U.S. Geological Survey Appalachian Region Integrated Science Workshop Proceedings, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, October 22-26, 2001 D. Briane Adams, Katrina Burke, Bruce Hemingway, Jeff Keay, and Michael Yurewicz, compilers U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 01-406 Norcross, Georgia 2001 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GALE A. NORTON, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm name in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. Abstracts and papers included in this proceedings are published as submitted by the authors. For additional information write to: Copies of this report may be purchased from: D. Briane Adams U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services 3850 Holcomb Bridge Road Box 25286 Suite 160 Denver, Colorado 80225-0286 Norcross, Georgia 30092 PREFACE Why the Appalachians? A U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Science Planning Effort Some of nature's most magnificent creations beginning to work together to preserve the on Earth are the picturesque landscape and the landscape of the Appalachians for not only the terrestrial and aquatic inhabitants of the economic future of human residents and the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United natural environment for endemic species, but also States. Mother Nature has been kind to the region for the many millions of visitors who come to but man, often, has not. The Appalachian enjoy the majestic scenery. One such group is the mountains and valleys have been home to a Southern Appalachian Man and Biosphere variety of human cultures, dating back (SAMAB) program, founded in 1988 as a approximately 12,000 years. A series of Native cooperative of Federal agencies that collaborate to American peoples, including most recently the provide information necessary for solving issues Cherokee Nation, inhabited the region prior to related to their natural resource missions and European settlement which began in the 1600's. responsibilities in the Southern Appalachians. All of these peoples have had the desire to reap This cooperation has resulted in numerous efforts the benefits of the land. to identify and correct longstanding problems and Current and historic use of the land ranges to improve management practices in the region. from mineral extraction to agricultural The most comprehensive of these efforts was the development to timber production to industrial Southern Appalachian Assessment (SAA), which and residential development, all of which have was completed in 1996. The assessment provided now threatened the landscape. Many individuals feedback on the current status of the resources of and organizations desire to save the awe and the area and identified many issues that needed to beauty of the Appalachians for the generations to be addressed. To date, there has been no come, in a way that is environmentally and comprehensive effort to follow up and address the economically sustainable. They have tried for issues identified. About the same time that the years to raise alarms that this area is threatened SAA was being completed, the U.S. Geological and worth the attention of all who are interested in Survey (USGS) initiated an effort to develop the an effort of restitution and preservation. Southern Appalachian Critical Ecosystem Residents, environmental groups, land managers, Program (SACEP), a solicited proposal for scientists, business groups, and the multitude of funding under the then National Ecosystem visitors who pass through the national parks and Program, which had initiated work in other parts other public lands located within the Appalachians of the United States, most significantly in have raised these same alarms. There is a need to southern Florida. The SACEP continues to remain not only identify the issues resulting from unfunded. Since that time, the USGS has been anthropogenic pressures on the landscape, but also reorganizing both administratively and to collect the information and conduct the science programmatically. During this reorganization that will allow land managers and policy makers process, the USGS has concentrated on to become better informed and better able to conducting science in an integrated and execute their responsibilities. multidisciplinary manner. As a result, a number of The issues are many air quality, sustainable national issues of concern have been identified, development, threatened and endangered species, with several geographic areas and landscapes invasive species, landscape fragmentation, designated as specific focus areas for scientific watershed modification, ground-water study. Initially, the Appalachians were not contamination, mineral extraction, cultural and considered as one of these specific areas of focus. economic impacts to list just a few. An USGS managers now have become convinced that important awareness has developed in the past the region should be reconsidered as a focus area decade .... individuals, businesses, government for scientific study. Subsequently, USGS agencies, universities, and private groups are scientists and managers from all disciplines throughout the USGS gathered at a workshop in also house the draft science opportunities Gatlinburg, Tennessee, from October 22-26, 2001, document which will be available for review and to share data, scientific results, and ideas. An input. You can also find links to other supporting attempt was made to establish an understanding websites with information on Appalachian region about the current status of science efforts, to resources. We invite you to provide additional develop new collaborative opportunities, and to internet information links that can be added to the further scientific understanding of the issues and website. the impacts on the earth resources of the In summary, the workshop was organized to Appalachians. As a result of this workshop, a draft bring together USGS scientists of all disciplines to "science opportunities" document is currently not only identify their current areas of research in under development in an effort to help set USGS the Appalachian region but to allow them the priorities for investment of resources for the opportunity to become familiar with whom they foreseeable future. In developing this document, may collaborate in future work. We hope that the issues and gaps in scientific understanding are information presented at the workshop and in being identified. The plan will not be successful, these proceedings will not only benefit USGS however, if developed from within the USGS scientists, but will be of value to policy makers alone. It is critical that all USGS partners provide and resource managers in identifying additional their voice in identifying issues and needs for needs for USGS participation in supplying science science information in this region. A second information for the Appalachian region in the workshop scheduled for early 2002 will invite the future. Based upon this information and participation of USGS partners to not only subsequent discussions in the development of the critically review the draft integrated science draft science opportunities document, we hope to opportunities document, but to come with their provide some guidance for investment of USGS issues and needs as identified from their resources for the future. It is hoped that all who perspectives. The needs of USGS partners will be have an interest in USGS science will use these incorporated into a final document that will be proceedings and the draft science opportunities used as a guide by the USGS to focus and seek document to help identify issues and gaps in additional resources for the future. The document information that they would like the USGS to on Appalachian area science opportunities will be provide. Input is not only solicited, but essential, made available to all who have an interest in the along with participation at a second workshop USGS efforts in the Appalachian region. A new planned for the spring of 2002. This workshop USGS website is being developed for the will invite existing and potential USGS partners to Appalachian region participate and provide input to the final science http://www.AppalachianRegionScience.usgs.gov. opportunities document that will be published and At this website, you can find data and information possibly used as a guide for future USGS research on current and past USGS research in the and data collection in the Appalachian region. Appalachian region, and proceedings from the October 2001 USGS workshop. The website will D. Briane Adams iv CONTENTS SESSION I The Southern Appalachians: A Changing World Sandra Clark, Judith Back, Anne Tubiolo, and Elizabeth Romanawc............................................... 3 A Framework for Integrated Science in the Appalachian Mountain Range John D. Peine .................................................................................................................................... 4 Overview of Current and Future Fossil Energy Geoscience in the Eastern Region lone L. Taylor and Senior Scientists of the Eastern Energy Resources Team................................... 14 Land Surface Change and Analysis Dave Kirtland.................................................................................................................................... 15 The Collaborative Environmental Monitoring and Research Initiative in the Northern Appalachian Region Peter Murdoch, Richard Birdsey, and Ken Stolte ............................................................................