Bees, Fairies, Flowers, and Vernal Pools

Vernal Pool Restoration on the Whetstone Savannah

Background: ODOT manages 196 acres of vernal pool habitat for the purposes of wetland and listed species mitigation in Central Point, Oregon. Vernal pools are a locally significant wetland type that supports unique plants and macro-invertebrate communities, including three state and federal protected species: vernal pool fairy shrimp ((Branchinecta lynchi), Cook’s desert parsley (Lomatium cookii) and large-flowered wooly meadowfoam (Limnanthes pumila spp. grandiflora). The property is a mix of oak woodland, oak savannah and open prairie/chaparral habitat with vernal pools occurring throughout the site. ODOT began restoration and enhancement of the vernal pool basins, swales and mounds in 2011 and have fully restored approximately 198 acres. In 2016 ODOT began a partnership with the Bee Girl organization to monitor pollinators at the restoration site as an indicator for restoration success.

ODOT and Restoration: Every time a sensitive wetland area is removed to build a road, straighten a curve, etc., it must be replaced or mitigated. ODOT keeps a “conservation bank” where they are working to restore large areas of vernal pool habitat. Once fully restored, it will be donated to a land conservancy to manage in perpetuity.

Read: Vernal Pool Restoration on the Whetstone Savanna: Earth-moving for habitat conservation and species recovery | Authors: Keith Perchemlides, The Nature Conservancy, Paul Benton, Oregon Department of Transportation, Cam Patterson, CC Patterson and Associates

Our project is featured in the Winter 2021 issue of 2Million Blossoms Magazine and the 2Million Blossoms Podcast.

For a graphic visualization of our observations, click here.

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