RSVP here for Legacy’s 2025 Vernal Pool Patrol Training!

Come join Legacy Land Conservancy and River Raisin Watershed Council in learning about a magical yet common wetland; vernal pools! Vernal pools are wetlands that are small and often seasonally-flooded, meaning they do not contain water all year round. They play a critical part in maintaining the health of our northern forest ecosystems, yet they often get overlooked and little is known about them. RSVP here.

On April 11th from 4-6pm, we will be hosting a training on how to collect survey information for a vernal pool at Legacy’s newest nature preserve, the Iron Creek Preserve! Iron Creek Preserve is not yet open to the public, and attendees to this event will get a special early look at the preserve. This training will involve identifying vernal pool indicator species, soil and habitat types, which means getting a bit muddy! Please dress for the weather and in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Be prepared to get wet by bringing your muck boots or waders as we will be collecting water samples and looking at what we find under microscopes. Additionally, we suggest you bring field supplies like a water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray. This event is for people interested in learning how to monitor vernal pools as part of the Michigan Vernal Pool Patrol. We also want to open this event to families and people of all ages with a curiosity to look deeper into the biodiversity these unassuming pools contain.

This is Legacy Land Conservancy’s third year as a MVPP partner. Having been trained in surveying for vernal pools, we continue to document and map them on our preserves. By partnering with Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI), you can become a part of the state-wide citizen science program, The Michigan Vernal Pool Patrol (MVPP), in gathering information on the distribution and status of vernal pools.

To RSVP for this event, click here. Questions? Call 734.302.5263 or email volunteer@legacylandconservancy.org