Atlantic coast joint venture waterfowl implementation plan
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Threats: The increase in residential development, thought not yet at rates commensurate with other portions of the state, is the greatest threat to habitats in the focus area. Anecdotal information from landowners in the area suggests that some marshes have changed vegetative types over the past twenty years, possibly due to sea level rise in the area. Although the area does not have large amount of exotic invasives at present, concerns continue that these species may gain a foothold in the area. Conservation Recommendations: Continued acquisition and protection of land in a series of conservation corridors will help this area retain its usefulness for migratory birds. Prior-converted crop fields and farmed wetland pasture that are restored to wetland habitat provide excellent waterfowl habitat and receive high use in these areas. Continued restoration of these sites will help wintering and staging waterfowl populations. 7.2.18 West Virginia 
Figure 7.19. West Virginia waterfowl focus areas. 
Planning Area: Allegheny Highlands Focus Areas: Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Tygart Valley Wetlands
Area Description: Canaan Valley, the major component of the Allegheny Highlands Planning Area, contains the largest wetland area in West Virginia, making up 39% of the state’s wetlands. The total planning area encompasses 24,974 hectares (61,713 acres). It contains the one of the largest shrub swamp and bog complexes in the eastern United States. With an average elevation of 975 meters (3,200 feet) above sea level and a 14,164 hectares (35,000 acres) watershed, Canaan Valley is the highest valley of its size east of the Rocky Mountains. The Valley’s high altitude and cold, humid climate has maintained a unique relict boreal ecosystem that supports many plant and animal communities typical of areas far to the north. Forty different plant communities exist in the valley, consisting of more than 580 different species of plants. One hundred and nine species have distinctively northern ranges and twenty-five are listed as rare in West Virginia. The area’s diverse habitat supports equally diverse wildlife populations, with 280 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes known or expected to occur there. This includes populations of federally-threatened Cheat Mountain salamander and endangered West Virginia northern flying squirrel, and migratory Indiana bat and Bald Eagle. Ownership/Protection: There are 9,712 hectares (24,000 acres) identified for protection in the Canaan Valley alone for this planning area. Currently 6,169 hectares (15, 245 acres) are protected on the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). This includes 2,245 hectares (5,549 acres) of wetland habitat. The wetlands include those in the valley proper and numerous perched wetlands, springs and beaver ponds in the uplands surrounding the valley. There are currently 3,543 hectares (8,755 acres) within the refuge acquisition boundary owned by either large power companies or private individuals. Almost all of the wetlands and riparian habitat in Preston and Randolph Counties is privately owned. Special Recognition: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognized Canaan Valley as a significant wetland and a priority for protection under the federal Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986. This act was part of the founding legislation for the Canaan Valley NWR. The Canaan Valley was recognized under the National Natural Landmark Program (National Park Service) in 1974 because of its diverse assemblage of relict boreal plant communities and wetlands. The Emergency Wetland Resources Act identifies five additional priority wetlands in Preston and Randolph counties. Waterfowl: Canada Goose were introduced in Canaan Valley during the late sixties and early seventies and although considered resident population Canada Goose they are migratory. This flock winters in North Carolina, an area that has experienced a decline in their wintering goose populations. The Allegheny Highlands Planning Area supports nesting Black Duck, Mallard and Wood Duck, and is a stopover point for migrating Black Duck, Mallard, Green-wing Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser and other species. Table 1. Waterfowl Species Using the Allegheny Highlands Planning Area.
Other Migratory Birds: The Allegheny Highlands Planning Area is adjacent to the Allegheny Front, an important interior migratory pathway for land birds. Canaan Valley is nationally recognized as a breeding and fall migration staging area for the American Woodcock, and supports many other migratory species, including waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and neotropical migrants. Common Snipe and Northern Goshawk nest in the valley, representing the southeastern most extension of their breeding range; Rough-legged Hawk winter in the Valley. Other species found in the Valley listed as rare or of special concern at both the federal and state levels including: Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and Golden Eagle. Threats: Threats to the Canaan Valley Focus Area include residential and commercial development, peat mining operations, draining and ditching wet meadows for agricultural production and logging operations. Large portions of land in Canaan Valley are still owned by Allegheny Power Company which could be sold for development. All terrain vehicle (ATV) use throughout the valley continues to degrade wetlands and alter hydrologic flows. Exotic pests currently threaten both the balsam fir and American beech stands in the valley. Agriculture, logging, and development threaten upland buffer and riparian habitat in Randolph and Preston Counties. Conservation Recommendations: Opportunities for habitat restoration and preservation are numerous in the Allegheny Highlands Planning Area. Partnerships with private landowners and businesses could address wetland protection and water quality issues. Other actions could include eliminating ditches for agriculture in wet meadows to restore the natural hydrology of the area and enhance wetland values. Reforestation could occur in logged upland areas of the surrounding watershed to prevent erosion and reestablish red spruce and northern hardwood forest communities. Extensive work is required to reestablish historic water flows throughout the Canaan Valley where they have been interrupted and diverted through road construction and ATV damage. The remaining privately-owned land with the Canaan Valley NWR acquisition boundary should be purchased. Specific wetlands along with sufficient upland buffer should be acquired in Randolph and Preston counties. Riparian habitat along the Tygart Valley River in Randolph County should be protected through acquisition or easement. P lanning Area: Eastern Panhandle, West Virginia
Focus Areas: None
Area Description: The planning area, approximately 197,567 hectares (488,197 acres) is made up of the three easternmost counties in West Virginia, Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan bordering the Potomac River to the north and the Shenandoah River to the east. These large rivers in addition to numerous spring fed streams and wetlands interspersed in an area dominated by agriculture provide abundant productive habitat for many species including waterfowl. Ownership/Protection: The ownership pattern in the region is federal, state, county and town. The majority of property in the region is privately owned. The region is dominated by agriculture and possesses some of the best farmland in West Virginia. Orchards, grain crops, cattle and horses are all raised in the region. Special Recognition: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognize six major wetland complexes as priority wetlands under the federal Emergency Wetland Resources Act. The majority of these wetlands are characterized as alkaline fens and support many state rare species. The Service recognizes that some of the small open water systems in Berkeley County support populations of endangered Northeastern bulrush and several streams in Morgan and Berkeley Counties support populations of the endangered Harperella. The Nature Conservancy has protected several wetlands/wetland complexes in the region and is actively working to several others. Waterfowl: The region has many wetlands, streams, and rivers. Many of these are spring fed and flow year round providing excellent nesting, rearing, and wintering habitat. Species breeding in the area include Wood Duck, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, and Canada Goose. These areas are also used by many waterfowl species, including Black Duck, for migration stopover during the spring and fall migrations. Table 1. Waterfowl species using the Eastern Panhandle Planning Area.
Other Migratory Birds: The variety of habitats in the region results in a diverse assemblage of birds. Non waterfowl species include wading birds, raptors (including Bald Eagle and Osprey), neotropical migrant songbirds, and year round resident songbirds. Threats: The region is the fastest developing region in West Virginia. Farms and natural habitats utilized by wildlife are being developed for residential and commercial purposes at a rapid pace. Riparian habitat in the region continues to deteriorate due to unrestricted livestock grazing and clearing by residential landowners. Non point and point-source pollution sources continue to affect water quality in some surface and groundwater systems. Conservation Recommendations: Disturbances to wintering and nesting bird populations need to be minimized or eliminated entirely, especially in riparian areas and around wetlands. This can be accomplished by acquiring conservation easements and/or excluding livestock from sensitive habitats.
Planning Area: Meadow River, West Virginia Focus Area: Meadow River Wetlands
Area Description: This planning area encompasses 360,558 hectares (890,955 acres) of Greenbrier and Summers Counties in southeastern West Virginia. The planning area includes the Meadow River wetlands which is West Virginia’s second largest contiguous wetland complex making up 8 % of the state’s total nonchannel wetland acres. The area is known for its botanical significance as the most northerly extension of a southern pin oak forest in the United States. The area seasonally floods providing excellent waterfowl nesting and migratory habitat and is a wintering area for Black Duck and Mallard when not frozen. Additionally, the area’s unique hydrological situation provides varied palustrine-emergent systems to numerous game and nongame species both resident and migratory. Also included in this planning area are portions of the New and Greenbrier River corridors and Bluestone Lake. These rivers and their riparian zones are very important to wintering waterfowl because they often have the only open water in the area during freezing weather. Bluestone Lake is part of the mid-winter waterfowl survey in West Virginia. Total waterfowl counts in this segment range from the 150 when much of the lake is frozen to over 1,000 in milder weather. Ownership/Protection: Land ownership within the planning area is predominately private including both individual and corporate holdings. There is also a significant amount of land in public ownership including portions of the focus areas. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources owns 1,009 hectares (2,495 acres) in the Meadow River wetlands complex. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns Bluestone Lake and the National Park Service owns 24 hectares (60 acres) of riparian habitat and islands on the New River below Bluestone Lake. Special Recognition: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognize the Meadow River wetlands as a priority wetland under the Federal Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986. It is also identified as a priority wetland by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Six federal species of concern (formerly C2), 9 West Virginia listed species of special concern, and more than 30 species or plant communities listed as rare by the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, are found in the focus area. Waterfowl: The Meadow River Planning Area and Meadow River Wetlands Focus Area provide breeding, migration and/or wintering habitat for many species of waterfowl. Snow and ice cover can limit wintering capacity in severe winters. Wetland restoration in the Meadow River wetlands could significantly increase nesting. Table 1. Waterfowl Species Using the Meadow River Wetlands Focus Area.
Other Migratory Birds: The riparian corridor of the Greenbrier and New River Valleys, along with the adjacent uplands provide habitat for a variety of species. Many of the high priority species identified for the Appalachian Bird Conservation Region (BCR 28) can be found breeding in these areas. Among these are the Cerulean Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Wood Thrush, Worm-eating Warbler, and Acadian Flycatcher. The Meadow River wetland complex supports some of the highest densities of breeding Swainson’s Warbler in West Virginia. Other priority species that can be found within this wetland complex include the Kentucky Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, and the Virginia Rail. In addition, this planning area provides key stopover sites for both migrating landbirds as well as wetland dependent species. Threats: Agriculture and development continue to erode the quality of riparian habitat along the Greenbrier River. Logging impacts the pin oak overflow forest in and the upland buffer around, the Meadow River wetlands. Point and non-point source pollution impacts water quality. Conservation Recommendations: The remaining private lands within the Meadow River wetlands purchase area boundary, both wetlands and upland buffer, should be purchased. Prior converted wetlands in the Meadow River area should be restored once acquired. Riparian habitat along the Greenbrier and New rivers should be protected and/or restored by a combination of easements, purchase, and fencing.
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