Action Plan for the Shenandoah & Nathaniel Mountains 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 .................................................................................................................................... 3 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 Shenandoah & Nathaniel Mountains 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 ................................................................................................................... 21 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 21 Rare Plant Communities .......................................................................................................................... 22 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 25 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 26 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 28 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Rock Outcrops, Cliffs and Talus, and Shale Barrens .................................................................................... 31 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 31 i Rare Plant Communities .......................................................................................................................... 31 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 33 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 33 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 33 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 35 Aquatic, Floodplain and Riparian Habitats .................................................................................................. 36 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 36 Rare Plant Communities .......................................................................................................................... 40 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 40 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 41 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 42 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 44 Subterranean Habitats ................................................................................................................................ 45 Karst and Cave Habitats .......................................................................................................................... 45 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 45 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 45 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 48 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 48 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 50 Agricultural and Developed Habitats .......................................................................................................... 51 Priority Species ........................................................................................................................................ 51 Habitat Stresses and Conservation Actions ............................................................................................ 51 Climate Change and Habitat Resilience .................................................................................................. 52 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 55 Human Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 56 Landscape Resilience and Connectivity ...................................................................................................... 57 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................... 63 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 64 Conservation Priorities ............................................................................................................................ 64 Integration of Conservation Actions ....................................................................................................... 64 Connecting Conservation Actions for Climate Resilience .................................................................. 65 Next Steps in Implementation ................................................................................................................ 65 ii References ......................................................................................................................................................