Environmental Science
The Sanborn Wetlands
  Sanborn Regional High School is lucky to have a significant wetland area on our campus. The wetland is cut off from other wetlands and offers a unique opportunity for learning about the values associated with such areas. Wetlands are particularly important areas because they provide valuable breeding grounds and habitat and serve as natural filters for ground waters. 
   It is possible that our wetland is special kind of wetland called a vernal pool with significance of its own. Vernal pools are ephemeral wetlands which serve as breeding grounds for the mole salamander, wood frog, and fairy shrimp. In many states such areas are protected from development. You may choose to  attempt to determine if our wetland is indeed a vernal pool. 

Color enhanced view 

Essential Question:  What changes occur in the Sanborn Wetland as spring comes?

  • Each person must maintain a Field Notebook that will be part of the final presentation
  • Focus Questions:

    Each presentation must answer this question: How does your field notebook describe our wetland?

  • Include graphs made with Microsoft Excel
  • Include pictures taken three times per week.

  • In addition:  Pick one set of questions to explore as you watch the wetlalnd change into its springtime character.

    Vernal Pool:

  • What is a vernal pool? Is our wetland a vernal pool?
  • What are the obligate species necessary to classify a pond as a vernal pool?
  • What is the physical description of a vernal pool? (Size, depth, oxygen content)
  • Why is spring such an important time in a vernal pool's existance?

  • Wetlands in general: (Pick 4)

  • How do humans impact wetland areas? (Sanborn Wetland and/or others)
  • What are the New Hampshire laws concerning wetlands?
  • What are the ecological values of wetlands?
  • What kinds of animals need wetland areas to survive?
  • What animals use the Sanborn wetland and how do they use it?
  • What evidence is there that animals are returning to our wetlalnd?
  • Why is spring an such an important time in a wetland's life?
  • How does your observational data describe our wetland?



  • Links to wetland related sites: