Fairview Park, Costa Mesa, California Vernal Pools 2010
Channel: Fairview Park
Date: 2016-01-13

Here is a great video by Costa Mesa TV from 2010 about the vernal pools of Fairview Park.

Not only are they home to the federally listed endangered San Diego and Riverside fairy shrimp but Pacific Chorus Frogs and Western Toads as well. They also happen to have rare native plants and grasses like little mouse tail, prostrate navarettia, woolly marbles, mud nama, button celery, and orcutt's grass. When filled with water they are important stopovers for migrating birds.

An interesting fact about vernal pool 1 is it's the largest coastal vernal pool west of the Mississippi.

San Diego fairy shrimp were first discovered in Fairview Park in 1994, 3 years before they were listed as an endangered species. 1 year after they were discovered, the vernal pools were delineated (1995). You can view one of the first color vernal pool maps drawn circa 1998 at the following link:

https://www.savefairviewpark.org/documents/fairview-park-vernal-pool-1-7-delineation-map-1998.jpg

In 2002, 3 more vernal pools were discovered on the east side of the park.

Although the video shows the master plan administrator and the host of CMTV 24 enter the pool, please do not do this. There are keep out signs around the pools for a reason. Only biologists with the right permit are allowed to go in. Enjoying the park on designated trails ensures that more people from generations to come can enjoy the last of Costa Mesa's open space.

For more information check out the documents section of the following page:

https://www.savefairviewpark.org/