Action Plan for the Sleepy Creek & Back Creek Conservation Focus Area
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Action Plan for the Sleepy Creek & Back Creek Conservation Focus Area West Virginia Division of Natural Resources January 2021 Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction to the State Wildlife Action Plan & Conservation Focus AreasTb ................................................ 2 Species of Greatest Conservation Need, Habitats and Stresses ................................................................... 2 Conservation Actions .................................................................................................................................... 2 Conservation Focus Areas and Action Plans ................................................................................................. 3 Climate Change and Resilience ..................................................................................................................... 4 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................................... 5 Organization of this Action Plan .................................................................................................................... 6 How to use this plan ...................................................................................................................................... 7 The Sleepy Creek & Back Creek Conservation Focus Area ................................................................................ 8 Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Habitats ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 Terrestrial Habitats.................................................................................................................................. 10 Aquatic Habitats ...................................................................................................................................... 12 Species of Greatest Conservation Need ...................................................................................................... 14 Distinctive Stresses ...................................................................................................................................... 14 Conservation Actions .................................................................................................................................. 15 Potential Partners ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Protected Lands .......................................................................................................................................... 16 Action Plan for the Conservation Focus Area ................................................................................................. 18 Conservation Goals ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Priority Species ............................................................................................................................................ 18 Forest and Woodland Habitats ................................................................................................................... 20 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 23 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 23 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 25 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 28 Rock Outcrops, Cliffs and Talus, and Shale Barrens .................................................................................... 29 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 29 i Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 29 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 31 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 31 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 33 Aquatic, Floodplain and Riparian Habitats .................................................................................................. 34 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 34 Rare Plant Communities .......................................................................................................................... 35 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 38 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 40 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 41 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 43 Subterranean Habitats ................................................................................................................................ 44 Karst and Cave Habitats .......................................................................................................................... 44 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 44 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 44 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience ............................................................................................... 47 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 47 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 49 Agricultural and Developed Habitats .......................................................................................................... 50 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 50 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 50 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience ............................................................................................... 52 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 53 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 55 Landscape Resilience and Connectivity ................................................................................................... 56 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 61 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 63 Habitat Conservation Priorities ............................................................................................................... 63 Integration of Conservation Actions ....................................................................................................... 63 Connecting Conservation Actions for Climate Resilience ....................................................................... 64 Next Steps in Implementation ................................................................................................................ 64 References ....................................................................................................................................................... 65 ii Appendix 1. SGCN in Sleepy Creek/Back Creek CFA ...................................................................................... 67 Appendix 2. Priority SGCN, Known Stresses and Actions ..............................................................................