stream inlets or outlets or a larger waterbody such as a deep marsh If you can imagine a small fish swimming through any water connection then the feature is connected Certain streams may appear permanent during spring but become inactive later in the season These are considered intermittent streams Look carefully at places where there may be evidence e g dark soil line of silt or exposed rocks linear pattern of aquatic vegetation of only an intermittent or seasonal water flow If you walk the entire perimeter of the basin and see no evidence of the pond being connected to other surface water the pond is considered isolated Circle Y If the pond is not isolated circle N If conditions prevent you from making this determination circle If N also circle the type of connection that best describes what the pond basin is connected to If none represent the c
24. eceiver GPS collect the coordinates for the latitude and longitude while standing next to the pond Record which coordinate system your GPS is set to use If you don t have a GPS but you do have access to the internet you can obtain the latitude and longitude coordinates in degrees minutes seconds using the Wisconsin DNR internet mapping services http dnrmaps wisconsin gov Record coordinates to at least 6 decimal places 04 04 2008 Page 10 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 B Observer Contact WAMS ID A unique ID assigned to citizen monitors Observer Contact WAMS ID participating in the WEPP monitoring program Name Print Please record the WAMS ID that you obtained from Address the WDNR Contact information should relate to the Stat 21 person leading the survey and is responsible for Phone Email submitting the data form Add names of team Co observer s member s without contact information Have you completed forms for this site previously Yes Please check Yes if you have completed survey forms for this site during previous visits during the current season or in previous year C Land Owner Contact If you intend to survey a site that occurs on private Land Owner Contact if private land lands you MUST obtain permission to enter the Name property PRIOR to conducting a survey Check Address Yes
25. ed Station ID and or PEP ID which is used to identify the potential pond in the central database managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources If you are monitoring a site as a representative of a partnering organization you will be provided with a map that contains one or both of these identification numbers Please record the specific Station and or PEP ID for this site in section A of the recording form Basin Location There are three basic ways to document the location of an ephemeral pond e Public Land Survey System PLSS e Written directions to the pond e GPS Coordinate System latitude and longitude WISCONSIN T7 8N R3 4E EXAMPL On your first visit to a site to conduct a survey document pond location using all 3 methods On subsequent visits you need only include the PEP or Station ID If your site does not have a PEP or Station ID record the location and notify your WEPP contact to obtain one after the initial survey PLSS Determine the township range section and section numbers using a Wisconsin Atlas amp Gazetteer or county plat map see example at right Written Description Describe where best to park to prepare to hike to the pond Provide compass bearings and approximate distances from permanent reference points telephone poles parking lots trailheads etc to help others find the pond on future surveys Latitude Longitude If you have a Global Positioning System r
26. erna Clon Leech Divng Beste W Penny Beate _ _ Fishfly Marsh Beetle Pygmy Backswimmer W Scav Beetle Visual encounter Dip net Survey In practice the visual encounter surveys for amphibians and for aquatic macro invertebrates are conducted simultaneously The Baseline Survey uses a standardized 30 minute visual encounter survey to detect evidence of occurring amphibians and macro invertebrates In addition to observed animals evidence of them eggs spermataphores exoskeletons caddisfly cases shells that can lead to positive identification may be used to document occurrence Visually search areas of the pond likely to contain amphibians and or macro invertebrates Suitable habitats are where animals can find food cover and structure in the pond so for example among emergent plants or along downed trees and where the water is less than 60 cm deep If the pond vegetation and canopy is uniform divide the pond into thirds and spend some survey time within each third If the pond has more than one type of habitat shaded sunny submerged emergent plants spend 04 04 2008 Page 22 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 some survey time within each habitat type If the survey is conducted by more than one observer divide 30 minutes by the total number of observers to determine the specific time each observer spends surveying his or her respective portion of the pond basin
27. frogs and toads will stop calling when the pond is disturbed and so it s best to listen for their calls along with signs of other animals as you initially approach the pond as described on Page 5 For each species you can identify indicate on the data form the nature of your observation an adult by visual observation v an adult by call c eggs larvae or tadpoles or juveniles juv 04 04 2008 Page 21 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 K Amphibian Evidence Observed x check if observed characteristic of ephemeral pond SPECIES Bullfrog Cricket Frog Green Frog American Toad Pickerel Frog Unidentified Frog Leopard Frog Blue spotted Salamander Mink Frog Spotted Salamander Wood Frog Tiger Salamander Chorus Frog Central Newt Spring Peeper Four toed Salamander C Gray Treefrog Red backed Salamander E Gray Treefrog Unidentified Salamander L Aquatic Invertebrate Evidence Observed Aquatic invertebrates may be documented by live trapping and visual encounter surveys As for amphibians trapping is conducted only at long term monitoring sites The Baseline Survey protocol uses visual encounter surveys The Baseline Survey is also limited to observing aquatic macro invertebrates or invertebrates that are large enough to be seen without magnification Due to the need to see into the water column to detect macroinvertebrates and amph
28. ibians the use of polarized sunglasses is recommneded Just as in amphibian surveys macro invertebrate visual encounter surveys are best conducted prior to disturbing the pond substrate and water column to avoid prematurely stimulating a flight response by the animals occupying the pond However this requirement conflicts with the need to assess water quality that is also sensitive to pre survey disturbance of pond substrate and water column To address this two or more individuals should conduct the water quality and animal surveys simultaneously where each individual or team focuses on the collection of one set of measures while contributing the least amount of total basin disturbance For more information see Visual encounter Dip net Surveys below Place a check next to each macro invertebrate type observed L Aquatic Invertebrate Evidence Observed check if observed characteristic of ephemeral pond Craney _ Fishing Spider Marsh Treader Seed shrimp w Scompion Craw W Beete Mussel WaterSriger Aquat Worm Crayfan Giant w Bug Mosquito Sprngan whirigg Beete Backswimmer Giledsnai Phantom Midge Stnefies T Gordan Worm Tuber worm Dragony Hydra PlanoridSnai___ Water Boatman Chironomid Faiy Shrimp Pouch Sra clam Shrimp Fing
29. igns of agricultural tilling or cultivation of the soil surface Signs animals observed tracks manure trails of the presence of domestic livestock affecting the pond Evidence of tire rutting produced by vehicles including all terrain vehicles ATV farm equipment and cars If rutting is suspected to be caused by frequented animal numan paths record this in the comments section Evidence of ditching channels or tiling with the apparent purpose of draining the pond Evidence or activity that relates to the dumping of waste soil fill or bulldozing of adjacent soil into the basin This may include dumping of rocks collected from a field or the surrounding area Signs of soil erosion leading to the disturbance of the pond edge and immediate upland area This is often associated with sediment in the water column Signs of excessive nutrients in the pond resulting from run off from uplands and nearby streets sewer drainage and agricultural activities Signs may include livestock manure fertilizers from agriculture or lawn management Dense submerged plants and algal growth may be an indirect signs of excessive nutrients Indicated by a cloudy water column and or deposition of a fine sediment layer on leaves or other organic material Garbage or other waste deposited into the pond basin Isolated garbage suspected to have been blown into the pond by winds should be recorded in the comment section Presence of non native p
30. k Clip Board Digital Camera Polarized Sunglasses Mechanical Pencil Water Bottle First Aid Kit Field Guides Pond basins are often deeper than knee boot height Hand held unbreakable non mercury based thermometer with 1 degree C or F increments is best Any brand of orienteering compass with clear base adjustable dial and straight edge ruler Any measuring device to determine water depth e g a 6 ft folding engineers rule meter stick or the handle of the dip net marked with length increments to at least 5 cm 2 inches 5X 10X magnification is best Any hand held recreational grade unit is fine but optional A GPS receiver is not a substitute for an orienteering compass A 5x 7 inch spiral bound notebook with ruled write in the rain or durable cotton paper Simple fiber board or plastic variety to hold dataforms and maps A simple digital camera with moderate pixel resolution e g gt 2mb Inexpensive polarized glasses to aid seeing into the water column 2 Pencils with 05 or larger hard lead 2B 1 liter water bottle Basic materials to treat minor injuries including bee stings Favorite selection of guides to identify common plants and animals 04 04 2008 Page 24 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol Appendix B Elevation View of a Hypothetical Pond Basin Substrate Cover e g leaves High water Mark Full Capacity Place to measure maximum water depth Pond Water Surface Pond Ba
31. lant species if you are familiar with plant identification 04 04 2008 Page 19 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 H Basin Vegetation Structure Estimate the percent area that each plant community covers relative to the total basin area Then circle the category 0 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 and 76 100 that best represents your estimate To the best of your ability determine the dominant species most common associated with each community type H Basin Vegetation Trees Shrubs Emerg Floating Submerg Veg Flats Algae present 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 1 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 1 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 Type filamentous other not sure Bare Soil 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 Note CWD gt 4 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 Note ReedCanaryGrass 0 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 __Other Plants in Basin List species if sure of identity otherwise use group e g sedge grass mint 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Trees Single stem woody plants with a trunk diameter of at least 4 inches Shrubs Woody plants with multiple stems such as dogwood and some willows Emergent Aquatic Plants Herbaceous plants that grow in the
32. ll defined Circle Y Partial if it is only evident along portions of the pond basin If the basin edge is not at all evident e g basins with a smooth slope where edge seems to follow the receding water line or the plant community does not seem to change then circle N for not defined If conditions prevent you from making this determination circle Do not walk in the water along the edge since eggs and immature amphibians are often located here Basin Size This is to be determined only one time and is easiest after the pond has gone dry or mostly dry Basin length width and circumference are the L W and C marked by the basin s edge These three are measured ideally by using a forester s hip chain that uses a string that is fed through a measuring dial Basin size may also be measured using a long measuring tape or by pacing described below On the data form circle if you used forester s hip chain or measuring tape and P if you estimated the lengths using the pace method Circumference The pond circumference is a measure of the basin s perimeter which typically relates to the high water mark usually delineated by a defined edge or bank and interpreted visually when traversing the basin s upland perimeter Begin by 1 determining the basin s Circumference distance which will aid determining the basin s Length and Width Using the forester s hip chain tool tie the hip chain string to a tree shrub or other
33. llect information only once in any given year 04 04 2008 9 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 Ephemeral Pond Observation Form Instructions ss a Organization Name in header of form PLSS Twp N Range__E W Sec x If you are completing this form as a member of a local County Local Name partnering organization please record the organization s name Written directions to here Date amp Time in header of form SPS coord LON uss Record the date the survey is conducted using ddmmmyy Reported GPS Error _m__ notedin GPS window format e g 23Feb07 Using this format avoids confusion GPS Coordinate System Owess4 about which month the survey was conducted Record the start Property Ownersnip Public Private Unknown and end times to mark the beginning and ending times of the YOU MUST FIRST HAVE LANDOWNER PERMISSION FRIORTO survey If you keep time using a 12 hour clock circle the CONDUCTING ANY SURVEYS ON PRIVATE LANDS appropriate a m or p m period 1 Collect information only once any given year A Basin Location PEP ID amp Station ID In many cases monitors will be conducting surveys at sites previously mapped using air photo interpretation and Geographic Information Systems GIS When this is the case on the map the potential ephemeral pond site will have an assign
34. ndividuals from government the University of Wisconsin non profit organizations and others committed to wetland conservation A goal of this project is to collect information about the location and status of ephemeral ponds as habitat for amphibians and other wildlife in order to help protect this poorly understood ecological community type for future generations Ephemeral ponds are isolated wetlands that temporarily hold water during spring and early summer after snow melt or heavy rains but dry up by mid to late summer or early fall They generally lack a connection with permanent streams and waterways In other words they have no inlets or outlets They are typically free of breeding fish but provide a unique and vital breeding habitat for specialized amphibians and invertebrates as well as a variety of wetland plant species For additional information on the geography and ecology of ephemeral ponds which are also known as vernal or seasonal pools please explore the internet websites listed on the back of this page WEPP is seeking assistance from groups and individuals to locate map and inventory Wisconsin s difficult to find ephemeral ponds Groups such as nature centers schools colleges and conservation organizations are invited to participate as Ephemeral Pond Partners by including the WEPP Citizen Monitoring methods within their programs WEPP also welcomes individual Citizen Monitors who will be matched with a local group if needed fo
35. nership Private Unknown Zip i YOU MUST FIRST HAVE LANDOWNER PERMISSION PRIOR TO Landowner grants permission for volunteer to access site Yes D Basin Physical and Hydrologic Status Weather Conditions see codes on instruction sheet methods WND 2_ sky__3_ AIRTEMP_68 Weather Comment SW cover 0 1 6 6 25 28 50 51 75 76 100 7 SW contiguous pool Y No 2 more separate pools Trees inbasin YAN Dom Sp Water Depth _58__ High Water Mark 61 meas est O Basin size L ___ T P Water Temp surface 52 7 botom 47 c F Waler Water cloudy dark green tint brown tint 2 Substrate meral ORG 7 PEAT SAND GRAVEL 7 SHOULD THIS SITE BE CONSIDERED VEP NOTSURE COMMENt Need te come back te determine pring activitty Basin Sketch shape landuse photo point hydrology eggmasses F Adjacent Landuse within 30 m of edge 1 Developed yes urban park sidewsts 2 Ag Cropland yes LE 0 corn soybean nay etc 3 Ag Pasture yes no BB active grazing iana 4 Forested Upland yes 0 non wetanc Penible pring 03cm tea 5 Shrub Upland yes O no BB inon wetana 6 Upland Grassland yes 0 noi non wetarc open areas X Measured maw depth 580m 7 Forested Wetland
36. nheit Water pH Dissolved Oxygen DO and Conductivity Optional Measuring the basin s water pH DO and conductivity is optional Follow the instructions provided by the user manual of the test meter or HACH kit that you would use Each meter is to be calibrated at the start of each field day or as necessary for quality assurance Water Color The clarity of pond water and its color may provide insights to water quality The presence of tannins algae micro organisms sediments and the level of disturbance all affect a pond s water color and clarity Determine water color and clarity in a part of the pond that has not been disturbed and has good light If necessary slowly separate any floating vegetation that may be on the surface In bright light use your clipboard or hat to shade the water surface If you are in deep shade it may help to submerse the white cloth of a dip net white paper or other white object in the water to make this determination If conditions prevent you from making this determination circle Canopy Cover Collect this information beginning with the Late Spring May 20 June 5 survey period when leaves are full size Circle the category that relates to percent cover of tree canopy branches with leaves on that best represents the portion of the total basin area that is shaded by tree and shrub leaf canopy cover See Figure 2 for examples If you are not able to determine the surface water cover please
37. onnection well describe what you see use comments section M if more space is needed Other Ponds Visible If there are other ponds within sight of the pond being surveyed circle Y and note whether they share a connection or special relationship For example bank overflow shows water drains from this pond basin to the other or a natural spring is flowing into this basin Hydroperiod History If you are familiar with this pond and have noted the presence or absence of water in previous years select the category that best reflects your observations Surface Water SW Cover Refer to the charts provided in Figure 1 to estimate how much water is covering the pond basin Circle the category of percent cover 0 1 5 6 25 26 50 51 75 76 100 that best represents the portion of the total basin area that is occupied by ponded water This includes all ponded areas with emergent vegetation In some cases you may have to walk along the pond edge to confirm where ponded water actually occurs because your vision is obscured by terrain or vegetation If you are not able to determine the surface water cover please circle Reasons may include the site is too large for an accurate estimation the basin edge cannot be determined the shape and location of the pond basin is very irregular etc 04 04 2008 Page 12 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 Co oe 2 5 25 50 75 O
38. ortant to confirm that what appeared as an ephemeral pond on a map is indeed that Use the information you collect during the survey along with your understanding of the definition of an ephemeral pond to complete this section of the data form Circle Y if you believe this site should be considered as a Verified Ephemeral Pond VEP Circle N if you believe it is not a VEP or Not Sure if consultation or an additional survey is necessary prior to making a determination Occasionally a mapped PEP may turn out to be something other than an ephemeral pond such as a fallen tree top in a well drained depression rusted automobile barrels or refrigerator parts or permanent waterbodies like deep marshes or perennial springs Your observations here are extremely useful to improve future mapping If you discover a falsely mapped ephemeral pond such as these examples or others please create a brief sketch of the site and describe in Part M Comments what you found If possible collect a digital photo of the site Be sure to record your photo ID in the sketch section E Basin Sketch Shape landuse photo point proximity to other features Capture the shape and associated features of an ephemeral pond by creating a scaled drawing of the pond as viewed from above along with features such as springs intermittent streams bank overflows large rocks locations used by amphibians locations where maximum depth was measured When possible al
39. r additional support As a volunteer in the network you will be asked to collect information at sites WEPP coordinators have mapped as potential ephemeral ponds also for areas you suspect to be ephemeral ponds using the broad definition of an ephemeral pond listed above Information that you collect will allow WEPP Coordinators to better identify and understand this important wetland habitat type in southeast Wisconsin In the future the hope is to expand the WEPP monitoring network to other parts of the state The type of information you will be asked to collect is presented in the example pond monitoring survey form pages 8 9 and described in detail in the instructions section pages 10 22 For information on becoming an Ephemeral Pond Partner or Citizen Monitor for the Ephemeral Pond Monitoring Network please contact Gail Epping Overholt WEPP Volunteer Coordinator 414 290 2434 For general questions about the Wisconsin Ephemeral Pond Project please contact Tom Bernthal WEPP Project Manager WDNR P O Box 7921 101 South Webster Street Madison WI 53707 Phone 608 266 3033 Partial Funding Provided By ED 57 4 wy Vacencr MISCONSIN COASTA va WISCONSIN Coastal 04 04 2008 Page 2 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM panot gt 2 AL Ephemeral Pond and Vernal Pool Websites The following list of websites provides links to federal state and non profit organizations involved in the
40. r then went under white tailed deer seen or heard leaving the pond area house cat seen near pond etc e Recording presence of turtles or snakes seen at pond edge or basking on logs or rocks in the pond basin 0 snapping turtles seen at pond s edge garter snake seen sliding through grass next to pond an upland grassy area about 100 meters from pond etc e Recording nearby land use changes that appear to be recent and not apparent on air photos 04 04 2008 Page 7 WISCONSIN EPHEMERAL PONDS PROJECT EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM Page 1 EXESNSION Partner Name Cragy Jakey Nature Ct pate 24JUnO8 Time 5 1915__ 11 00 Lon pm A Basin Location Station 10 PEP ID 101 Observer Contact wams ID PLSS Twp_9 4 Sec_3 Sx sw Name lupulina Print Address 101 Sedgemeadow County Ozaukee _ Local Name pphemeraipendnatualaren Sernieville State WI 00902 Written directions to Park at west end of Natural Area r Phone Email 822 555 0222 lupulina bernievidle lot trail te 1 bench Take 247 Co observer s Ore 2 andwalk 125 iy ow near land Have you completed forms for this site previously Yes Lal Nol GPS 43 60528 89 64588 C Land Owner Contact if private land Reported GPS 12 noted in GPS window nama _ Sen Address GPS Coordinate System Klwess Owrmezet Property Ow
41. sin Edge Basin Substrate al Upland Area Lifezone 04 04 2008 Page 25 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol Appendix C Pond Survey Setup INCLUDES OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT A Basin Upland Edge Zone 0 1m a 20e Walk pace along this area to N i 77 i Ba determine basin circumference N N N 5 Water Depth Marker Gauge 5 u 2 2 2 iv Funnel Traps Landuse GIS Landscape Basin Width Assessment Area Assessment lt fG ee ae sik esl Ah 6 60 66 l 0 30 Pond Q 300m l Envelope Zone Terrestrial Upland Zone 5 l D Frame Dip Net ff 1 I 44 I Pond Basin i Aquatic Zone th ae i i i Vv 04 04 2008 Page 26 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol Appendix D Citizen Monitoring Levels amp Associated Attributes Measured Ground truth mapped PEPs Description including Physical and structural assessment Eliminate falsely mapped PEP features Characterize basin Why Do It type Support landscape level analysis A pre determined set of Sampl
42. so collect a representative photo of the pond basin usually from some distance from the edge Note on the map of where you stood as you took the photo and possibly use colored tape to mark the spot so another photo can be collected from the same place at a different time of year Photographs collected from the same location during each subsequent visit provide a sequence that aids interpretation of the pond hydroperiod Basin Shape After drawing a sketch of the pond basin select the option that best illustrates the pond basin s general shape Round like a circle Oval circular but the middle is wider than the ends Egg shaped an oval that is broader toward one end Oblong rectangular with rounded corners see example above in Basin Sketch Irregular does not conform to any uniform shape amoeba like many lobes Proximity to Nearest Road amp Road Type Based on your map and observations as you approached the pond estimate the distance between the pond basin edge and the edge of the nearest road Indicate the type of road 04 04 2008 Page 17 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 Basin Sketch shape landuse photo point hydrology eggmasses Adjacent Landuse TYPE CHECK within 30 m of edge Developed yes park sidewalks 5 Ag Cropland yes o no o corn soybean hay etc Ag Pasture yes O active grazing land
43. study of ephemeral ponds This list is far from exhaustive Please refer to these to acquire a better understanding of the occurrence of ephemeral ponds across North America and for information aiding the identification of the plants and wildlife that benefit from these ecologically important wetlands Please go to the Wisconsin s Citizen based Water Monitoring Network and the Wisconsin Wetlands Association websites to learn more about participating as a citizen monitor for ephemeral ponds their ecology and how to help protect them Wisconsin s Citizen based Water Monitoring Network http watermonitoring uwex edu level3 Wlephemeral htm Wisconsin Wetlands Association http Awww wisconsinwetlands org SeasonalBasin htm Federal Agencies USDA Forest Service Ecology of Woodland Vernal Pools http www fs fed us ne amherst projects vernal html US Environmental Protection Agency EPA Vernal Pool Indicators http www epa gov bioiweb1 html vernal_pool_indicators html US Geological Survey USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative ARMI http armi usqs gov State Agencies Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Vernal Pools http www mass gov dfwele dfw nhesp vernal_pools vernal_pools htm New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife New Jersey s Vernal Pools http www state nj us dep fgw ensp vernalpool htm Virginia s Vernal Pools Seasons in the Life of Vernal Pools http www lynchburgbi
44. to distribute site surveys across the growing season The first three are related to the timing of when different species of amphibians are most easily observed or detected Plan to schedule the first survey during early spring the second during late spring and the 27 during summer fourth survey may be helpful during late summer or early fall if the pond still has water during the third visit For any site if the 1st survey period is missed you can still conduct surveys during any of the later periods Meeting the minimum water temperature guidelines increase the likelihood of detecting frogs and toads by their calls rather than relying only on visual observation Note Water temperature changes much more slowly than air temperature so after a few warm days the water temperature in the pond may exceed the minimum in Table 1 even if the air temperature doesn t Table 1 Survey Period Guidelines Survey Period Range of Dates Purpose Temperature Document adult salamander and fairy Early Spring POND 30 50 F shrimp occurrence maximum depth Document amphibian and invertebrate Late Spring 20 June 5 60 F occurrence hydrology amp July 1 15 70 Document amphibian and invertebrate occurrence hydrology canopy cover August 22 Late Summer Fall No minimum Document hydrology basin condition September Ideally the season s first survey should occur at th
45. ure while holding the ruler perpendicular to the water surface Do not push the ruler down through the substrate When conditions or lack of suitable equipment don t allow for a precise measure of water depth an estimate is still useful You may visually estimate the depth by comparison to familiar structures in the water or by establishing a lower limit such as more than 18 inches or the height of one s knee boots Check the appropriate box to indicate if the depth was measured or estimated High Water Mark depth High Water Depth is the depth of water in the pond when the basin is completely full It does not change as water levels fluctuate through the season Except in early spring and after large rain events the High Water Depth will be greater the Water Depth described above See the sketch in Appendix A The High Water Depth is most easily determined where there are trees in the basin since the presence of water will leave a high water mark on the trunks of trees in the basin and the marks will be at the same elevation The High Water Depth is the vertical distance from the lowest point of the basin to the elevation of these high water marks Marks on trees may also be made by snow cover Marks made by persistent high water will be at a consistent elevation from tree to tree and are usually well defined 04 04 2008 Page 13 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 Measure using m
46. water and above the water surface such as cattails Submerged Aquatic Plants Herbaceous plants that grow completely in the water such as water buttercup Floating Aquatic Plant s Herbaceous plants with at least some leaves floating on the water surface such as water lilies duckweed Vegetated Flats Areas of exposed substrate occupied by herbaceous plants that germinate from seed after water levels drop e g nettles beggars ticks Algae Present Simple plant like organisms that lack leaves roots and other characteristics of common plants Some forms have long thread like structures that appear filamentous others are toxic e g blue green Bare Soil Exposed basin substrate without plant growth CWD Coarse woody debris Fallen trees and branches gt 4 diameter and lying along near horizontal on the ground Reed Canary Grass An highly invasive grass species very common in wet areas Often creates monotypical patches 04 04 2008 Page 20 WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol EPHEMERAL POND DATA FORM 2008 Plants in Basin An inventory of plant species observed in each community type is optional List species only if you are sure of the identity otherwise use group terms e g sedge mint cattail etc Birds Mammals Observed Optional Birds Mammals Observed list species observed within basin List all bird and mammal species observed within the pond basin J Reptile Evidence Observed
47. z com virginiasvernalpools index htm Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Natural Communities of Wisconsin http dnr wi gov org land er communities Non profit Organizations California Vernal Pools A Collection of Information and Resources http www vernalpools org non california htm Ohio Vernal Pool Partnership http www ovpp org Ontario Vernal Pool Association http www ontariovernalpools org Vernal Pool Association http www vernalpool org vernal 1 htm Partial Funding Provided By ED 87 4 wy gt Nacenct Pel Wisconsin G 7 3 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM prove WEPP Invitation Methods amp Protocol Ephemeral Pond Monitoring Preparation To successfully conduct an ephemeral pond survey you need to be well organized before you head to the field Be sure to consider your safety and what steps you will need follow to conduct the survey The following check list of items to consider prior to conducting an ephemeral pond survey should help make your survey successful When to Survey A minimum of three surveys should be conducted for any mapped site that has NOT been ruled out as a potential ephemeral pond PEP Additional surveys are useful especially to determine more precisely when the ponds dry and to make additional plant and animal observations Table 1 lists guidelines for when to conduct surveys These guidelines present four seasonal periods in which
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