10 Sempervirens, Spring 2019 Wilderness Bill could protect special places such as shale barrens irginia’s shale barrens are a Vdistinctive feature of the geology and ecology of the state’s western highlands. The rich life found in this rocky terrain is one reason the Central Appalachian region qualifies A Central Appalachian shale barren. (Steven David Johnson) as a biodiversity hot spot. Many of the shale barrens in Like the Cowpasture River area, eastern West (as well as in Virginia are located in the George Rich Hole Wilderness is also in the the western and western Washington and Jefferson national George Washington National Forest, ) at elevations from 1,000 forests. The largest of these is the mostly in Rockbridge County. If the to 2,600 feet, often in tracts of several 3,000-acre Rough Mountain shale bill becomes law, these additions dozen acres. They are relatively dry, barren, mostly in Bath County, near would create a nearly contiguous and their rocky surfaces soak up the Cowpasture River. As we have block of wilderness totaling more the heat of the summer sun. Their seen in the case of the Atlantic Coast than 20,000 acres in the Lower generally sparse vegetational cover Pipeline, even special resources Cowpasture River region, reinforcing nonetheless varies from one barren to like unique shale barrens on public protection of the region’s shale the next and within a barren. Some lands are at risk for development barrens. shale barrens present a crumbly, if not protected. Fortunately, the Both bills—the one introduced in rocky surface covered with little more large Rough Mountain shale barren 2017 and the one introduced earlier than Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia has been protected as part of the this year—have had the support of rangiferina); others resemble a Rough Mountain Wilderness since a diverse coalition of stakeholders. wispy prairie of Pennsylvania it was designated in 1988 and so is This year’s bill (S. 247) has been Sedge (Carex pensylvanica), Little considered permanently off-limits to referred to the Senate Committee on Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), development. Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Eastern Needlegrass (Piptochaetium In October of 2017, U.S. Virginia No companion legislation has yet avenaceum), and Poverty Oatgrass Senator Tim Kaine introduced the been introduced in the House of (Danthonia spicata); still others have Virginia Wilderness Additions Act. Representatives. sparse and stunted tree cover usually The bill was referred to the Senate The casual hiker or naturalist may of Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana), floor as part of other legislation, but walk past a shale barren thinking he Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), did not make it to a final vote. This or she has seen just another rocky Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), January, the Virginia Wilderness patch along the trail. But shale and Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Additions Act of 2019 (S. 247) barrens deserve a closer look in order virginiana), sometimes above a carpet was reintroduced in the Senate by to appreciate their many features and of Reindeer Lichen. Senators Kaine and Mark Warner. the fragile life they support. These isolated islands of habitat The legislation would expand Rough Shale barrens are usually found host many rare species of as Mountain Wilderness and the nearby on steep, southern-exposed mountain well as butterflies. At least 15 species Rich Hole Wilderness by a combined slopes in western Virginia and of wildflowers are endemic to Central 5,600 acres. Sempervirens, Spring 2019 11

Two of the rare plants found on Virginia’s shale barrens are Kates Mountain Clover (Trifolium virginicum), above, and White-haired Leatherflower Clematis( albicoma). (Steven David Johnson, top, and Brad Striebig, right)

Appalachian shale barrens, including Olympia Marble (Euchloe olympia), tool to protect these ecosystems. Shale Barren Rockcress (Boechera and the Columbine Duskywing The creation of a federal Wilderness serotina), White-haired Leatherflower (Erynnis lucilius), and moths such affords the highest level of protection (Clematis albicoma), Shale-barren as the Sweet Underwing (Catocala for public land under federal law. Ragwort (Packera antennariifolia), dulciola) and the Pine Barrens Just to the northeast of the areas Kates Mountain Clover (Trifolium Underwing (Catocala herodias covered by S. 247 are several other virginicum), Shale Barren Wild gerhardi). In a seeming case of the shale barrens, including Ratcliff Hill, Buckwheat (Eriogonum allenii), Shale downtrodden doing what it can to Big Cedar, and Reubens Draft. While Barren Evening-primrose (Oenothera help the oppressed, the globally these areas are protected to an extent argillicola), and Shale-barren critically imperiled Appalachian by designation as special biological Pussytoes ( virginica). Grizzled Skipper butterfly pollinates areas, they do not have Wilderness Rare animals hosted by shale the federally endangered Shale Barren status. These unique places are barrens include butterflies such as Rock Cress. According to the Virginia all close to the proposed route of the Appalachian Grizzled Skipper Department of Conservation and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, and (Pyrgus centaureae wyandot), the Recreation, the main threat to these opponents cite the pipeline project plant and animal communities and its associated construction and is from introduced invasive operation as having the potential weeds, though some shale to negatively impact these fragile barrens near roads are also and incredibly diverse mountain threatened by quarrying. More ecosystems. positively, the Eastern Fence Society members who support Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) bills such as S. 247 could send a is abundant on shale barrens. message to Virginia Senators thanking Citizens who appreciate them for their support of the bill. shale barrens and the —Tom Engle is a member of the Shale Barren Rockcress (Boechera serotina) is biodiversity they support board of the Virginia Wilderness pollinated by the Appalachian Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus should welcome the Committee and lives in Augusta centaureae wyandot), a butterfly that is declining in designation of additions to County, near Middlebrook. He was numbers. The Appalachian Grizzled Skipper is found in only nine counties in Virginia. It is ranked by the Virginia the existing Wilderness areas in the U.S. Foreign Service from 1986 Natural Heritage Program as S1 (critically imperiled), and as an effective public policy to 2017. its global rating is G1 (critically imperiled). (Matt Orsie)