Vi In• etlan Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands Preface

his bookJcr summarizes the most up-to-date photography from 1980-1986 to interpret wet­ T information on West Virginia's wetlands for lands. Wetlands were classified to various types, the general public. It provides brief descriptions including emergent. scrub-shrub. and forested of the state's wetlands, their distribution. and their wetlands. Farmed wetlands were not mapped. The values. In addition, the booklet presents some results of this inventory are presented on the recommendations to improve management and National Wetlands Inventory maps and in a conservation of wetlands. technical publication that repom the statistical This document is based on a wetlands inven­ findings (wetland acreages) of the inventory. [Ory of the state recently completed by the U.S. Copies of maps ca n be ordered from the Natural Fish and Wildlife Service's National Werlands Heritage Program, West Virginia Division of Inventory with suppOrt from the West Virginia Natural Resources, P.O. Box 67, Ward Road. Division ofNarucal Resources. The purpose of the Elkins, West Virginia 2624 1 (telephone 304-637- inventory was to produce a series of large-scale:: 0245), and a copy of the technical report can be ( I :24,000) maps that identified the location, type, obtained from the Technical Suppon Unit, West and shape ofwerlands larger than 1-3 acres in size. Virginia Division of Natural Resources. at the The inventory utilized 1:58,000 color infrared above address.

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Wetlands are pinus whnt wtttn floods or saturates the soil for extended periods. Specially-adapted pMnts calftd "hydrophytrs" colonize these ritrs. (Photo by C.s. Rtttliff) What are Wetlands?

edands are la rgely lands (hat are flooded or saturated at or near the ground surface for varying periods of time during [he year. The term "wedand" is derived from [wo words, "wet" and "land." This implies that wetlands are lands that are at least periodically wet enough [Q limit uses of the land (e.g., usually can't farm without draining and can't build without filling). Wetlands are the collection of wet environments that occur on the landscape. They include marshes, wet meadows, swamps, bogs. mires, seeps, and seasonally flooded bonom­ lands. Ponds and the shallow water zones of lakes are also considered wetlands. • Wetlands form where there is at least a peri­ odic excess of water on a recurring basis. This excess typically occurs at some frequency, such as Green ash is one ofmany floodplain trets. every other year, and fo r some duration, usually more than 2 weeks of saturaci on near the surfac:ee­ rainfall, snow melt, river overflow, springs, and within I foot of the ground surface where most other groundwater discharges. Water is likely [Q of the plam roots ex ist. I Water can come from collect in depressions, low-lying relatively flat areas along waterhodies (rivers, streams, ponds, lakes), at the [Qes of slopes, and even on slopes in association with drainageways, seeps, and springs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with wide scientific peer review, developed a technical defi­ nition of wetland for the purpose of conducting a nationwide inventory of wetlands: "Wetlands are lands transitional between u"estrial and aquatic SYJtems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water. For purposes o/this clasrification wetlands mUft have one or more of the following three attributes: 0) at least peri­ odically, the land supports predominantly hydro­ phytes; (2) the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and (3) the substrate is nomoi! and is saturated with water or covered Alder forms wet thickets called ''alder swamps. " by shallow water at rome time during the growing season ofeach year." (Cowardin et al. 1979)2

Soft rush is a common 'The National Academy of Scicnces recenrly concluded that wetlands rypically are salur.lted within I fool of the soil surfAce fo r wet meadow species. at leaS! 14 days during the growing season in most years. Further, they recognitcd that therl! may be rc:gional differences, but no data to the contrary presently exists. National Research Council. 1995. Wtzl4nds Characuristirs and &undariN, National A!::ademy Press, Washington, DC. lCowardin, LM., V. Caner, F.e. Galel, and E.1: LaRoe. 1979. Classification ofWn/ands and Drrpwam Habirau ofth~ Unittd Scam. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington. DC. FWSIOBS-79/3 1.

West Vi rginia's Wetlands· Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands 1 Temporarily Seasonally Upland Depression;);l Upland Flooded Flooded ______-t- ~\'"~,~d~'"~d'_'______-;-._,Floodplain . Floodplain Wetland -,.­ Wetland - Seepage \,\Ietland (seasonal)

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, ,

• Seepage Wetland , , Sp""g·fod Wetland /

Stream

Wuiands deve/op at positiom on the landscape whe~ txCe5S water is tlvoilnb!t, This crosHectional diagram shows groundwater flow paths that creaU wetlands at diffirmt locatiom-vallrys. depmsions, and hillside slopes {vertical mIle greatly exaggaaud}.

This defmition fo cuses on three amibures: Most we tlands a re characterized by the (1) the degree of noeding or soil saturation (wet­ presence of hydrophytes and hydric soils. West land hyd rology); (2) wetland vegetation (hyd ro­ Virginia and the federal govern ment presentl y use phyres); and (3) wet soils (hydric soils). All areas these features plus other signs of prolonged water considered wedancl mUSt have enough water at saturation to identifY wetlands subject to the Clean some time duri ng the growing season to stress Water Act regulations. Not all wetlands are plants and animals not adapted for life in water or vegetated-mud Aats along ex posed shores and on peri odically saturated soils. shallow bottoms of ri vers. lakes, and ponds may not be colonized by plants. but are still consid­ When soils are flooded andlor saturated for ered wetlands. a few days or longer, the soils become oxygen­ deficient. Since all p lants require oxygen fo r surviva l and growth, only plants with special adaptations can live in these soils. These plants arc called "hydrophytes." Our of all the plants that grow in the United States. only a third can toler­ ate the prolonged oxygen-deficiency associated with most wetlands. Soil development is also affected by these conditions. Such soils typically lose the teddish to orangish color of iro n oxides characteristic of well-drained (oxygen rich) soils. Instead, many "hydric soils" are gray-colored below the topsoil. In soils frequently Aooded for Rud canary grass is very long periods, peat or muck accumulate at the another common wet surface because leaves and other organic matter Bl4ck willow trus are common in swamps and mmdow species. do not readily break down under these condirions. bottomland wetlands.

2 West Virginia's Wedands • Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands ~t!nnds occur along streams, Inkts, and other waterbodies. \.\'later willow dominates this streamside marsh along the Greenbrier River. (Photo by B. Tolin)

This wet meadow is an example ofa seepage wetland It begins upslope where groundwater is discharging at the surface (foregfOund) and atends to the valley floor. (Photo by G. Kur)

Wes[ Virginia's Wetlands· Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands 3 Some wetlands support very diverse plant communities-among the most diverst in the state. (Photo by G.S. Ratliff)

4 West Virgi n ia's Wetlands· Uncommon. Valuable Wildlands Wetland Types

edands arc represented by vegetated d ominated by trees (woody plants 20 feet or wet areas (e.g., marshes, swamps, and railer). bogs), and shallow w3rcrbodies (i ncluding ponds and the littoral zone of lakes). Their periodic wetness or shallow water habitat Emergent Wetlands distinguishes them from lakes, rivers, and reservoirs (deepwater habitats). West Virginia's vegerated wet­ arshes usually are flooded for most of the lands may hI!: separated inco three majo r types M growing season. ~ a result. they typically based on their dominant vegetation: (1) emergent h ave mucky soils. C haracte ristic plants in­ wedands (commonly call ed marshes and wCt clude cattail, bur-reed s. arrowheads. rice meadows) characterized by grasses, sedges, and curgrass, three-way sedge. other sed ges. sweet flag. other nonwoody plants, (2) shrub wetlands and spatterdock. Many marshes have developed (incl uding shrub swamps and bogs) represented in beaver ponds and along the shores of man- made by low-ta-medium height (less than 20 feet tall) farm ponds and other permanent waterbodies. woody plants, and (3) forested wetlands (mosdy Common marsh species in rivers are water willow wooded swamps and bottomland forests) and marsh purslane.

Emergent and shrub wetlands in the Canaan Vallt']. A stand ofba4am fir is surrounded by alders. (Photo by R. Tiner)

West Virginia's Wedands • Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands 5 Shrub Wetlands

hrub swamps include a wide va riety of wet Sshrubby thickets ranging from nearly perma­ nendy flo oded bu[{onbush swamps to seasonally fl ooded meadowsweet swamps. Common shrubs in shrub swamps include arrowwoods, alders, will ows, mead owsweets. hardhack, d ense St. John's-wort, highbush blueberry, chokeberries, and swamp rose. Some shrub swamps consist of saplings of trcc species such as red maple and black willow. These swamps will eventually become forested wetlands.

Shrubs may dominate hair-cap moss bogs in many areas. Species represented include black chokeberry, velvet~leaf blueberry, cranberry, swamp dewberry, d ense St. John's-wort, wild raisin, smooth arrowwood, and mountain holly. Bottomland fomud wetland. (Photo by C. Ketr)

Wet m eadows are saturated for extended Forested Wetlands periods during the growing season, with surface orested wedands (also called wooded swamps) water often present for shorr periods. They are are usually dominated by n ees that shed their characterized by wet mineral soils. The plam co m ~ F munity of wet meadows varies. Some meadows leaves each fall. Red maple is typical of wetter are dominated by a single species like reed canary swamps, with other common hardwoods such as grass, bluejoint grass, or soft rush, while others black willow and green ash. On Aoodplains, tem­ are probably among West Virginia's most diverse porarily fl ooded bottomland forested wetlands are habitats. Wet meadow species include marsh fern, characterized by sil ver m aple, red maple, sycamore, sensitive fern, woolgrass, tussock sedge, grasses cottonwood, black willow, and box elder, and to a (including rice cutgrass, redtop. and manna lesser extent by elm. green ash, and pin oak. Black grasses), rushes, sweet flag, asters, goldenrods, cherry, black walnut, river birch. beech, and Joe~Pye ~ weed s. smartweeds, arrow· leaved locusts are also frequently observed. Other tearthumb. New York ironweed, some species of common plants in these wetlands may include rickseeds (beggaHicks), boneser, St. John's-worts. jewelweed , nettles, and poison ivy. and jewelweed. Shrubs such as hardhack (steeple­ Evergreen trees dominate some wetlands, bush), meadowsweets, alders. arrowwood. willows. especially in [he Canaan VaHey. Hemlock and red and silky dogwood may be scattered in these wet spruce are dominant conife rs, wim rhododendron meadows. Many meadows have been used as and yellow birch as common associates. Yellow pastures and more might have been cultivated in birch may be a co~dominant with hemlock in the past. many swamps. Balsam fir, white pine, and red Open bogs of hair-cap moss and peat moss maple may also be present in varying amounts. Cattail is one ofrhe are found in various places in West Virginia. Com ~ Balsam fir is co-dominant with hemlock and red most familiar wetland man herbs in these bogs include cottongrass, spruce in som e Canaan Valley wedands. plants. sedges, and rushes. Swamp dewberry is usually quite abundant.

6 West Virginia's Wetlands· Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands Wetland Extent and Distribution

ow many acres of wetlands are in WeSt preparing 1:24,000-sca le wetland maps for the Virginia? Estimates of West Virginia's entire State. Due to inherent limitations of these wetland acreage vary due to diffe rent techniques, the m aps are conservative. They survey techniques . T he most commo nly used underestimate the extenr of werlands for several number- 102,OOOacres-came from a 1987 U.S. reasons-they rypically show large wetlands (more Fish and Wildlife Service reporr.3 This figure was than 1-3 acres in size), farmed wetlands are not produced by analyzing wedands on 144 four· des ignated, and many West Virginia werlands are square mile study plots-roughly 2 percenr of the small and are not mapped. The number also does state and then making a statewide projection. not include shaJ low rivers which technically quaJi fy This number may overestimate the extent of as wetlands. wed ands in [he stare. Estimates based on soil map­ ping (i.e., totalling the acreage of hydric soil map The total statewide wetland acreage is likely units) are even hi gher (over 170,000 acres) to be somewhere berween 57.000 and 102,000 because these units include an undetermined acres-represencing less than I perce nt of the amo unt o f drain ed former wetlands and state's land area. Only through conducting a com­ nonwedands due [ 0 mapping procedures. In 1982, prehensive inventory with extensive field check­ the S(ate of Wes t Vi rginia inventoried nearly ing can a more exact acreage be determined . Re­ 46,000 acres including vegetated werlands and gardless of the (fue number, wedands are, with­ no nchannel waterbodies (e.g., ponds, lakes, and out question, an uncommon resource in the state. r eservoi rs).~ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service For thi s information booklet, the 57,000-acre fig­ recently mapped roughly 57,000 acres of wetlands ure is used beca use it is derived from the most in West Virginia as part of the National Wetlands detailed wetlands inventory performed to date for Inventory. This inventory used aeri al photo­ the state. interpretation techniques to identify wetlands for

West Virginia's Wetlands

12,096 Emergenl --,-----,--->( Shrub

Mixed Shrub-Emergenl

Deciduous Foresled

Evergreen Forested

Shallow Zone Lakes

Exposed River Shores

o 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000 acres

'Tiner. R. W. 1987. Mid-Atlantic Wcr/.alltis. A DjSllpp ~ari1/g NatuTll I Trt4lU rt. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Newton Corner, MA and U.s. Environmental Protection Agency, Phitadelphia, PA. Cooperative publi cation. ~Evan s, J. E., SA Wilson, and R.L. Hall. 1982. WtoSl Villillia Wttlandl 11IVfllfory. Wtst V irgin i ~ Dtpartmcnt of Natural Resources, Wildlift RdQurccs Division. Bulletin No. 10.

West Virginia's Wetlands · Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands 7 West Virginia's Wetlands· West Virginia's Deepwater Habitats·

• E. cludes various wetlands. such as shallow (littoral) zone ollakas, pa,iodOcllly flooded!lhores or rivers. and vegaUtied wellands 8"cciated wllh lhasa W8IaIS.

Wetlands occupy less than 0.4 percent ofWest Wetland d istribution is not uniform in West Virginia's land surf.tce area. Ponds are the mOSt Virginia. Most of the state's wetlands can be fo und common eype, being closely followed by forested in Tucker County's Canaan Valley. G reenbrier and e mergent wetlands. D eepwater habitats Counry. with the Meadow River wetlands, is the (reservoirs, lakes, and ri vers) are al moSt twice as second-ranked couney. About 30 percent of the abundant as wetlands. yet they only cover 0.7 per­ state's wetlands occur in these twO counties. Other cent of the state. Aquatic habitats (lakes, rivers. counties with over 1,000 acres o f wetland include reservoirs. and wetlands) combined represenr Randolph, Preston. Pocahontas. Nicholas. Grant, about 1 percent of the state. This means that 99 Barbour, Mason, Fayene. Berkeley, Jeffe rso n, and percent of West Virginia is upland and that wec­ H ampshire. la nds are indeed a scarce resource.

Wetlands and Deepwater H a bitats of West Virginia*

_ D«pwa,er Habim. _ Wc!laoo •

• li>scd on Nuiollal Wetland. InvenlOry mapping . , (N_ : Dttpw;olcr lubiu.. includ< sluUow w:lter ri"",i"" _tlarwll)

8 West Virginia's Wetlands· Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands Table 1. Wetland acreage of the 55 West Virginia counties based on National Wetlands Inventory mapping. Percentages of each county represented by wetland and ranki ng based on wet­ land acreage are also given. Scate toral may vary slightly fro m rhose in figures due co com­ puter roundoff.

% of County Rank by Land Area Land Area Wetland Represented Wetland county (Sq. Miles) (Acres) Acreage by Wetland Acreage

Barbour 343 219,520 928 0.42 IS Berkeley 321 205,440 1,372 0.67 10 Boone 503 32 1,920 305 0.09 37 Br.u: lon 513 328,320 548 0.1 7 3D Brooke 90 57,600 232 0.40 '1 Cabell 282 180,480 550 0.30 29 Calhoun 280 179,200 76 0.04 Clay 346 221,440 118 0.05 "50 Doddridge 32 1 205,440 100 0.05 54 Fayclle 667 426,880 1,441 0.34 9 Gilmer 340 21 7,600 ISO 0.07 '8 Granl '80 307,200 1,760 0.57 7 Greenbrier 1,025 656,000 6,990 1.07 2 Hampshi re 64' 412, 160 1,106 0.27 12 Hancock 8' 53,760 118 0.22 51 Hardy 585 374,400 894 0.24 17 Har rison '17 266,880 909 0.34 16 Jackson .64 296,960 567 0. 19 28 Jefferson 209 133,760 1,308 0.98 II Kanawha 901 576,640 568 0.10 27 Lewis 389 248,960 383 0.15 34 Li ncoln 439 280,960 156 0.06 4S Logan 456 291,840 188 0.06 43 Marion 535 342,400 522 0.15 32 Marshall 312 199,680 370 0.19 35 M=" 305 195,200 1,460 0.75 8 McDowell 433 277, 120 312 O. 11 36 Mercer 420 268,800 648 0.24 24 Mineral 329 210,560 932 0.44 I' Mingo 42' 271,360 109 0.04 52 Monongalia 363 232,320 619 0.27 2S Monroe '73 302,720 78 1 0.26 19 Morgan 230 147,200 60S 0.41 26 Nicholas 650 416,000 3,593 0.86 3 Ohi o 106 67,840 \08 0.16 53 PendlelOn 698 446,720 754 0.17 21 Plcasams 131 83,840 I 5 I 0.18 '7 Po cahomas 9'2 602,880 2,472 0.4 1 6 Prcslon 651 416,640 2,950 0.71 5 Putnam 346 221,440 7'1 0.33 22 ltileigh 608 389,1 20 994 0.26 13 Randolph 1,040 665,600 3.474 0.52 Rilchie 45' 290,560 270 0.09 39• Roane .8. 309,760 166 0.05 44 Summers 353 225,920 768 0.34 20 Tay lor 17' 111 ,360 53 1 OA8 31 Tucker 42 1 269.440 9,494 3.52 I Tyler 258 165,120 191 0. 12 '2 Upshur 3SS 227,200 740 0.33 23 Wayne 508 325, 120 262 0.08 40 Websrer 556 355,840 '98 0.14 33 Wetzel 359 229,760 126 0.05 49 Win 23S 150,400 ISS 0.1 0 .6 Wood 367 234,880 817 0.35 18 Wyoming 5D2 321,280 298 0.09 38 Slate Total 24 ,121 15,437,440 56,678 0.37

Wesl Virginia's Wetlands· Uncommon, Valuable Wil dlands 9 The location ofwetlanth between land and water maluI them valuable wildlanth. (Photo by R. Snow)

10 West Virginia's Wetlands· Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands Why are Wetlands Important?

- he water-holding capacity of wetlands provides many opportunities to benefit people and wi ldlife. Among other things, wetlands serve as important fish and wildlife habi­ tats, improve water quality, and temporarily store flood waters. Each we el an d works in co mbination with other wed ands as part of a complex, integrated system (e.g., a watershed. eco region, or flyway) that delivers these and other benefits to society. An assessment of the value of a particular wetland must take this critical interrelationship Wood duck Into• acco unt.

Fish and Wildlife Habitat and silvery minnows, grass pickerel, and buffalo sucker) may be related to wetland d rainage and etlands are required by many types of destruction along major rivers. W animals and plants fo r survival. For many. like the wood duck, snapping turtle. musk rat, West Virginia's wetlands are valuable bird green heron. ca[[ail , lurid sedge, and bunonbush, habitats providing year-round habitats for residem wetlands are their primary homes or habitat- the species and breedingsires. wintering grounds. and only places they can live. For some animals, such feed ing areas for migratory birds including water­ as fi sh and amphibians, wetlands are critical breed­ fowl. Some typical birds fou nd in the stare's ing grounds. while the adults move into deepwater marshes are great blue heron. green-backed heron. or upland areas, respectively. Even terrestrial or king rail, Virginia rail, sora, sedge wren. swamp upland animals frequently utilize wedands to obtain food, water, or cover that are important for their well- being. The majority of West Virginia's rare and endangered plants depend on wedands for survival-as many as 1 SO species.

All of West Virginia's fi shes depend on wet­ lands, either directly or indirecd y, since wetlands are viral to maimaining water quality and regulat­ ing streamnows. Many fishes feed in wedands or upon wecland-produced food or their young use wetlands, especially riverine and lacustrine wet­ lands, as nursery grounds. Almost all recreationally im portam species spawn in the aquatic portions of wedands. Many of the srate's fishes require or prefe r shallow water and associated aquatic beds for feeding andlor reproduction: muskellunge, pickerels, longnose gar, suckers (e.g., quillback and bigmouth buffalo), various minnows. bullheads. mudminnow, largemo uth bass, a nd some sunfis hes. The decline of certain species (pugnose Upland wildlife us~ Witlands for food. waUr, and cover. (Photo by j. HudginJ)

West Virginia's Wedands • Uncommon, Val uable Wildlands 11 and management programs were in itiated. Today, beaver are most abundant in the eastern rwo-thirds of the state. Beaver-influenced wetlands are most common in Tucker, Randolph. Pocahontas. Fayette. and Greenbrier Counties. River otter. once extirpated from the state, have been reintroduced into several drainages: Liule Kanawha, West Fork. Elk. Meadow. and Greenbrier. White-tail deer and black bear. important game species. also use wet­ lands for food and cover. Bats are other mammaJs associated with West Virginia's wetlands-they can be seen at dusk feeding on flying insects above marshes. ponds. and other waterbodies.

Many am phibians (frogs, roads, and sala­ manders) and some reptiles (turtles and snakes) depend on wetlands. Frogs and toads breed in we tlands and in puddles and roadside ditches MallY songbirds nest in wetlands. including the yellow warbler. across the state. T he spring peeper with its (Photo by F. Knapp) familiar springtime "peeps" breeds in shallow sparrow, song sparrow, osprey, bald eagle, spotted ponds and temporarily flooded pools. Bull frogs sandpiper. common snipe. woodcock, belted king. and green frogs live in marshes and shallow fis her, red·winged blackbird, purple martin, tree waterbodies. while leopard frogs and pickerel frogs swallow, northern rough.winged swallow, warbling arc frequently observed in wet meadows. The east­ vireo. yell ow warbler. com mon yel lowthroat. ern American toad is the most common toad in Canada goose, wood duck. mallard. and Ameri· the state. Eight species of salamanders use shallow can black duck. Shrub swamps provide nesting permanent ponds and temporary woodland pools sites for swamp sparrow, song sparrow, common for breeding, including Jefferson. spotted. yellowthroat. alder flycatcher, willow flycatcher. marbled. and small mouth salamanders. The red­ white·eyed vireo, gray catbird, ye llow warbler, and sporred newt is generally confi ned to permanent chestnur.sided warbler. Woodcock favor alder water. Seeps. sp rings. and small streams are vital swamps because of thei r wealth of ea rthworms. habitats fo r many salamandets. Six species of In forested wedands, a variety of songbirds can be turtles live in West Virginia's marshes and ponds found, including several that nest there: wood and midland painted, eastern painted, stinkpot, duck, red-shouldered hawk, barred owl, ovenbird, and snapp ing turtles are most common. T he Louisiana and northern water thrushes, red-eyed northern water snake and eastern ribbon snake are vi reo. scarlet tanager. o live·sided Aycatcher, Acadian flycatcher, and prothonotary warbler. Many of the wetland birds are relatively rare in the state due to the scarcity of wetlands.

Most of the mammals associated with West V irginia's wetlands are small and usually not seen-deer mice. white-footed mice, and meadow voles. Some are rare and li sted as "species of co ncern" because of their dependence on limited and shrinking wetland habitats-northern water shrew, star-nosed mole, and meadow jumping mouse. The more frequently observed wetland mammals are muskrats. beaver, and eastern cottontail. Beavers have been increasing in numbers since the 1930s when state conservation

/2 West Virginia's Wetlands · Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands in both urban and agricultural areas. Mussels in West Virginia's rivers and streams are excellent indicators of good water quality. Clean waters are important to people as welt as to aquatic and other wildlife.

Painted turtle Flood Damage Protection

etlands have often been referred to as natu­ ral sponges that absorb flooding waters, yet they actuall y function more like natural tubs, storing flood waters that overRow riverbanks or Snapping turtle surface water that collects in isolated depressions. By temporarily detaining flood waters, wetlands the typical wetland snakes. and only the water help protect adjacent and downStream property snake occurs throughout West Virginia. owners from serious flood damage. Trees and other wetland plants also help slow the speed of fl ood Abour half of the Nation's endangered waters. This action combined with water storage species require wetlands at some point in their allows wetlands co lower fl ood heights and reduce lives. AU freshwater mussels, including six fede r­ the water's erosive potential. Wetlands in and all y listed species, depend on wetlands since they upstream of urban areas are especially valuable fo r are vital in maintaining water quality and assist in fl ood p ro tection, since urban development regulating stream flow. In West Virginia, endan­ increases rhe rate and volume of surface water run­ gered species such as the northern riffleshell, off, thereby increasing the risk of flood damage. clubshell and the James spinymussel are small to Runoff is also high from farmland, especially in medium-sized stream/ river species intimately roll ing terrain. Upstream wedands help reduce the associated with riverine emergent and aquatic likelihood of flood damage to crops by tempo­ bed wetlands. T he bald eagle depends on the rarily stOring runoff. productive aquatic ecosystem to prov ide their primary food source fi sh. Three fed erally listed plants- harperella, Virginia spiraea. and the northeastern bulrush--depend d irectly on West Virginia's wetlands for thei r survival.

Water Quality Improvement

ne of the most important values of wetlands O is their ability to help maintain good water quality in our Nation's rivers and other waterbodies and to improve degraded waters. Wetlands do this in several ways: (1) removing and retaining nutri­ ents, (2) processing chemical and organic wastes, and (3) reducing sediment loads to receivin g wa ters. Wetlands are particularly good water filters. Due (0 their position between upland and deep wa(er, wetlands can both intercept surface water runoff from land before i( reaches open water and help filter nutrients, wastes, and sediment Natures wetland builder-the beaver. (Photo by S. von Oettingen) from flooding waters. This funcrion is important

West Virginia's Wedands • Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands 13 Erosion Control

eclands an: often located bet\'leen ri vers and W high ground and are, therefore, in a good position to buffe r the land against erosion. Wet­ land plants stabilize shorelines by bi nding so il in their roors, dampening wave action by friction, and red ucin g current velocity through friction. Some states ate now recommend ing planting of wedand vegetation to control shorel ine erosion. This technique is a type of bioengineering that is being increasingly used to protect banks and to stabilize and restore eroding shorelines.

Natural Products

weahh of natural products are produced by A wetlands. Wet meadows serve as pasture fo r livestock. In some places, wetland grasses are cut Although wetlands tmzpomrily store water and help minimize flood damages, fo r hay. T imber is harvested from some wetlands. building on floodplains still leads to problmzs. (Photo by j. Schmidt) Trapping provides recreation and income to trap pers. Waterfowl, deer, and black bear are important game species fo r residents and out-of­ state humers alike.

Recreation and Aesthetics

esides hu nting and fi shing, other recreation, Bincluding nature study, photography, swim­ m ing and boating, takes place in and around wetlands. G iven the d iversi£), of wildlife associ­ ated with wetlands, m any people simply choose to spend theit leisure time exploring or boating near wetlands observing plant and animal li fe . Wetlands serve as important places fo r outdoor education and research. since they are among [he most diverse and interesting natural environments. Thro ugh the centuries, wetlands have also captured the attention of some artists who have painted wetland scenes or have written about wet­ lands. T hus, wetlands are an important part of Jeffirson County wetland. (Photo by C. Kur) the coumry's natu ral he ri tage and West Virgin ia's wetlands. although uncom mon, are among America's most valuable natural resources.

14 West Virginia's Wedands • Uncommon. Valuable Wildlands The Future of West Virginia's Wetlands

acionwide. wetlands have been dredged, debate over the extent to which the federal gov~ filled , drained, polluted, and degraded ernment should be involved in wetland regulation. in many ways. Today, less than half of West Vi rginia's present role in wetland regu~ the Nation's wetlands remain. There are no lation comes from two sources. Chapter 2 0 ~2~ 1 comparable statistics for West Virginia, but we of the West Virginia Code states that "All species do know that many marshes and wet meadows of wildlife shall be maintained for values which have been drained for cropland and many seaso n ~ may be either intrinsic or ecological or of benefit all y fl ooded borromland forests cleared and to man." Chapter 22~11 declares that it is public drained for farms or pasrures. To a lesser degree, policy " to mainrain reasonable standards of urba n development along major rivers has filled purity and quality of the water of the state co n s i s~ wetlands. Regardless of the magnitude of these tent with (1) public health and public enjoyment losse:s. West Virginia's wetlands are an exu emely thereof; (2) the p ropagation and protectio n limited resource and an important one worthy of of animal, bird, fish, aquatic, and plant life, ... " protection and restoration. This code authorizes the Director of the Division In general , there are rwowiddy used approaches of Environmental Protection (DEP) to issue state [ 0 protect wetlands: (1) regulation of wetland usa water quali ty ce rtification required under the and (2) acquisition of wetlands. More recendy, Clean Water Act. T he DEP and the Division of wetland restoration has emerged as a third Natural Resources jointl y review projects for approach to increase wetland acreage and/or the certification and the DEP may issue, waive. or functions of degraded wetlands. A fo urth option deny certification with condicions to enforce scate - private stewardship- is one that should be water quality standards. In addition, the Division pursued. The U .S. Fish and Wildlife Service's "Partners fo r Wildlife" and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Wetland Reserve" Programs are examples of what can be done to prOlect wetlands.

Currently, West Virginia's wetlands are regu~ lated through the federal Clean Water Act. The state has no speci fi c State wetland protection laws, unlike most norrheastern states. To help protect wetlands, West Virginia has developed state laws and regulations to implement Section 40 I of the Clean Water Act. Specific state water quali£}' sta n~ dards must be maintained as a basis for state water quality certification.

Nationally. the U.S. Army Corps ofEnginecrs, wirh program oversight by me U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, regulates uses of wetlands to varying degrees. Depositing fill in wetlands and excavating wetlands have typically requ ired a fed eral permit. More recently. draining wetlands also needs to be permitted before commencing Th~ Nation's 5 00'" National Wildlife Refog~ was ~s tablished in West Virginia. work. Certain activities are exempt from permit (Photo by G. Baker) requirements. C urrently, there is much public

West Virginia's Wetlands· Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands 15 of Natural Resources has responsibility for review­ ing fed eral C lean Water Act permits under authority o f the fede ra l Fi sh and Wildlife Coordi nation Act. Dragonfly Acquisition involves purchasing wetlands or acqui ring easements on privately owned wetlands. This approach results in the establishment of wild­ life refuges, fi sh and wildlife managemenr areas, sanctuaries, or other conservation areas. This technique has been used by government agencies and private conservation o rganizations. The Division of Natural Resources has an active wetland acquisition program supported by license fees, stare waterfowl stamps, federal funds, and partnerships with Ducks Unlimited and other groups. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently established its soorh Natio nal Wildlife Refug;e-e - the Canaan Valley Refuge. T his is West Virginia's restored wetlands provide landowners with hunt­ second National Wildlife Refuge the O hio River ing and in some cases, fishing opportunities, while Islands Refuge was the first, established in 1990. providing wedand functions that benefit society (water quality filuation, flood storage, and fi sh Wetland restoration represe nts a new and and wildlife habitat). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife growing approach fo r improvi ng the status of Service's Pa rtners fo r Wildlife Program is actively wetlands. It involves largely restoring hydrology assisting West Virginia landowners in restoring to drained wetlands. Farmers are recognizing that we dancls through technical assistance and many of these drained lands are only marginally funding partnerships. productive and would be better restored to a marsh-po nd complex for their enjoyment. These Private stewardship is encouraging landown­ ers to protect, restore, and enhance wedands on their property. Although wetlands provide many public benefits, landowners can reap certain values (e.g., timber, hay, grazing, hunting, fish­ ing, and nature observation). Marshes and ponds may also serve as water supplies for livestock and fire suppression. Much can be done ro slow the rate of wetland loss and improve the qualiry of our temaining wetlands. Many opportunities exist fo r private citizens, corporations, government agencies, and others to help accomplish these objectives. Cooperation betwee n public agencies and private citizens and the private sector is essential to securing a promising future for our we dands. Individual landowners and corporations are in a key position to determine the fate of wetlands on their properties. Every ci tizen, landowner or not, can help wetlands by supporting any number of wetland conservation initiatives. Major public and ~st Virginias wetlands ar~ uncommon habitatl and th~ir many fonctions private options for improving the status of wet­ mak~ th~m luorth }roueting and mtoring. (Photo by j. Schmidt) lands are listed below.

16 Wen Virginia's Wetlands· Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands Public Sector Opportunities Private Sector/Landowner

1. D evelop a consistent public policy at all Opportunities levels of government to provide adequate 1. Rather chan drain or fill wetlands, adopt a prorection to wetlands of national, state, and wetland stewardship program fo r your land­ local significance. restore wetlands fo r their natural benefi ts or 2. Improve both the effi ciency and effectiveness seek compatible uses involving minimal or of existing wedand protection programs at temporary wetland alteratio n , s uc h as all levels of governmem--develop interagency selective timber harvest, waterfowl produc­ partnerships. tion, fur harvest, hay and forage, wild rice 3. Ensure proper im ple mentation of existing production, and huming and trapping leases. laws and policies through adequate staffing. 2. Seek no n-wedand sites for development surveillance, enforcement, and training. projects and avoid wetland alteration or 4. Increase wetland acquisition in selected areas degradation during project construction to for preservation purposes . the extent possible. 3. Donate wetlands or fu nds fo r purchasing 5. Continue wo rk wi th landowners [0 encour­ age private stewardship of wedands. wetlands to non-governmental organizations oc public conservation agencies. 6. Continue to remove government subsidies that encourage wetland drainage and destruction. 4. Maintain wetlands as open space-put a developmenr resrricrion in your d eed to 7. Encourage tax and other in centives to land­ preserve wetlands in perpetuity. owners and industry to promote wetl and preservation through private stewardship and S. Educate other citizens about wetland values­ remove existing tax benefits that encourage let people know that you feel wetlands are wetland destruction. important natural resources worthy of con- servatlon• . S. Review cost-benefit analyses and justifications for flo od control projects that involve 6. Construct pond-marsh complexes in uplands channelization of wetlands and watercourses. and manage fo r wetland and aquatic species. 9. Improve wetland management on publidy­ 7. Purchase federal and state duck stamps to owned lands. suPPOrt wetland acquisition. 10. Increase the number of marsh creation and 8. Support various wetla nd conse rvatio n restoration projecu (including enhancement initiatives by public agencies and non­ of existing wetlands by improving local governmental organizations. water quali ty and establishing buffer wiles). O pportunities exist related co compensatory mitigation for unavoidable wetland losses by government-spon sored water resource projects or permits issued by existing wetland Raccoon regulatory programs. 11 . Continue research co increase our knowledge of wetlands (including analyses of wetland changes, wetland hydrology, and functions! values) and to identify ways of usi ng wetlands that are least disruptive to their ecology and public values. 12. Increase public awareness of wetland status and values through various information and media sources.

West Virgi ni a's Wetlands· Uncommon, Valuable Wildlands 17 Concluding Remarks

etlands are an important part of our since America was first settled. West Virginia's national heritage and a viral compo~ wetlands arc a scarce, valuable natural resource that oem of our natural environment. In produces more benefits than moS( other habitats. many ways, they are diamonds-in-the-rough that Less than 1 percent of the state is wetland. arc valuable even without human intervention. Now is [he time to take positive steps to OUf quality of life is largely dependent on our protect the remaining wetlands to ensure that the Nation's wealth of natufal resources and how we values they presently provide will be preserved fo r choose to use them. Wetlands provide a viral futu re generations. We should also encourage wet­ linkage between our land and water resources. land restoration to increase the amount of these Serious attention should be given to minimizing valuable resources and the benefits they yield. So, adverse wedand impacts as we snive to improve let's do what we can to help maintain and enhance our economic and personal well-being. our vanishing wetlands. As wetlands continue to be lost. the remain­ ing wetlands become even more valuable. Al ready we have lost over half of our Nation's wetlands

Beaver swamp. (Photo by j. Schmidt)

18 West Vi rginia's Wetlands· Uncommon, Va luable Wildlands Information Sources

To get informacion on wetland regulations. wetland restoration opporrunities. wetland maps and avail­ able wedand publications, comact the following agencies.

Wetland Regulations Wetland Maps

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers West Virginia Division ofNarural Resources Hunringron District Wildlife Resources. NaturaJ H eritage Program 502 Eighth Street P.O. Box 67 Huntington, WV 25701-2070 Elkins, WV 26241-0067 (304) 529-5487 (304) 637-0245

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wedands and Marine Policy Section Wetland Publications List 841 Chestnut Building Philadelph ia, PA 19 107-4431 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (215) 597- 11 82 Ecological Services - National Wetlands Inventory West Virginia Division of Environmental 300 Westgate Center D ri ve Protection Hadley, MA 01035-9589 Office of Water Resources (4 13) 253-8606 Environmental and Regulatory Affairs 1201 Greenbrier Street Charleston, WV 25311-1088 (304) 558-1052

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources P.O. Box 67 Elkins, WV 26241-0067 (304) 637-0245

Wetiand Restoration

u.s. Fish and W ildlife Service Partners for W ildlife Program P. O. Box 1278 Elkins, WV 26241-1278 (304) 636-6586

Meatiowswttt shrub swamp. (Photo by R. Tiner)