Department of Natural Resources - Water Resources - Identification of Vernal Pools (Jack Cover Vernal Pools Act of 2026)

Summary

The bill orders the Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Department of the Environment, to create and keep an up‑to‑date list of qualified vernal pools and to adopt rules that protect those pools and surrounding buffers when regulated activities occur. It also requires environmental staff to be trained to recognize vernal pools and to notify the Natural Resources department of any potential sites. The measure aims to extend conservation protection to these small wetlands that are currently unprotected under existing wetland laws.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

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