Spring Seekers

 Spring Seekers — A Citizen Science Initiative for the Southern Appalachians High in the Blue Ridge Mountains, nestled among ridges and hollows, lies a mosaic of ephemeral wetlands known as *vernal pools*. These temporary aquatic habitats appear in the spring and early summer, fed by snowmelt, rainfall, and rising groundwater. Often overlooked due to their fleeting nature, vernal pools play an outsized role in maintaining regional biodiversity and ecological balance. They serve as critical breeding grounds for amphibians, invertebrates, and plants uniquely adapted to these short-lived aquatic environments. In Boone, North Carolina, and the surrounding counties of Watauga and Avery, these pools are an integral part of the Southern Appalachian ecosystem. What are Vernal Pools? Vernal pools—sometimes referred to as ephemeral pools, seasonal wetlands, or temporary ponds—are shallow, depressional wetlands that hold water for part of the year, typically filling during the late winter and...