The success of VPAtlas is dependent upon volunteer community scientists. You can help us field-verify potential pools that have been mapped remotely, report the location of vernal pools you already know about, or discover new-to-us pools to put on the map.
1. Find a pool near you to visit.
Visit and explore the VPAtlas for potential and probable pools, and filter by town to see land near you. Tap a vernal pool to see landowner information. Pools are not considered confirmed unless landowner permission is obtained, and your neighbors are more likely to grant you permission.
2. Get ready to record data.
There are two ways for you to record and submit vernal pool data to us:
- The VP Atlas App. In May 2026 we relaunched VP Atlas to be an easy and intuitive app that you can use on your laptop or on your phone. Visit the VPAtlas site, register under your email, download the app to your phone, use it to navigate to nearby potential and probable pools, and begin adding pool data. Here are quick instructions and more detailed instructions for putting VP Atlas as an app on your phone. (It is not available in app stores.)
OR
- Download and print the Vernal Pool Field-Verification Data Sheet. Fill it out and submit it to Kevin Tolan. Make sure you understand how to properly fill out your data!
3. Get to know the vernal pool indicator species.
The Species tab on the VP Atlas visit page allows you to click on a species to see photos and details on species identification. But it’s still good practice to study up before you go out.
Vernal Pool Indicator Species I-D Sheet
Field ID Cards for Northeast Vernal Pool Indicator Species and Field ID Cards for Vermont Vernal Pool Indicator Species. Compiled by Dawn Morgan, University of Maine
Key to Amphibian eggs and larvae – This key to from Minnesota includes most species found in Vermont.
The Orienne Society’s Vernal Pool Biodiversity Workshop (video, 32 minutes)
4. Visit a pool.
For precise navigation, download VP Atlas to your phone (here’s how), use a handheld GPS, or download a GPS app for your smartphone such as Avenza. The app works offline, but you’ll want to refresh the pool data before you go out. Here’s how.
5. Add your data to the VPAtlas.
Tap or click on the pool and then tap/click + Atlas Visit. Tap/click through the tabs at the bottom (Location, Verify, Pool, Species) to add your data.
You can also submit your paper data sheet to Kevin Tolan by mailing it to PO Box 420 Norwich, VT 05055, or taking a picture of both sides and emailing it to .
Unsure what kind of egg masses or other species you’re looking at? Tap the Species names on the Species tab to see photos and ID tips. Then take a picture and upload it for identification and verification. If you’re not using the VP Atlas app, you can also upload a picture to iNaturalist for verification.
Optional: Join the Vermont Vernal Pool Google Group.
During the spring, we encourage reports of amphibian movements from across the state to better track the phenology of breeding and road-crossing events.
