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A Natural Resource Assessment for Shenandoah National Park

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A Natural Resource Assessment for Shenandoah National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Northeast Region Philadelphia, Pennsylvania A Natural Resource Assessment for Shenandoah National Park Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR—2006/071 ON THE COVER Black bear: Shenandoah National Park (SHEN) supports the largest population of black bears (Ursus americanus) in Virginia, with 300-800 bears present in the park. This regionally significant wildlife resource may act as a source population of black bears for the Blue Ridge Mountains. NPS photo. Greenstone cliffs: These greenstone rock cliffs at SHEN support a globally rare vegetation community—the high-elevation greenstone barren alliance. This plant community is endemic to the park and is represented by such species as Rand’s goldenrod (Solidago simplex var. randii) and hemlock parsley (Conioselinum chinense). NPS photo. Big Meadows: Big Meadows is a 49-ha (121-ac) ridge-top meadow located at an elevation of 1,067 m (3,500 ft) along Skyline Drive in SHEN. This high-elevation meadow supports the globally rare Blue Ridge mafic fen plant alliance. Big Meadows has probably persisted in its open state for the apst 10,000 years and is a haven for plants and wildlife that need open meadow habitat. NPS photo. Shenandoah salamander: The Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon shenandoah) is a federally endangered species that is endemic to SHEN. This species, which closely resembles the more common red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus), is confined to three talus slopes within the park. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries photo. A Natural Resource Assessment for Shenandoah National Park Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR—2006/071 Carolyn G. Mahan The Pennsylvania State University Altoona College 209 Hawthorn Building Altoona, PA 16601 December 2006 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Northeast Region Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Northeast Region of the National Park Service (NPS) comprises national parks and related areas in 13 New England and Mid-Atlantic states. The diversity of parks and their resources are reflected in their designations as national parks, seashores, historic sites, recreation areas, military parks, memorials, and rivers and trails. Biological, physical, and social science research results, natural resource inventory and monitoring data, scientific literature reviews, bibliographies, and proceedings of technical workshops and conferences related to these park units are disseminated through the NPS/NER Technical Report (NRTR) and Natural Resources Report (NRR) series. The reports are a continuation of series with previous acronyms of NPS/PHSO, NPS/MAR, NPS/BSO-RNR, and NPS/NERBOST. Individual parks may also disseminate information through their own report series. Natural Resources Reports are the designated medium for information on technologies and resource management methods; "how to" resource management papers; proceedings of resource management workshops or conferences; and natural resource program descriptions and resource action plans. Technical Reports are the designated medium for initially disseminating data and results of biological, physical, and social science research that addresses natural resource management issues; natural resource inventories and monitoring activities; scientific literature reviews; bibliographies; and peer-reviewed proceedings of technical workshops, conferences, or symposia. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the National Park Service. This report was accomplished under Cooperative Agreement 4000-8-9028, Supplemental Agreement Number 033 with assistance from the NPS. The statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report are solely those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Print copies of reports in these series, produced in limited quantity and only available as long as the supply lasts, or preferably, file copies on CD, may be obtained by sending a request to the address on the back cover. Print copies also may be requested from the NPS Technical Information Center (TIC), Denver Service Center, PO Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225-0287. A copy charge may be involved. To order from TIC, refer to document D-305. This report may also be available as a downloadable portable document format file from the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/nero/science/. Please cite this publication as: Mahan, C. G. December 2006. A Natural Resource Assessment for Shenandoah National Park. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR—2006/071. National Park Service. Philadelphia, PA. NPS D-305 December 2006 ii Table of Contents Page Figures ............................................................................................................................................ v Tables .......................................................................................................................................... vii Appendixes .................................................................................................................................. ix Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... xi Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................ xv Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 Study Area ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Methods .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Literature and Database Review and Workshops ................................................................. 9 Subcontractors and GIS ........................................................................................................ 9 NPS Synthesis Information Management System .............................................................. 10 Historic Land Use and Its Potential Effects on Natural Resources in Shenandoah National Park ........................................................................................................... 11 Pre-European Settlement Natural Resource Conditions and Effects of Native Americans (pre-1750) .............................................................................................. 11 Effects of European Settlement on Natural Resources (1750–1925) ................................. 13 Park Establishment: Resource Restoration, Protection, and Recovery (1926–Present) .................................................................................................................... 14 Natural Resource Assessment ...................................................................................................... 19 Geologic and Geomorphologic Resources .......................................................................... 19 Air Resources ...................................................................................................................... 26 Water Resources ................................................................................................................. 38 Plant Resources ................................................................................................................... 46 Animal Resources ............................................................................................................... 83 iii Table of Contents (continued) Page Recreational Impacts to Natural Resources at Shenandoah National Park (Including Skyline Drive) .......................................................................................................... 111 Trail Use ............................................................................................................................ 111 Camping ............................................................................................................................ 113 Rock Climbing .................................................................................................................. 114 Fishing ............................................................................................................................... 115 Other Recreational Activities ............................................................................................ 115 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 117 Literature Cited .......................................................................................................................... 137 iv Figures Page Figure 1. Maps depicting the North, Central, and South Districts of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. ............................................................................................. 4 Figure 1a. North District, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. .......................................... 5 Figure 1b. Central District, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. ...................................... 6 Figure 1c. South District, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. ......................................... 7 Figure 2. Bedrock geology of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia (after Morgan et al. 2004). ....................................................................................................................
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