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Phoenix Vernal Pools

October 16, 2023

The Phoenix Vernal Pools are located in Fair Oaks, California, a suburb of Sacramento city around 20 miles east of the city of Sacramento and north of highway 50. This land consists of seasonally inundated wetlands that form after winter rains. The climate type of Phoenix Vernal Pools is classified as Mediterranean, receiving 24 in (610 mm) of rain per year. The rainwater percolates into the soil until it reaches an impermeable hardpan that causes an elevated water table, forming the vernal pools. The Phoenix Vernal Pool ecosystem is relatively unique as is supports many species of fauna and flora endemic to vernal pools.[1]

Phoenix Vernal Pools
Phoenix Vernal Pool in bloom
TypeA form of a wetland with seasonal pools of water
LocationFair Oaks, California
Coordinates38°39′09.4″N 121°13′06.1″W / 38.652611°N 121.218361°W / 38.652611; -121.218361
Area23 acres
Created1979
Operated byCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife and Fair Oaks Park District

Background Edit

The Phoenix Vernal Pools consist of two separately managed areas: Phoenix Field Ecological Reserve (PFER) and the Phoenix Park Vernal Pool Preserve (PPVPP), collectively referred to as the Phoenix Vernal Pools (PVP). The PFER parcel is an 8 acres (3.2 ha) area of land owned by the California Department of Fish and Game and designated as a mitigation site to counteract the nearby home development. There is no public access to the PFER. The PPVPP parcel is managed by the Fair Oaks Recreation & Parks District, consisting of 15 acres (6.1 ha) designated to conserve vernal pool habitat for the Sacramento orcutt grass, Orcuttia viscida, and to preserve the last remaining vernal pools in the area for community enjoyment.[2] The PPVPP also consists of areas designated for public use, such as baseball diamonds, playing fields, parking lots, roads, and trails. These vernal pools are positioned on a high terrace approximately 160 ft (49 m) above the north bank of the American River. Their elevation ranges from 271 to 280 ft (83 to 85 m) above sea level. They are classified as northern hardpan vernal pools. The Phoenix Vernal Pools are located in a Mediterranean climate, receiving 24 in (610 mm) of rain annually, which is ideal for vernal pool development. The soils of PVP are classified as Redding gravelly loam which is described as moderately deep and well-drained with a surface layer that is typically 7 in (180 mm) of gravelly loam and the upper 13 in (330 mm) of subsoil consists of loam and gravelly loam. This soil series contains soils below the surface layer (claypan of gravelly clay and silica-cemented hardpan) that are nearly impermeable during the wet season causing the development of a perched water table, or vernal pool.[3]

 
Phoenix Vernal Pool

Hydrology Edit

Offsite irrigation impacts the Phoenix Vernal Pools hydrology. Currently, surface and groundwater drainage onto the PFER from the north and east are intercepted by a drain system that runs along the entire northern and eastern boundaries. The east drain was developed in the late 1970s and the north drain was installed in 1998 to prevent summer irrigation from converting the vernal pools into seasonal wetlands.[1] This drainage system is vital in keeping the vernal pools from developing into seasonal wetlands, without experiencing a dry season. Phoenix Vernal Pools receive most of their water from rainfall, and are considered hydrologically isolated because they aren't permanently connected to a body of water. The water levels of Phoenix Vernal Pools fluctuate every year but typically reach their highest in the spring after heavy rainfall.[4]

Monitoring and adaptive management Edit

The California Department of Fish and Game established monitoring and adaptive management plans to ensure the long-term protection of the wildlife and the land itself. The monitoring of the Phoenix Vernal Pools takes place through the record keeping of Sacramento Orcutt Grass, Pincushion Navarretia, and the Vernal Pools and Swales in general. Sacramento Orcutt Grass is monitored closely because of its status as an endangered species under the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts, and is also listed as a Category 1B plant (defined as “Rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere”) by the California Native Plant Society (CNPS). As a part of CDFG's monitoring plan, they photograph and map the occurrence of Sacramento Orcutt Grass annually. After the original photograph of Sacramento Orcutt Grass is taken, the one that follows a year later shows if it is still in occurrence. This allows them to map the presence and extent of the Sacramento Orcutt Grass. Then they are able to estimate the distribution and population size of Orcuttia viscida. They monitor the presence of invasive species and rainfall data to determine if precipitation impacts the presence of the Phoenix Vernal Pool's native flora. They also state in their monitoring and adaptive management plan to note the presence of any obvious changes or impacts (such as summer irrigation) to the vernal pools and swales in order to prepare for adaptive management.[1]

Flora and fauna Edit

 
Sacramento orcutt grass is an endangered, endemic species of Sacramento County found in Phoenix Vernal Pools. This species was a driver of the development of the Phoenix Park Vernal Pool Preserve.

Condensed inventory of flora found in Phoenix Vernal Pools Edit

Condensed inventory of fauna found in Phoenix Vernal Pools Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ a b c Holm, Sara; Showers, Mary Ann (2007). "Phoenix Vernal Pools Management Plan (EPO3-6)". Annual Performance Report for USFWS.
  2. ^ "Plants Profile for Orcuttia viscida (Sacramento Orcutt grass)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-05.
  3. ^ Clark, George; Roscoe, Terry; Josephine Van Ess, M; Wymer, Nancy (1998). "Management Considerations for Small Vernal Pool Preserves – The Phoenix Vernal Pools". California Native Plant Society: 250–254.
  4. ^ "Vernal Pools - Hydrology". www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us. Retrieved 2019-05-06.

External links Edit

  • Phoenix Park Vernal Pool Preserve at the Fair Oaks Recreation & Park District

October 16, 2023
phoenix, vernal, pools, located, fair, oaks, california, suburb, sacramento, city, around, miles, east, city, sacramento, north, highway, this, land, consists, seasonally, inundated, wetlands, that, form, after, winter, rains, climate, type, classified, medite. The Phoenix Vernal Pools are located in Fair Oaks California a suburb of Sacramento city around 20 miles east of the city of Sacramento and north of highway 50 This land consists of seasonally inundated wetlands that form after winter rains The climate type of Phoenix Vernal Pools is classified as Mediterranean receiving 24 in 610 mm of rain per year The rainwater percolates into the soil until it reaches an impermeable hardpan that causes an elevated water table forming the vernal pools The Phoenix Vernal Pool ecosystem is relatively unique as is supports many species of fauna and flora endemic to vernal pools 1 Phoenix Vernal PoolsPhoenix Vernal Pool in bloomTypeA form of a wetland with seasonal pools of waterLocationFair Oaks CaliforniaCoordinates38 39 09 4 N 121 13 06 1 W 38 652611 N 121 218361 W 38 652611 121 218361Area23 acresCreated1979Operated byCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife and Fair Oaks Park District Contents 1 Background 2 Hydrology 3 Monitoring and adaptive management 4 Flora and fauna 4 1 Condensed inventory of flora found in Phoenix Vernal Pools 4 2 Condensed inventory of fauna found in Phoenix Vernal Pools 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditThe Phoenix Vernal Pools consist of two separately managed areas Phoenix Field Ecological Reserve PFER and the Phoenix Park Vernal Pool Preserve PPVPP collectively referred to as the Phoenix Vernal Pools PVP The PFER parcel is an 8 acres 3 2 ha area of land owned by the California Department of Fish and Game and designated as a mitigation site to counteract the nearby home development There is no public access to the PFER The PPVPP parcel is managed by the Fair Oaks Recreation amp Parks District consisting of 15 acres 6 1 ha designated to conserve vernal pool habitat for the Sacramento orcutt grass Orcuttia viscida and to preserve the last remaining vernal pools in the area for community enjoyment 2 The PPVPP also consists of areas designated for public use such as baseball diamonds playing fields parking lots roads and trails These vernal pools are positioned on a high terrace approximately 160 ft 49 m above the north bank of the American River Their elevation ranges from 271 to 280 ft 83 to 85 m above sea level They are classified as northern hardpan vernal pools The Phoenix Vernal Pools are located in a Mediterranean climate receiving 24 in 610 mm of rain annually which is ideal for vernal pool development The soils of PVP are classified as Redding gravelly loam which is described as moderately deep and well drained with a surface layer that is typically 7 in 180 mm of gravelly loam and the upper 13 in 330 mm of subsoil consists of loam and gravelly loam This soil series contains soils below the surface layer claypan of gravelly clay and silica cemented hardpan that are nearly impermeable during the wet season causing the development of a perched water table or vernal pool 3 nbsp Phoenix Vernal PoolHydrology EditOffsite irrigation impacts the Phoenix Vernal Pools hydrology Currently surface and groundwater drainage onto the PFER from the north and east are intercepted by a drain system that runs along the entire northern and eastern boundaries The east drain was developed in the late 1970s and the north drain was installed in 1998 to prevent summer irrigation from converting the vernal pools into seasonal wetlands 1 This drainage system is vital in keeping the vernal pools from developing into seasonal wetlands without experiencing a dry season Phoenix Vernal Pools receive most of their water from rainfall and are considered hydrologically isolated because they aren t permanently connected to a body of water The water levels of Phoenix Vernal Pools fluctuate every year but typically reach their highest in the spring after heavy rainfall 4 Monitoring and adaptive management EditThe California Department of Fish and Game established monitoring and adaptive management plans to ensure the long term protection of the wildlife and the land itself The monitoring of the Phoenix Vernal Pools takes place through the record keeping of Sacramento Orcutt Grass Pincushion Navarretia and the Vernal Pools and Swales in general Sacramento Orcutt Grass is monitored closely because of its status as an endangered species under the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts and is also listed as a Category 1B plant defined as Rare threatened or endangered in California and elsewhere by the California Native Plant Society CNPS As a part of CDFG s monitoring plan they photograph and map the occurrence of Sacramento Orcutt Grass annually After the original photograph of Sacramento Orcutt Grass is taken the one that follows a year later shows if it is still in occurrence This allows them to map the presence and extent of the Sacramento Orcutt Grass Then they are able to estimate the distribution and population size of Orcuttia viscida They monitor the presence of invasive species and rainfall data to determine if precipitation impacts the presence of the Phoenix Vernal Pool s native flora They also state in their monitoring and adaptive management plan to note the presence of any obvious changes or impacts such as summer irrigation to the vernal pools and swales in order to prepare for adaptive management 1 Flora and fauna Edit nbsp Sacramento orcutt grass is an endangered endemic species of Sacramento County found in Phoenix Vernal Pools This species was a driver of the development of the Phoenix Park Vernal Pool Preserve Condensed inventory of flora found in Phoenix Vernal Pools Edit Orcuttia viscida Navarretia intertexta Bromus diandrus Avena fatua Andropogon virginicus var virginicus Briza minor Eleocharis macrostachya Downingia concolor Lasthenia fremontii Lasthenia glaberrima Psilocarphus brevissimus Plagiobothrys nothofulvus Chlorogalum pomeridianum Dipterostemon capitatus Thysanocarpus curvipes Pogogyne zizyphoroides Triteleia laxa Triphysaria eriantha Amsinckia menziesii var intermedia Eschscholzia californica Vicia villosa Mimulus tricolor Lupinus bicolorCondensed inventory of fauna found in Phoenix Vernal Pools Edit Cypridinae Daphniidae Diaptomidae Bufo boreas halophilus Hyla regilla Sceloporus occidentalis Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi Buteo jamaicensis Carpodacus mexicanus Cathartes aura Aphelocoma californica Pica nuttali Melanerpes formicivorus Zenaida macroura Zonotrichia leucophrys Lepus californicus Odocoileus hemionus Scapanus latimanus Sciurus griseus Sorex sp Spermophilus beecheyi Thomomys sp References Edit a b c Holm Sara Showers Mary Ann 2007 Phoenix Vernal Pools Management Plan EPO3 6 Annual Performance Report for USFWS Plants Profile for Orcuttia viscida Sacramento Orcutt grass plants usda gov Retrieved 2019 05 05 Clark George Roscoe Terry Josephine Van Ess M Wymer Nancy 1998 Management Considerations for Small Vernal Pool Preserves The Phoenix Vernal Pools California Native Plant Society 250 254 Vernal Pools Hydrology www naturalheritage state pa us Retrieved 2019 05 06 External links EditPhoenix Park Vernal Pool Preserve at the Fair Oaks Recreation amp Park District Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Phoenix Vernal Pools amp oldid 1128984534, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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