-
Report: Riparian Prioritization and Status Assessment for Climate Change Resilience of Coldwater Stream Habitats within the Appalachian and Northeastern Regions
-
Among a host of other critical ecosystem functions, intact riparian forests can help to reduce vulnerability of coldwater stream habitats to warming regional temperatures. Restoring and conserving these forests can therefore be an important part of regional and landscape-scale conservation plans, but managers need science and decision-support tools to help determine when these actions will be most effective. To help fill this need, we developed the Riparian Prioritization for Climate Change Resilience (RPCCR) web-based decision support tool to quickly and easily identify, based on current riparian cover and predicted vulnerability to air temperature warming, sites that are priority candidates for riparian restoration and conservation.
Located in
Tools & Resources
/
Riparian Restoration Decision Support Tool
-
Resilient Economic Agricultural Practices
-
REAP (Resilient Economic Agricultural Practices), formerly known as the Renewable Energy Assessment Project, was initially organized to quantitatively assess the impacts of crop residue (e.g., corn stover) on soil properties. The project's current vision is to revitalize soil health and resiliency, thereby enabling soil resources to meet expanding societal demands while safe-guarding planetary health. Goals include 1) Identifying physical, chemical, or biological parameters and index tools that quantify management effects on carbon sequestration and soil health; 2) Conducting coordinated, quantitative multi-location comparisons of business as usual vs. improved management practices designed to enhance nutrient use efficiency and soil health; 3) Identification of critical indicators and index tools to quantify site-specific soil health and water quality effects; 4) Developing, expanding, and coordinating among ARS teams providing data and databases needed to sustainably supply cellulosic-based bioenergy feedstock and other national natural resource and agricultural challenges.
Located in
Resources
/
General Resources Holdings
-
Reviewing Existing Tools and Data on Hydrologic and Ecologic Flow Models
-
The Aquatic Ecological Flows project reviewed existing tools and gathered available data within the project area on hydrologic and ecological flow models that would be suitable to use for the region.
Located in
News & Events
-
Reviewing Studies of Caves and Subterranean Biodiversity
-
A status review of studies from the cave and karst classification and mapping research project examined an array of research regarding cave environments, cave/karst biodiversity, and previous techniques for mapping and modeling such ecosystems.
Located in
News & Events
-
Reviewing the Literature on Freshwater Classification Frameworks
-
A “Literature Review of Freshwater Classification Frameworks” by Principle Investigators at The Nature Conservancy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory reviewed aquatic and hydrological classifications and frameworks that have been developed at a variety of spatial scales and evaluates which could be applied for use by the Cooperative.
Located in
News & Events
-
Riparian Prioritization and Status Assessment for Climate Change Resilience of Coldwater Stream Habitats within the Appalachian and Northeastern Regions
-
Among a host of other critical ecosystem functions, intact riparian forests can help to reduce vulnerability of coldwater stream habitats to warming regional temperatures. Restoring and conserving these forests can therefore be an important part of regional and landscape-scale conservation plans, but managers need science and decision-support tools to help determine when these actions will be most effective. To help fill this need, we developed the Riparian Prioritization for Climate Change Resilience (RPCCR) web-based decision support tool to quickly and easily identify, based on current riparian cover and predicted vulnerability to air temperature warming, sites that are priority candidates for riparian restoration and conservation.
Located in
Research
/
Riparian Restoration
-
Riparian Restoration Appendix 1: Canopy Cover Statistics
-
Canopy Cover by State.
Located in
Tools & Resources
/
Riparian Restoration Decision Support Tool
-
Riparian Restoration Appendix 1: Canopy Cover Statistics
-
Canopy Cover by State.
Located in
Research
/
Riparian Restoration
-
Riparian Restoration Decision Support Tool Fact Sheet
-
An innovative web-based tool - funded by the Appalachian Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) and developed by researchers from the U.S. Forest Service and the University of Massachusetts - is allowing managers to rapidly identify high-priority riparian targets for restoration to make more resilient in preparation for changes in future climate. The Riparian Restoration Prioritization to Promote Climate Change Resilience (RPCCR) tool identifies vulnerable stream and riverbanks that lack tree cover and shade in coldwater stream habitats. By locating the best spots to plant trees in riparian zones, resource managers can provide shade that limits the amount of solar radiation heating the water and reduces the impacts from climate change. This well-established management strategy will benefit high-elevation, cold-water aquatic communities.
Located in
Resources
/
How-To Guides and Handouts
-
Riparian Restoration to Promote Climate Change Resilience Tool
-
An innovative riparian planting and restoration decision support tool, funded by the Appalachian LCC, is now available to the conservation community. This user-friendly tool allows managers and decision-makers to rapidly identify and prioritize areas along the banks of rivers, streams, and lakes for restoration, making these ecosystems more resilient to disturbance and future changes in climate. It will also help the conservation community invest limited conservation dollars wisely, helping to deliver sustainable resources.
Located in
Research
/
Riparian Restoration
