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UAB researcher asks council permission to build vernal pools to help spotted salamander population
Summary
Dr. Gibbons asked Homewood City for permission to construct and restore vernal pools in the Homewood Forest Preserve to support a declining spotted salamander population; small pools cost about $4,000 each, Homewood 1 estimated at $76,000, and staff said council will vote on a related item July 13.
Dr. Gibbons (UAB) presented a conservation proposal to restore vernal pools in the Homewood Forest Preserve to support a shrinking local spotted salamander population that must currently cross South Lakeshore Drive to breed.
She described the biological cycle, long-term community efforts (Friends of Shades Creek and area university researchers), and a specialist visit by Tom Biebighauser that produced designs for 15 vernal pools. Dr. Gibbons said eight candidate sites were identified inside the preserve; smaller demonstration pools would cost about $4,000 each to construct, while the largest site (Homewood 1, adjacent to South Lakeshore) was estimated at about $76,000 and would be more complex and expensive due to erosion and drainage concerns.
Dr. Gibbons said funding applications (including a grant due July 31) and partner contributions from Samford, UAB, the Drift Fund, Friends of Shades Creek and others are being pursued; volunteers from Samford and UAB would do much of the labor and heavy equipment would be contracted when needed. She and councilors discussed whether providing alternative pool sites would reduce road crossings; she said temporary ponds at alternate sites should attract salamanders and reduce road mortality, though some crossings may persist until the largest site is addressed.
Council scheduling: staff indicated a vote on related permissions would occur at the July 13 meeting to accommodate member schedules.
