Appendix G – MIS I George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
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Appendix B – MIS and T&E Species Population Trends Monitoring and Evaluation Report FY2015 through FY2019 for the 2014 George Washington National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and 2004 Jefferson National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Contents Appendix B – MIS and T&E Species Population Trends ....................................................... i Contents .................................................................................................................................... i Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3 Identification of Management Indicator Species .................................................................. 3 2014 George Washington Plan Management Indicator Species .......................................................... 3 2004 Jefferson Plan Management Indicator Species ........................................................................... 4 Trends in Forest Service Management Activities Associated with MIS Habitats .............. 5 Forested Age Class Distribution Trend ................................................................................. 7 Monitoring and Evaluation of Management Indicator Species .......................................... 10 Ecological, Biological Community, or Special Habitat Indicators ........................................................ 10 Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) .................................................................................................... 11 Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) ...................................................................................................................... 14 Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) ................................................................................................................... 18 Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) ................................................................................................................. 21 Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus) ...................................................................................................................... 25 Eastern Towhee (Pipilp erythrophthalmus) ..................................................................................................... 28 Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) ..................................................................................................... 31 Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica) ......................................................................................... 35 Peaks of Otter Salamander (Plethodon hubrichti) ........................................................................................... 39 Cow Knob Salamander (Plethodon punctatus) ............................................................................................... 42 American Beaver (Castor canadensis) ............................................................................................................ 47 Monitoring and Evaluation of Focal Species ...................................................................... 54 Brook Trout and Wild Trout ............................................................................................................................. 54 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................................ 67 Blackside Dace (Phoxinum cumberlandensis) ................................................................................................ 67 James Spinymussel (Pleurobema collina) ...................................................................................................... 71 Northeastern Bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus) ............................................................................................. 74 Spirea (Spiraea virginiana) .............................................................................................................................. 80 Small Whorled Pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) ................................................................................................ 89 Round Leaf Birch (Betula uber) ....................................................................................................................... 95 Shale Barren Rockcress (Boechera serotina (syn. Arabis serotina) ............................................................... 99 Sneezeweed (Helenium virginicum) .............................................................................................................. 104 Swamp Pink (Helonias bullata)...................................................................................................................... 105 Smooth Coneflower (Echinacea laevigata) ................................................................................................... 108 Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) .......................................................................................................................... 109 Virginia Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendi virginianus) ....................................................................... 120 Virginia and Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel .............................................................................................. 123 Alleghany Woodrat ........................................................................................................................................ 126 FY 2015 to 2019 M & E Report Appendix G – MIS i George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Southern Rock Vole ....................................................................................................................................... 127 Southern Water Shrew .................................................................................................................................. 128 Rock Gnome Lichen (Cetradonia linearis (syn. Gymnoderma lineare))........................................................ 128 Demand Species .............................................................................................................................. 129 White-tailed Deer (Odococileus virginianus) ................................................................................................. 129 Black Bear (Ursus americanus) ..................................................................................................................... 132 Wild Turkey (Melagris gallopavo) .................................................................................................................. 135 Viability of Forests’ MIS and Focal Species ...................................................................... 139 References ........................................................................................................................... 143 FY 2015 to 2019 M & E Report Appendix G – MIS ii George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Introduction Under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) the Forest Service is charged with providing for a diversity of plant and animal communities consistent with overall multiple-use objectives. Management Indicator Species (MIS) are a planning tool used to accomplish this requirement (36 CFR 219.19 of 1982 Regulations). They are selected during forest planning “because their population changes are believed to indicate the effects of management activities” (36 CFR 219.19(a) (1)) on important elements of plant and animal diversity. They and their habitat needs are used to set management objectives and minimum management requirements, to focus effects analysis, and to monitor effects of Forest Plan implementation. The George Washington and Jefferson Forest Plans are designed to provide habitat conditions needed to maintain viable populations of all MIS, along with other species that use similar habitats. Wildlife, fish, and plant species are managed in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR), Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation – Division of Natural Heritage (VDCR-DNH), West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (WVDNR), and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). The respective states set policy for hunting and fishing regulations and law enforcement programs. The Forest Service manages fish and wildlife habitat conditions. This discussion focuses on the habitat conditions that support the wildlife populations that are managed by the States. This report focuses on the effects of Forest Service management on the habitat conditions that support Management Indicator Species. All cites to the 219 regulations are to the 1982 planning rule (September 30, 1982 (47 FR 43026)), and amended in part on June 24, 1983 (48 FR 29122), and on September 7, 1983 (48 FR 40383) in effect prior to November 9, 2000. Identification of Management Indicator Species 2014 George Washington Plan Management Indicator Species Table 1 shows the Management Indicator Species (MIS) for the 2014 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan of the George Washington National Forest (2014 GWNF Plan). The MIS can also be found in the 2014 GWNF Plan pages 2-18 and 2-19. Each MIS has a relationship with a certain type of preferred habitat. The habitat preferred by the species is discussed under each species discussion. FY 2015 to 2019 M & E Report Appendix G – MIS 3 George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Table 1. GWNF Plan