… Once widespread across California, vernal pools have become incredibly rare. The Central Valley was chock-full of them, but nearly all historic valley-floor vernal pool habitat has been lost to agriculture. … Development and other land-use changes still threaten some existing vernal pools, and even those protected in preserves must contend with non-native grasses, which crowd out delicate flowers and raise pool elevations through accumulated thatch, as well as climate change, which will alter precipitation patterns, promote algae growth, and accelerate late-season drying. Fortunately, there are still a number of places where you can experience these unique ecosystems. … Here are some of the best places to visit vernal pools in Sonoma County and beyond this spring.

Other wetlands news:

• National Forest Foundation: Blog: Protecting wetlands in the Lake Tahoe Basin with fences
• Center for Natural Lands Management: Blog: Spring breeding season highlights the importance of CNLM’s bird habitats