National Capital Parks-East - Pools

Pools that seasonally hold water, usually during the spring season, are found in many locations within National Capital Parks-East. In Piscataway Park they can be found at two locations just behind the Potomac River berm. These pools are influenced by the waters of the Potomac River only during floods or very strong tides. Additional large shallow pools are found further inland and beaver ponds are becoming more common within NACE. These ponds and pools are the only known sites in the parks for plant species such as Lemna perpusilla (a Duckweed), Spirodela polyrhiza (Greater Duckweed), Wolffia papulifera (a Water-meal), Carex atlantica var. capillacea (Atlantic Sedge), Carex stricta (Erect Sedge), Dulichium arundinaceum (Three-way Sedge), Limnobium spongia (American Frog"s Bit), Bidens discoidea (Few-bracted beggar"s-ticks), Utricularia gibba (Humped Bladderwort) and Ludwigia decurrens (Upright Primrose Willow). They are also home to many amphibian species such as Wood Frogs, Green Frogs, Cricket Frogs and Southern Leopard Frogs.