Greater Shenandoah Valley CFA Action Plan
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Action Plan for the Greater Shenandoah Valley 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 Areas .................................................... 2 Species of Greatest Conservation Need, Habitats and Stresses ................................................................... 2 Conservation Actions .................................................................................................................................... 3 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 Greater Shenandoah Valley 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 ................................................................................................................... 22 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Rare Plant Communities .......................................................................................................................... 25 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 25 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 26 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 28 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Rock Outcrops, Cliffs and Talus, and Shale Barrens .................................................................................... 31 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 31 i Rare Plant Communities .......................................................................................................................... 31 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 31 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience ............................................................................................... 33 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 33 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 35 Aquatic, Floodplain and Riparian Habitats .................................................................................................. 36 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 36 Rare Plant Communities .......................................................................................................................... 40 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 42 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience ............................................................................................... 42 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 44 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 46 Subterranean Habitats ................................................................................................................................ 47 Karst and Cave Habitats .......................................................................................................................... 47 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 47 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 47 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience ............................................................................................... 50 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 50 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 51 Agricultural and Developed Habitats .......................................................................................................... 52 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 52 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 54 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience ............................................................................................... 54 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 56 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 57 Landscape Resilience and Connectivity ................................................................................................... 58 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 63 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 65 Habitat Conservation Priorities ............................................................................................................... 65 Integration of Conservation Actions ....................................................................................................... 65 Connecting Conservation Actions for Climate Resilience ....................................................................... 66 Next Steps in Implementation ................................................................................................................ 66 ii References ......................................................................................................................................................