This is an EarthCache and does not include any physical cache at the coordinates. To get credit for this cache, you will need to visit the site and answer the questions at the end.
Vernal Pools are seasonally flooded landscape depressions underlain by impermeable soils. These areas are special because of their unusual hydrology, which involves flooding during the winter followed by months of desiccation in the summer. Only animals adapted to this drastic wet-dry-cycle can survive over time in these habitats. For this reason, vernal pools typically support an abundance of rare, threatened, or endangered species.
Because vernal pools occur on flat, easily developed, easily accessible land, they are often destroyed for housing development. Fortunately, when the Storke Ranch housing development was done, the pools were turned into a park like environment, and they are being protected and restored.
This cache is being placed to celebrate the first SBPD VIP social hour. What is a VIP you ask? Volunteers in Policing.
Logging requirements:
1. Please send us a note with "Vernal Pools: GC7EEA0 " in the first line.
2. How many members were in your party?
3. What month of the year did you visit?
4. There are three distinct phases in a vernal pool: Wet Phase, Flower Phase, and Dry Phase. In your own words, describe the appearance of the vernal pools.
5. Based on what you’ve read and observe, what is the current phase of the vernal pools?