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You are here: Home / OLD National Capital Region's Biennial Spotlight on National Park Resources / Spotlight Posters on National Park Resources

Spotlight Posters on National Park Resources

Evaluating Effect of Climate Change on River Flows in the Clinch River Basin

A new project by the U.S. Geological Survey is evaluating the potential cascading effects to river flows and quality aquatic habitat due to changes in climate within an ecologically important area of the Appalachian LCC. A greater understanding of likely flow changes within the Virginia portion of the Clinch River Basin will allow managers to better respond to alterations and degradation of physical habitat. Information and results from this study will also provide managers with methods to be applied throughout the Appalachian LCC region. (Photo by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries)

Evaluating Effect of Climate Change on River Flows in the Clinch River Basin - Read More…

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.
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.

Publication Date: 2014

DOWNLOAD FILE — PDF document, 5,289 kB (5,416,132 bytes)

Riparian Restoration to Promote Climate Change Resilience in Eastern U.S. Streams

Provision of shade via riparian restoration is a well-established management adaptation strategy to mitigate against temperature increases in streams. Effective use of this strategy depends upon accurately identifying vulnerable, unforested riparian areas in priority coldwater stream habitats. An innovative riparian planting and restoration decision support tool 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.

Riparian Restoration to Promote Climate Change Resilience in Eastern U.S. Streams - Read More…

Summary of Q3 2012 TOT Reviews

This file contains the combined technical comments of TOT members.
This file contains the combined technical comments of TOT members.

DOWNLOAD FILE — PDF document, 70 kB (72,000 bytes)

Abstract and Progress Report for Q3 2012

Abstract and progress report from the Vendor for the Ecological Flows Project.
Abstract and progress report from the Vendor for the Ecological Flows Project.

DOWNLOAD FILE — PDF document, 163 kB (167,292 bytes)

2nd Quarter, 2013 TOT Comments

Review of Quarterly Report by Technical Oversight Team
Review of Quarterly Report by Technical Oversight Team

DOWNLOAD FILE — PDF document, 67 kB (68,761 bytes)

Ecological Flows 2nd Quarter Report, 2013

Report from Vendors of the Aquatic Ecologic Flows Project.
Report from Vendors of the Aquatic Ecologic Flows Project.

DOWNLOAD FILE — PDF document, 17 kB (17,491 bytes)

Aquatic Ecological Flows Phase 1 Report

The 1st phase of the Aquatic Ecological Flows project involved reviewing existing tools and gathering available data within the project area on hydrologic and ecological flow model(s) that would be suitable for the region. This Report details that work.
Aquatic Ecological Flows Phase 1 Report
The 1st phase of the Aquatic Ecological Flows project involved reviewing existing tools and gathering available data within the project area on hydrologic and ecological flow model(s) that would be suitable for the region. This Report details that work.

Publication Date: 2013

DOWNLOAD FILE — PDF document, 1,077 kB (1,103,248 bytes)

Stream Impacts from Water Withdrawals Phase 1 Report

The 1st phase of this research project involved reviewing existing tools and gathering available data within the project area on hydrologic and ecological flow model(s) that would be suitable for the region.
Stream Impacts from Water Withdrawals Phase 1 Report
The 1st phase of this research project involved reviewing existing tools and gathering available data within the project area on hydrologic and ecological flow model(s) that would be suitable for the region.

Publication Date: 2013

DOWNLOAD FILE — PDF document, 1,077 kB (1,103,248 bytes)

Interior Low Plateau subregion climate change vulnerability species assessments

These results are a compilation of climate change vulnerability assessments in the western portion of the LCC, covering the area from Western Kentucky, northeastern Alabama and western Tennessee west to southern Indiana and southeastern Illinois. Results included are from Bruno et al. (Cumberland Piedmont Network of the National Park Service; and Walk et al. 2011 (illinois). It also includes the results from species assessed as part of the current study (Sneddon et al. 2015).
Interior Low Plateau subregion climate change vulnerability species assessments
Interior Low Plateau subregion
These results are a compilation of climate change vulnerability assessments in the western portion of the LCC, covering the area from Western Kentucky, northeastern Alabama and western Tennessee west to southern Indiana and southeastern Illinois. Results included are from Bruno et al. (Cumberland Piedmont Network of the National Park Service; and Walk et al. 2011 (illinois). It also includes the results from species assessed as part of the current study (Sneddon et al. 2015).

Publication Date: 2015

Credits: Nicholas School of the Environment of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Peoria, IL NatureServe, Arlington, VA

Fair Use OK

Source: Bruno, C., P. Hartger, L. Mendenhall, and E. Myron. 2012. Assessing the potential effects of climate change on species in the Cumberland Piedmont Network of the National Park Service. Masters Project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Environmental Management degree in the Nicholas School of Environment, Duke University. Sneddon, L. and M. Schlesinger. 2015. Climate change vulnerability analysis of selected species of the Appalachian LCC Region. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. Walk, J., S. Hagen, and A. Lange. 2011. Adapting conservation to a changing climate: An update to the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan. 2011. Report to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Illinois Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.

DOWNLOAD FILE — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet, 2,256 kB (2,310,941 bytes)

Central Appalachian subregion climate change vulnerability species assessments Excel Spreadsheet

These results are a compilation of climate change vulnerability assessments in the northern-most portion of the LCC, covering the area from New York south to West Virginia and Virginia, west to Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Results included are Byers and Norris 2011 (West Virginia); Furedi et al. 2011 (Pennsylvania), Ring et al. 2013 (New Jersey), Schlesinger et al. 2011 (New York); Virginia Division of Natural Heritage 2010 (Virginia). It also includes the results from species assessed as part of the current study (Sneddon et al. 2015).
These results are a compilation of climate change vulnerability assessments in the northern-most portion of the LCC, covering the area from New York south to West Virginia and Virginia, west to Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Results included are Byers and Norris 2011 (West Virginia); Furedi et al. 2011 (Pennsylvania), Ring et al. 2013 (New Jersey), Schlesinger et al. 2011 (New York); Virginia Division of Natural Heritage 2010 (Virginia). It also includes the results from species assessed as part of the current study (Sneddon et al. 2015).

Publication Date: 2015

Credits: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Elkins, WV New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, NY New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Departement of Environmental Protection, Trenton,NJ Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pittsburgh, PA NatureServe, Arlington, VA

Fair Use OK

Source: Byers, E. and S. Norris. 2011. Climate change vulnerability assessment of species of concern in West Virginia. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Elkins, WV. Furedi et al. 2011. Identifying specines in Pennsylvania potentially vulnerable to climate change. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pittsburgh, PA. Ring, Richard M., Elizabeth A. Spencer, and Kathleen Strakosch Walz. 2013. Vulnerability of 70 Plant Species of Greatest Conservation Need to Climate Change in New Jersey. Schlesinger, M.D., J.D. Corser, K.A. Perkins, and E.L. White. 2011. Vulnerability of at-risk species to climate change in New York. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, NY. Schlesinger, M.D., J.D. Corser, K.A. Perkins, and E.L. White. 2011. Vulnerability of at-risk species to climate change in New York. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, NY. Sneddon, L., H. Galbraith, M. Schlesinger, and B. Young. 2015. Climate change vulnerability analysis of selected species of the Appalachian LCC Region. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. (in prep).

DOWNLOAD FILE — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet, 4,115 kB (4,214,664 bytes)

Cumberland - Southern Appalachian Climate Change Vulnerability Species Assessments

These results are a compilation of climate change vulnerability assessments in the southeastern portion of the LCC, covering the area from southern West Virginia, south to Alabama, west to eastern Kentucky and Tennessee. Hyperlinks to additional information are separated into two additional spreadsheets, one for aquatic and subterranean, and another for terrestrial species.

Click Here to View the Spreadsheet Online

Click Here to Download the Excel Spreadsheet

Additional Information on Aquatic and Subterranean Species

Additional Information on Terrestrial Species

Interior Low Plateau Climate Change Vulnerability Species Assessments

These results are a compilation of climate change vulnerability assessments in the western portion of the LCC, covering the area from Western Kentucky, northeastern Alabama and western Tennessee west to southern Indiana and southeastern Illinois.

Click Here to View the Spreadsheet Online

Click Here to Download the Excel Spreadsheet


Central Appalachian Climate Change Vulnerability Species Assessments

These results are a compilation of climate change vulnerability assessments in the northern-most portion of the LCC, covering the area from New York south to West Virginia and Virginia, west to Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.

Click Here to View the Spreadsheet Online

Click Here to Download the Excel Spreadsheet

Final Report: A Stream Classification for the Appalachian LCC

A classification system and map was developed for stream and river systems in the Appalachian LCC region, encompassing parts of 17 states. The product is intended to complement state-based stream classifications by unifying them into a single consistent system that represents the region’s natural flowing aquatic habitats. The results can be used to understand ecological flow relationships and inform conservation planning for aquatic biodiversity in the region.

Download the PDF

or read it online:

Stream Classification System for the Appalachian LCC

Stream in Cascades Park in western VirginiaStream classification information is essential to develop and implement flow standards and water management recommendations that will sustain aquatic biodiversity. Unfortunately, standardized information was lacking for the Appalachian landscape. The goal of this project was to develop a state-based, consistent stream classification system for aquatic ecosystems in the region.

Unifying state-based stream classifications into a single consistent system, principal investigators at The Nature Conservancy developed a hierarchical classification system and map for stream and river systems for the Appalachian LCC that represents the region’s natural flowing aquatic habitats. It represents aquatic habitat types across this region in a manner that is appropriate and useful for building ecological flow ecology relationships and other conservation planning tools.

The study includes a "Story Map" illustrating the mapped classification system for streams and rivers, a report describing the methods used to evaluate and develop the classification system, a literature review of existing stream classifications, and a GIS stream data set. The results from this project can be used to understand ecological flow relationships and inform conservation planning for aquatic biodiversity in the region.

View a video presentation by Mark Anderson and Arlene Olivero Sheldon of The Nature Conservancy, which provides an overview of The Stream Classification System research, design, and major deliverables.

Background Materials: Climate Change Vulnerability in the Appalachians

Background Materials: Climate Change Vulnerability in the Appalachians - Read More…

Phase I: Alternatives for Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Expert Panel Findings PDF

How should the Appalachian LCC acquire information about species and habitat vulnerability to large-scale impacts in the Appalachians? This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of a seven-member Expert Panel that sought to answer this question identified as a major research priority. The Panel addressed three aspects of the question: the selection of species and habitats to assess, approaches to vulnerability assessment, and the availability of downscaled climate data.
Phase I: Alternatives for Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Expert Panel Findings PDF
How should the Appalachian LCC acquire information about species and habitat vulnerability to large-scale impacts in the Appalachians? This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of a seven-member Expert Panel that sought to answer this question identified as a major research priority. The Panel addressed three aspects of the question: the selection of species and habitats to assess, approaches to vulnerability assessment, and the availability of downscaled climate data.

Publication Date: 2014

DOWNLOAD FILE — PDF document, 1,326 kB (1,357,846 bytes)

Classification and Mapping of Cave and Karst Resources

Cave and karst systems are unique environments that occur throughout the Appalachians. They provide habitat for a diverse array of species and are an important source of domestic water supply for Appalachian communities. However, a lack of classification and mapping information on these ecosystems creates a significant barrier to conservation.

Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama.In order to develop and deliver landscape-level planning tools, it is essential to create an Appalachian-wide map depicting where cave and karst habitats and resources occur across the landscape. Despite other efforts to classify and map karst systems of the United States, the more fine-scale classification and mapping data for biodiversity and resource management were still needed.

Researchers from an array of organizations and institutions were funded by the Appalachian LCC to gather and analyze data on caves and karst region wide. The project first summarized pre-existing efforts to collect and present karst resource information and developed an appropriate classification system for karst habitats within Appalachia. From this foundational work, researchers next produced a series of deliverables, including data tables, geospatial information layers, and maps. The maps and other products provide a comprehensive overview of available data for examining relationships between environmental factors and biological diversity and distribution within karst areas of the Appalachian LCC.

A visual survey compiles all this information and guides users to what this project has accomplished, as well as new questions and results that would interest end-users. This vital spatial information on the physical and biological resources of cave and karst systems – compiled by researchers at American University, U.S. Geological Survey, University of the South, University of Illinois, and University of Florida - is now being incorporated into landscape conservation planning for the region.

View a video presentation by Dr. David Culver of American University, which provides an overview of the unique cave and karst ecosystems of the Appalachians as well as the research and decision support tools created from this Appalachian LCC funded project.

Interactive Conservation Planning for the Appalachian LCC

The Appalachian LCC is currently engaged in an effort to develop a draft regional conservation plan for the Cooperative using an interactive and iterative spatial prioritization framework. Using available data and modeling approaches that are well supported in the literature, researchers from Clemson University are developing conservation planning models that include site selection, ecological threat assessments, and broad ranging habitat and ecological connectivity analyses.

Interactive Conservation Planning for the Appalachian LCC - Read More…