Unique Wildlife Ecosystem Concept Plan STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA UNIQUE WILDLIFE ECOSYSTEM CONCEPT PLAN STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA June 1979 DEPARTI1ENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, Region 5 Newton Corner, Massachusetts Table of Contents: Objective ..............•........•..... 1 Criteria .............................. 1 Description of the State .........•.•.. 3 Habitat Threats •.....••..•.•..•..•.•.. 6 Habitat Preservation Efforts .......... ? Views of Others •...............•...... 9 Alternative Strategies ...•............ 9 Summary of Areas Submitted ............ 9 Appendices: A. Project Description Format B. Key to Threat of Destruction C. Other Areas UNIQUE WILDLIFE ECOSYSTEM CONCEPT PLAN STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA Objective Protecting some of this Nation's wildlife areas may be the most important conservation contribution of our generation. Recognizing this as a major problem, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has em­ barked on the Unique Ecosystem Program. This program is designed to safeguard some of our remaining wildlife lands and is to be a coop­ erative approach with full participation of Federal, state and local governments as well as conservation organizations and private citizens. It should not be construed as a definitive plan on the part of the Service to acquire any or all of the projects listed since Service acquisition, in most cases, is viewed as a final alternative after other means of preservation have failed. This Concept Plan ~dentifies these areas in the state of West Virginia and outlines initial priorities and suggests various alternatives for preservation. Basic Criteria 1. Areas selected must be nationally significant wildlife ecosystems with fish and wildlife values which go beyond local values in providing substantial benefits to many people over a wide geo­ graphical area. 2. Areas must be unique wildlife ecosystems, that is, they must be significantly different from other habitats in the region and sup­ port natural fish and wildlife communities. 3. The area must be of sufficient size to materially contribute, in some substantial measure, to the overall wildlife resource(s) of a region. 4. The area must contain wildlife and plant resources which are native to the geographic region, and these resources must be unique or one of the best representative examples in the region or larger.area. Priority Criteria Areas submitted were ranked in a regional priority by a team in accor­ dance with the following criteria: 1. Areas that have a federally-listed endangered species received top priority, followed by areas that have a federally-listed threatened species, then by state listed endangered, ~hreatened or rare species, and lastly, other species. 1 2. Areas that have diverse habitats and numerous wildlife species are ranked highest, and areas with few wildlife species and relatively non-diverse habitats are ranked lowest. 3. Areas that are in immediate danger from development/encroachment, agricultural drainage, timber harvest or similar threats, are ranked highest, and those that are relatively well protected are ranked lowest. 4. Areas that are generating or are anticipated to generate public interest are ranked highest, and areas that generate little public interest are ranked lowest. Criteria 1 and 2 were considered "biological factors," and items 3 and 4 "non-biological." Areas that have both high biological and non-biological rankings scored highest. Areas that had similar biological ratings were then ranked according to relative threat and public interest. There are instances where other factors were considered as part of the review process and these are noted in the appropriate places. 2 WEST VIRGINIA Description of the State Population The population of West Virginia in 1970 was 1,744,000. The state experienced population declines until 1970 but had a 4.4 percent increase by 1976. In general, this population reversal can be at­ tributed to the renewed interest and job opportunities available in connection with the coal mining industry. Almost 15 percent of the state's work force is employed in mining. Less than 70 percent of the population resides in urban areas of the state. Industry Coal is West Virginia's leading industry. In 1975, there were 1,360 coal mines in the state, 859 of which were underground, and 501 were surface and auger mines. Surface mines appear to be the trend of the future. In the first eight months of 1978, 170 new surface mine ap­ plications were filed. Agriculture Much of the land in West Virginia is unsuitable for crop production and grazing because of steep topography and shallow soils. Therefore, agriculture is conducted on a small scale, and much of it occurs in the eastern panhandle. Lands suitable for range are somewhat more wide­ spread; approximately one million acres are in pastured woodland. The sale of livestock and livestock products represents the greatest value in farm marketing. The state has 12,172,000 acres of commercial forest land; 734,000 acres of these lands are on national forests. The forests in the state produce high quality hardwood saw-timber including yellow and paper birch, black cherry and tulip poplar. Few other areas in the United States are manage·d to produce saw-timber size hardwoods. Recreation With a strong rural flavor and forested, mountainous terrain, West Virginia lies between the industrial areas to the east and west. The population concentration of the Northeast puts heavy pressure on limited public lands. 3 With no large, natural lakes, the state's water-based recreational opportunities are provided by Corps of Engineers impoundments and state managed areas for a total of 61,000 surface acres. One million acres of national forest, providing 1.5 million man-days of recreation in 1976, and approximately 150,000 acres of state parks, forests, recreation and wildlife areas provide the bulk of the recreation sites in the state. Climate The topography of the state has specific effects on the distribution of temperature and precipitation. The altitude has a decided cooling effect in summer and makes for a lesser number of uncomfortable days than the flatter plains at lower elevations. The summer average temperature is 71 degrees F; autumn is 54 degrees F; winter is 33 degrees F; and spring is 52 degrees F. Most of the state is west of the Allegheny Front and receives greater amounts of precipitation because of the forced ascent of air as it rises over the mountains, causing moisture to condense into precipitation. Habitat Types The state is divided into four physiographic regions: 1. The Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau Section of the Appalachian Plateaus Province 2. The Allegheny Mountain Section of the Appalachian Plateaus Province 3. The Ridge and Valley Province 4. The Blue Ridge Province The Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau Section comprises the western three­ fourths of the state; the Allegheny Mountain Section is composed of the high mountains in the east-central part of the state; the Ridge and Valley Province lies along the eastern border of the state with Virginia; while only the.easternmost extension of West Virginia near Harper's Ferry is within the Blue Ridge Province. Although the vege­ tation of the entire state fits into the broad category of eastern deciduous forest, each division has its own distinguishable physical geography and plant associations. Vegetation of the Allegheny Plateau Section may be classified as part of the central hardwood forest. This forest association ranges from dry to wet: oak-pine and oak-chestnut communities (xeric), cover hard­ woods or mixed mesophytic forests (mesic) and flood plain communities (hydric). 4 The Allegheny Mountain Section includes the highest elevations of the state and is generally composed of mountain ranges oriented in a northeast-southwest direction, with deep valleys intervening. The vegetation may be classified as belonging to the northern forest and may be roughly subdivided into the northern evergreen and the northern hardwood cover types. The northern evergreen forest has red spruce as a dominant, while the northern hardwoods has sugar maple, beech and yellow birch as its dominants. The Ridge and Valley Province is a lowland above which rise lon­ gitudinal ranges, sometimes crowded, sometimes widely spaced. The vegetation might be referred to as oak-hickory-pine, although originally chestnut was a dominant species. The Blue Ridge Province touches the eastern panhandle of the state. It is characterized by steep high ridges and deep intermountain valleys (the Shenandoah Valley). Deciduous forests similar to the forest cover of the Ridge and Valley Province are found here. There is an abundance of free-flowing rivers and streams throughout the state, but with the exception of the Canaan Valley (see Appendix C), the Meadow River Wetlands and the Ohio River marshes, wetland wildlife habitat is scarce. Wildlife Wildlife and fish resources are those normally associated with mixed hardwood and softwood forests. Undeveloped lands, especially in the eastern portion of the state, support sizable populations of white­ tailed deer, black bear, turkey and a variety of upland game, fur bearers and non-game birds and mammals. Waterfowl are relatively scarce in the state. The Canaan Valley is a very important breeding and migration area for woodcock. The Potomac drainages and the Ohio River provide good warmwater fish habitat, but coldwater fisheries are mostly dependent on hatchery operations. Endangered Species Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). No current nesting