Interesting. similar issue. although I always connected it to allergies which came out of nowhere as an adult and seem to get worse every year.
Are widespread allergy problems a medical issue we're missing?
No kidding about the vernal pools. Our town received an EPA grant to map vernal pools on private property back in 2006. Our state law defines its enviro jurisdiction as whats 'mapped' on the wetlands map. Obviously an early attempt to put vernal pools on the official map. Never let them on my land.