Albemarle County Biodiversity Action Plan June 2018
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Albemarle County Biodiversity Action Plan June 2018 ALBEMARLE COUNTY BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN June 2018 This report was prepared by the Albemarle County Natural Heritage Committee and County staff, as directed in the Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan approved in June, 2015. Members of the Natural Heritage Committee: Peggy Cornett Ari Daniels, Vice Chair Emily Luebke Lonnie Murray Christine Putnam Michael Rodemeyer Mary Tillman Dorothy Tompkins Nancy Weiss, Chair Key Albemarle County Staff involved in developing report: David Hannah, Natural Resources Manager Andrew Walker, GIS Specialist Acknowledgements A number of individuals were instrumental in developing this plan. Two people in particular, both former members of the Natural Heritage Committee, merit special attention for their contributions: Tom Olivier and Devin Floyd. Tom Olivier’s efforts were crucial in organizing and developing early drafts of this report. Devin Floyd provided keen insight and expertise about native plants and communities, and helped identify key data needed to characterize the landscape of Albemarle County. Several other people, including former Natural Heritage Committee members and volunteers who support the committee’s work, deserve recognition as well. They include Dan Bieker, Rochelle Garwood, Ruth Douglas, Leah Jung, Tom Dierauf, and Manuel Lerdau. The work of the Albemarle County Biodiversity Work Group during 2002 -2004 created the foundation for this action plan and the ongoing work of the Natural Heritage Committee. The group’s 2004 report on biodiversity in the county is cited often in this plan. Many of the members of the work group are mentioned above. The late Charles “Mo” Stevens deserves particular credit for the knowledge of Albemarle County’s flora, fauna, and landscape that he possessed and shared during the Biodiversity Work Group’s efforts. Data provided by the Green Infrastructure Center and Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation-Division of Natural Heritage were critical in developing this report. Cover page design and photographs by Emily Luebke. From left to right, Top row: curlyheads (Clematis ochroleuca), eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) on wild azalea (Rhododendron perycliminoides), blue curls (Trichostema dichotomum) Second row: eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), fire pink (Silene virginica), song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) Third row: Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina), spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), juniper hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus) on golden ragwort (Packera aurea) CONTENTS List of Figures ..................................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................... iii List of Maps ...................................................................................................................................... iii List of Appendices ............................................................................................................................. iii I. Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................... 1 Definition of Biodiversity ........................................................................................................................... 1 Importance of Biodiversity to Humans...................................................................................................... 1 Global State of Biodiversity ....................................................................................................................... 2 Local State of Biodiversity ......................................................................................................................... 3 II. Albemarle County Biodiversity Commitments ................................................................................5 Comprehensive Plan .................................................................................................................................. 5 Biodiversity Work Group ........................................................................................................................... 5 Natural Heritage Committee .................................................................................................................... 5 Natural Resources Manager ..................................................................................................................... 5 III. Action Plan Overview ..................................................................................................................6 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Periodic Updates ....................................................................................................................................... 6 IV. Existing Datasets and Analyses ......................................................................................................7 V. Landscape Analysis........................................................................................................................8 Spatial Characteristics of Habitat ............................................................................................................. 8 Spatial Data . ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Localized Data and Sites ......................................................................................................................... 12 Ranking Large Forest Blocks and Important Sites ................................................................................... 12 Geographic Areas of Focus ...................................................................................................................... 14 Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 17 VI. Protection Action Options ........................................................................................................... 24 i VII. Proposed Actions ....................................................................................................................... 25 Protection of Open Space Habitat Areas ................................................................................................ 25 Minimizing Habitat Fragmentation/Maintaining Connectivity .............................................................. 29 Limiting Biological Effects of Parcel Subdivisions ................................................................................... 31 Invasive Species ....................................................................................................................................... 33 Climate Change ....................................................................................................................................... 36 Ecosystem Specific Conservation Proposals ............................................................................................ 39 Forests ................................................................................................................................................. 39 Outcrops, Bluffs, and other Xeric Habitats .......................................................................................... 40 Relict Piedmont Prairies, Meadows, and Grasslands .......................................................................... 41 Rivers, Stream, and Riparian Areas ..................................................................................................... 43 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................................. 44 Developed Areas ................................................................................................................................. 46 Education ................................................................................................................................................ 50 Indicators of the State of County Biodiversity ......................................................................................... 52 References ....................................................................................................................................... 53 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Forest block with edge habitat and interior forest habitat ........................................................... 8 Figure 2 Four examples of habitat connectivity .......................................................................................... 9 Figure 3 Compactness and shapes of forest blocks . ................................................................................. 10 Figure 4 Proximity index for large forest blocks ....................................................................................... 10 Figure 5 Number of residential building permits (single family, detached) issued each year . ................. 26 Figure 6 Large forest blocks surrounding Route 29 near the Nelson County border, from Green Infrastructure Center analyses...................................................................................................................