If it doesn't dry up, is it a "vernal" pool?

[Caudataphile]

A couple years ago I heard that vernal pools are good for salamanders. So in my woods I dug a hole, 2 ft deep in the center, put a 10' x 13 ' liner, filled it with water, and now have salamander larvae.
A question of terminology- If I don't let it dry up in the summer, is it still a vernal pool, or should I call it a "woodland " pool?

 

[Skdecoteau]

That's a good question. My understanding is that for something to be considered a vernal pool, it needs to fill up long enough for amphibian species to reproduce but not long enough for fish to become established.

The lack of fish is what makes them key for amphibians as fish would likely eat the amphibian eggs and larvae.

Normally, a vernal would fill up with snow and ice melt in the spring or after heavy rains but dry out in the hottest part of summer so that fish couldn't become established. I think it can also refill in the fall and still be considered a vernal pool.

It's cool that you've built one. My son, who is only 8!, really wants to build one on our property as well so that frogs and salamanders have a place to reproduce near our house. So, I might have looked into it a little bit.