Action Plan for the North Fork Mountain & Thorn Creek 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 .................................................................................................................................... 2 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 North Fork Mountain and Thorn Creek Conservation Focus Area ................................................................... 8 Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Habitats ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 Terrestrial Habitats ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Aquatic Habitats .......................................................................................................................................... 12 Species of Greatest Conservation Need ..................................................................................................... 14 Distinctive Stresses...................................................................................................................................... 15 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.......................................................................................................................... 27 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 28 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 29 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 31 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 33 Rock Outcrops, Cliffs and Talus, Heath Grass and Shale Barrens ............................................................... 34 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 34 Rare Plant Communities.......................................................................................................................... 34 i Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 35 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 37 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 37 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 38 Aquatic, Floodplain and Riparian Habitats .................................................................................................. 39 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 39 Rare Plant Communities.......................................................................................................................... 40 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 44 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 44 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 46 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 47 Subterranean Habitats ................................................................................................................................ 48 Karst and Cave Habitats .......................................................................................................................... 48 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 48 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 49 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 52 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 52 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 54 Agricultural and Developed Habitats .......................................................................................................... 55 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 55 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 57 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 57 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 59 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 60 Landscape Resilience and Connectivity ...................................................................................................... 61 Climate Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 61 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 67 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 68 Conservation Priorities ................................................................................................................................ 68 Integration of Conservation Actions ........................................................................................................... 68 Connecting Conservation Actions for Climate Adaption ............................................................................ 69 Next Steps in Implementation ...................................................................................................................