APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS NETWORK

**OVERVIEW (8/14/02)**

**1) LIST OF PARKS:**

The Appalachian Highlands Network includes Big South Fork National River
and Recreation Area (BISO), Blue Ridge Parkway (BLRI), Great Smoky
Mountains National Park (GRSM), Obed Wild and Scenic River (OBRI), and,
for the purpose of vital signs planning, the Appalachian Trail (ATPO),
from the southern boundary of Shenandoah National Park, to the trail's
southern terminus, at Springer Mountain, Georgia (see map in powerpoint
presentation).

In their ecological affinities, the network parks can generally be
thought of as belonging to three physiographic regions: the Cumberland
Plateau of Kentucky and Tennessee (BISO and OBRI), and the Blue Ridge
Mountains and "Ridge and Valley" of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee,
and Georgia (BLRI, GRSM, ATPO). The primary natural resource management
focus in the Plateau parks is on the Big South Fork and Obed rivers and
their tributaries. These water courses form steep gorges as they wind
through the Plateau's sandstone geology. In the Blue Ridge mountain
parks, the great vertical relief makes possible a diversity of habitats
and species not found in the surrounding region. Certain communities and
species are restricted to the high elevation sites found in abundance
within these parks. Because of their length, BLRI and ATPO cross several
degrees of latitude, in effect serving as long-distance, high elevation
transects along the crest of the Blue Ridge mountains.

2\) APPROACH TAKEN TO OBTAIN INPUT FROM PARK STAFF AND FROM OUTSIDE
EXPERTS:

A questionnaire was distributed to park resource managers, who attempted
to elicit responses from other relevant divisions in the parks. The
quality of the responses varied; the best replies seemed to come from
the parks that circulated the questions to division chiefs in advance,
and then followed up with a discussion at a park staff (squad) meeting.
Questions included:

-   **What are the most significant resources for which information
    about status and trends is needed?**

-   **What park resources have regional, or even national significance
    due to their unique nature, or because they may serve as indicators
    of regional trends?**

-   **Are there particular resources that the park has special mandates
    or commitments to protect, either by park legislation, in a general
    management plan, or in other laws or planning documents?**

-   **What are the greatest current or prospective internal threats to
    significant park resources?**

-   **What are the greatest external threats?**

-   **Are there significant current or future ecosystem restoration
    projects in the park for which long-term monitoring information is
    needed?**

-   **What is the best way to make monitoring information available to
    interpretive staff?**

-   **(For resource managers) What long-term natural resources
    monitoring projects have been undertaken in the past or are ongoing
    now?**

A network workshop was held to review responses to the questionnaire,
compare issues common to the network parks, and list resource categories
that should be considered important targets for monitoring. The workshop
was primarily for internal (NPS) input, and was attended mostly by
resource managers and scientists from network parks. Subsequently,
questionnaire responses, and workshop results were summarized in tables
(see Attachments), and explained in an "issues synthesis" which provided
a broad landscape perspective on the resources, issues and threats
common to NPS units in the southern Appalachian region (both the
Appalachian Highlands (AHN) and Cumberland Piedmont (CPN) networks).

To obtain input from non-NPS experts, AHN and CPN held a two-day joint
conceptual modeling workshop in the summer of 2002. The two networks
obtained assistance in preparing for the workshop and reporting on the
workshop results, from Dr. Jack Ranney, at the Southern Appalachian
Mountains CESU. The primary charges to workshop participants were to
develop generalized representations of a terrestrial ecosystem, and an
aquatic ecosystem, as well as to furnish a draft list of indicators.
About 40 scientists and resource managers attended the workshop - half
were NPS employees; half had non-NPS affiliations. Participants were
chosen based not only on their particular specializations, but on their
perceived ability to represent broad ecosystem perspectives. The
workshop was divided into an aquatic group and a terrestrial group, with
a mix of specialists (aquatic, terrestrial, ecosystem modelers) placed
in each group to promote "cross-fertilization" of ideas. A facilitator
with a conceptual modeling background moderated the discussion in each
group. The agenda, issues synthesis and tables were mailed to
prospective workshop participants two weeks in advance, to give them
some background coming into the workshop. Participants were asked to
bring any relevant existing conceptual models with them.

The conceptual model report is currently being drafted. An example of
one of the generalized models is attached.

**3) ORGANIZATION:**

-   Board of Directors

> Composed of superintendents from each park and the Regional I&M
> Coordinator (5 members total). The chairmanship rotates every two
> years.

-   Technical Committee

> Composed of a natural resources professional from each network park,
> the NPS CESU representative, plus the network ecologist and
> coordinator (7 members total). Coordinator chairs.

-   Network

> Currently has two staff: Coordinator, and Ecologist. Development of
> base GIS layers, and "data mining" -- primarily for NPSpecies and
> NPBib records, was accomplished through a cooperator during the first
> year. A term data manager will likely be hired in the second year to
> facilitate development of monitoring templates, and a data management
> plan.
>
> Network staff are housed at BLRI. Future hires may be located at other
> network parks to reduce travel time and expense. Benefit of being
> located within parks: regular exposure to park management issues (and
> park "culture") that wouldn't be possible with offices at an off-site
> location.

**4) WHO HAS HELPED IN PLANNING AND DESIGN EFFORTS:**

Park staff have participated in network workshops, and are represented
on the Technical Committee and Board of Directors.As mentioned above,
planning and design have been directed by network staff, with
significant assistance from Dr. Jack Ranney, Director of the Southern
Appalachian Mountains CESU. Under the current Task Order, Dr. Ranney
will continue to assist the AHN and CPN as they prioritize and select
appropriate indicators. A group of non-NPS experts participated in the
conceptual modeling workshop. Some of these people, and some additional
scientists and resource professionals will be invited to subsequent
meetings as the networks refine and finalize their list of vital signs.
A longer list of experts are on a network mailing list, and will be
asked to comment on network reports as they are produced during the
planning process.

**5) MONITORING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:**

During the conceptual modeling workshop, certain generalized "targets
conditions" were suggested (listed below), however, the network hasn't
added to or refined the national goals as of yet. The next steps in
developing the networks conceptual models will involve more specific
consideration of monitoring questions, indicators, target conditions,
and thresholds which may trigger management action.

The generalized target conditions are - Maintenance, Restoration and
Conservation of:

1.  Genetic diversity and biodiversity toward unimpaired conditions \[or
    a particular historical point in time\]. This includes the spatial,
    demographic, and genetic dimensions of diversity for species and
    genetic diversity with species.

2.  Productivity and nutrient status for native ecosystems. This would
    also include the absence of toxics, related bioaccumulation, and
    their effects on biota.

3.  Habitat connectivity, proximity, and geographic scale for many
    species approximating as closely as possible a natural state. This
    includes the maintenance and movement of viable source populations
    to invade and colonize suitable new/restored habitat. This will mean
    incorporating approximations of natural disturbance regimes and
    biogeography over the mosaic of landscape habitats over long time
    periods.

4.  Structure and function of native communities. Structure refers to
    trophic structure, species structure, and physical structure of
    stand-level habitat. Function refers to hydrologic cycling,
    biogeochemical cycling, energy flow, and numerous ecosystem
    services.

5.  Special habitat for sensitive, declining, rare, threatened, and
    endangered species

6\) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES, CONCEPTUAL MODELS, INDICATORS:

Tables listing significant resources and threats are attached.

A very brief summary of significant resources and management issues at
each park follows:

Appalachian Trail (ATPO), from the southern end of Shenandoah National
Park, to the trail's southern terminus at Springer Mtn., GA:

Significant Resources: In total, the trail crosses five I&M networks.
The trail distance within the Appalachian Highlands Network (AHN) is 388
miles, almost all of it on federal (mostly USFS) land. Over 1600
occurrences of globally rare species occur along the entire trail
corridor, the majority of these being within AHN. Of the globally rare
species, 8 G1 species, and 29 G2 species are within the AT corridor
(generally, a 1000 foot wide "zone of influence"). Eight federally
listed species occur within the trail corridor within AHN. Rare and
exemplary communities of the southern portion of the Appalachian Trail,
include high elevation grassy balds, red spruce-Fraser fir forests, high
elevation rocky summits and cliffs, boulderfield forests, heath balds,
rich cove forests, montane white oak forests, high elevation red oak
forests, Carolina hemlock forests, and river gorges.

Management Issues:

-   Invasive exotic species, particularly plants (15 of the southern
    AT's endangered species sites are threatened by invasive exotic
    plants);

-   Water quality, including bogs, seeps, and springs used for drinking
    water by through hikers;

-   Air quality, particularly ozone levels, which regularly exceed EPA
    standards at high elevations;

-   Recreation-related issues, i.e., providing quality recreational
    experiences for trail hikers and minimizing damaging impacts to
    sensitive natural resources

**Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (BISO):**

**Significant Resources:** Park is 125,000 acres in size, third largest
in the NPS Southeast Region. Contains more federally listed freshwater
mussel species (six) than any other NPS unit; and a total of 12
federally listed species. One of the listed plants, and possibly one
fish, are endemic to the Big South Fork drainage. Contains approximately
105 state-listed species. Listed as an Outstanding National Resource
Water (ONRW) in both Tennessee and Kentucky. Contains roughly 700 miles
of cliffline, and 3000 rockshelters. Contains more archeological sites
than any other unit in the NPS Southeast Region. Contains the highest
waterfall in Kentucky. Exemplary natural communities include
"Cumberlandian" boulder/cobble bars, river and tribuatary floodplain
forests, boulderfield forests, small areas of old-growth mixed
mesophytic and hemlock forests, cliffline (both top and bottom) and
rockshelter habitat, rock outcrops, seeps, streamheads, and natural wet
depressions.

**Management Issues:**

-   Oil and gas extraction outside and inside the park boundary. BISO
    has more oil and gas wells (300) than any other NPS unit;

-   Acid mine drainage from upstream and inside the park boundary. BISO
    contains roughly 100 mine shafts from former coal deep mines.

-   Water pollution from upstream logging, industry, development, and
    agriculture;

-   Upstream water withdrawal proposals by local communities;

-   Impact of hunting and fishing (permitted under park legislation);

-   Impact of recreational activities, particularly horseback riding and
    ATV use.

Blue Ridge Parkway (BLRI):

**Significant Resources:** 469 miles long, and 91,000 acres in size.
Contains nine federally listed species -- including a significant
proportion of the remaining regional populations of four of these.
Contains 70 percent of the total known breeding population of the
southern Appalachian Yellow Bellied Sapsucker; and contains of 20
migratory bird species of high conservation priority. BLRI is a
significant migratory bird corridor for neo-tropical migrants because of
its north-south orientation on the edge of the Blue Ridge escarpment.
Contains approx. 10 percent of the remaining red spruce/Fraser fir
forest, and more than half of North Carolina's remaining high elevation
wetlands. Exemplary natural communities include southern Appalachian
grassy balds, heath balds, southern Appalachian mountain bogs, beech
gaps, table mountain/pitch pine communities, boulderfield forests, rock
outcrops and high elevation cliffline communities. BLRI contains 47
state-designated Natural Heritage Areas, comprising 12,500 acres in
Parkway ownership.

**Management Issues:**

-   Air quality. Ozone levels regularly exceed EPA standards, especially
    at higher elevations, a concern impacts on human health as well as
    natural resources; visiblity is severely impaired on many summer
    days;

-   Forest insects and diseases. The northern half of the Parkway
    experiences periodic gypsy moth infestations, resulting in hardwood
    (mostly oak) defoliation and mortality; the moth's range is
    expanding southward. Hemlock woolly adelgid is rapidly expanding its
    range southward along the Parkway in North Carolina. Total mortality
    of eastern and Carolina Hemlock forests, is expected. The Parkway
    contains numerous beech gaps, many of which are infested with beech
    bark scale disease;

-   Visitation is the highest of any unit in the NPS (over 19 million,
    annually). The challenge is to provide for a quality recreational
    experience, while minimizing damage to sensitive natural resources,
    particularly fragile, high elevation communities which are easily
    accessible by the motor road;

-   Poaching. The park's rare plants and animals are extremely
    vulnerable to illegal taking because their accessibility to the
    motor road. Poaching activities are episodic and intensive, often
    supplying large black markets in overseas trade.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM):

**Significant Resources:** 520,000 acres -- second largest NPS unit in
the east. An International Biosphere Reserve, GRSM is renowned for the
diversity of its plant and animal life. Contains the majority of the
remaining old growth forest in the east; seventy-five percent of the
total remaining red spruce/Fraser fir forest; the greatest diversity of
salamanders in North America (30 species); 1600 vascular plants, of
which approximately 150 species are rare and at risk; 130 tree species
-- more than in all of Europe; and roughly 65 vegetation communities
(according to the National Vegetation Classification System). The park
has 11 federally listed species. Exemplary communities include high
elevation grassy balds, heath balds, caves, wetlands, springs,
floodplain forests, old-growth forests of many different types, and 2000
miles of streams.

**Management Issues:**

-   Acid deposition, regional haze and ozone pollution impacts streams,
    soils, vegetation, and visibility and are continuously monitored for
    status and trends. Roughly three quarters of all the utility plant
    emissions generated in the United States is funneled through the
    Smokies. Air quality staff operates the largest and most complex air
    program in the National Park Service;

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-   Forest insects and diseases. Hemlock woolly adelgid was first
    discovered in the park this year in several widely scattered sites
    posing an immediate threat to the largest contiguous tracts of old
    growth eastern hemlock in the east. Beech gaps are threatened by
    beech bark scale disease. Gypsy moth infestation may be less than
    ten years away;

-   Water quality. Related to air quality impacts. Most streams above
    4500 feet are Nitrogen-saturated due to acid deposition; native
    brook trout populations are suffering as a result;

-   Exotic plants and animals, including a large population of European
    wild boar, whose rooting creates extensive damage to small streams
    and vegetation.

Obed Wild and Scenic River (OBRI)

**Significant Resources:** Roughly 5000 acres in size. Forty-five miles
of free-flowing small-to-medium sized rivers, all of which are listed as
Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRW). The only Wild and Scenic
River managed by the Park Service in the southeast. Contains three
federally listed aquatic animals and one listed plant, as well as 20
state-listed plants and animals. Exemplary natural communities include
boulder/cobble bars, old second-growth mixed mesic forests, cliffline
communities (top and bottom), rock outcrops, seeps and springs.

**Management Issues:**

-   Water quantity. Over 2,000 water impoundments have been constructed
    within the OBRI watershed and their effect on the park's hydrology
    and water-related resources is not currently known. Upstream
    development is accelerating, and water withdrawal proposals are
    becoming more frequent. A significant change in the hydrology of the
    system could compromise the purposes for which the park was included
    in the Wild and Scenic Rivers System and jeopardize Federally listed
    aquatic resources;

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-   Water quality. The park is threatened by current development and the
    attendent upstream impacts from coal mining, timber harvesting, and
    oil and gas operations. Increased development and urban growth in
    the watershed have the potential to significantly impact OBRI's
    aquatic habitats.

The next steps in developing the networks conceptual models will involve
more specific consideration of monitoring questions, indicators, target
conditions, and thresholds which may trigger management action.

7\) INTEGRATION OF WATER QUALITY MONITORING, AIR QUALITY, FIRE ETC.

The network has an ongoing two-year agreement with the USGS Water
Resources Division to conduct an assessment/analysis of existing water
quality data (first year), and write a monitoring plan (second year).
The project is nearing the end of the first year. In preparation for
writing the monitoring plan, USGS has been working with the parks to
identify critical management issues, and significant aquatic resources.
USGS attended the first network conceptual model meeting, and will be
invited to attend follow-up sessions. In its timing, the water resources
project is running nearly parallel with the rest of the network vital
signs planning process, and each process has tended to inform and
improve the other.

Toni Maniero, of the Air Quality Division has been a great help to the
Cumberland Piedmont and Appalachian Highlands Networks during the
planning process. She has prepared a report analyzing existing air
quality data, and monitoring efforts in the region, and has recommended
monitoring programs that could help fill gaps in existing data
collection efforts. One avenue the network is exploring involves
monitoring ozone damage on plant species known to be sensitive to that
pollutant.

The network has been working with NPS fire ecologists stationed in GRSM
and Tall Timbers to identify management issues, and their involvement
will continue in the coming months. These same fire personnel have been
assisting the network in identifying the level of fuels mapping detail
needed before network vegetation mapping projects get under way next
year.

8\) SUCCESSES AND STUMBLING BLOCKS:

Good communication with the parks is very important. Initially, we
didn't do as well in updating park staffs on network developments as we
might have, and lost some good will as a result, which we're now trying
to regain by:

-   Sending out monthly written updates to Superintendents and Technical
    Committee members;

-   Holding a combined Board of Directors/Technical Committee meeting to
    review the first year, and plan for the second year's projects;

-   Developing a network brochure explaining progress in vital signs
    process and highlighting inventory projects now underway. The
    brochure will be designed to be informative for park staff, outside
    agency personnel, as well as park visitors;

-   A web-site will probably be created in the near future.

During the vital signs start-up phase, with more network inventories
coming on line each year, it's a challenge for a very small staff to
keep up with all of the monitoring as well as the inventory work. If the
funding is there, its important to take advantage of every opportunity
to employ outside help, so the workload doesn't become overwhelming. As
an example, we worked with a cooperator to help organize a conceptual
modeling workshop, and report on the results. He helped us identify
workshop participants, particularly modelers, who we wouldn't have known
otherwise, and saved us a significant amount of time getting the
workshop together, and writing up the results.

####### ATTACHMENT 1: VITAL SIGNS WORKSHOP : APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS NETWORK

**Great Smoky Mountains National Park October 18-19, 2001**

### Worksheet for Identifying Monitoring Questions/Potential Indicators

+----+------+---------+------+-------------+-------+-------+---------+
| ** | #    | # Man   | #    | # Monitorin | #     | # Pot | #       |
| Pa | Prio | agement |  Sig | g Questions | Poten | entia | Potenti |
| rk | rity |  Issues | nifi |             | tial  | l Coo | al Mana |
| ** |      |         | cant |             | Indic | perat | gement  |
|    |      |         |  Nat |             | ators | ors/  | Actions |
|    |      |         | ural |             |       | Fundi |         |
|    |      |         |  Res |             |       | ng So |         |
|    |      |         | ourc |             |       | urces |         |
|    |      |         | es I |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | mpac |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | ted  |             |       |       |         |
+----+------+---------+------+-------------+-------+-------+---------+
| BI | ME   | **AIR   | Sout | -effects of | Amphi | EPA,  | Public  |
| SO | DIUM | QU      | hern | calcium     | bians | TVA,  | edu     |
|    |      | ALITY** | App  | loss from   |       | US    | cation; |
| BL | HIGH |         | alac | hig         | Ozone | F     | permit  |
| RI |      |         | hian | h-elevation | -sens | orest | review  |
|    | ME   |         | b    | ecosystems  | itive | Se    |         |
| OB | DIUM |         | rook |             | p     | rvice |         |
| RI |      |         | tr   | -effects on | lants |       |         |
|    | HIGH |         | out, | plant       |       |       |         |
| GR |      |         | aqu  | populati    | pa    |       |         |
| SM | HIGH |         | atic | ons/natural | rticu |       |         |
|    |      |         | T&E  | communities | lates |       |         |
| AP |      |         | spec |             |       |       |         |
| PA |      |         | ies, | -visibility | ozone |       |         |
|    |      |         | poss |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | ibly | -human      | Ca/Al |       |         |
|    |      |         | some | health      | ba    |       |         |
|    |      |         | ter  |             | lance |       |         |
|    |      |         | rest |             | in    |       |         |
|    |      |         | rial |             | s     |       |         |
|    |      |         | T&E  |             | tream |       |         |
|    |      |         | spe  |             | water |       |         |
|    |      |         | cies |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | (l   |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | iche |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | ns), |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | hi   |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | gh-e |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | leva |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | tion |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | for  |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | ests |             |       |       |         |
+----+------+---------+------+-------------+-------+-------+---------+
| BI | HIGH | **WATER | E&T  | \- Effects  | Macr  | EPA,  | -Land   |
| SO |      | QUALITY | aqu  | of upstream | o-inv | USGS, | acqu    |
|    | ME   | &       | atic | i           | erteb | COE   | isition |
| BL | DIUM | QUA     | spec | mpoundments | rates |       | to      |
| RI |      | NTITY** | ies, |             |       |       | protect |
|    | HIGH |         | recr | \-          | Amphi |       | sign    |
| OB |      |         | eati | A           | bians |       | ificant |
| RI | HIGH |         | onal | gricultural |       |       | water   |
|    |      |         | fi   | impacts,    | Brook |       | re      |
| GR | HIGH |         | sher | incl.       | trout |       | sources |
| SM |      |         | ies, | erosion,    |       |       | where   |
|    |      |         | hi   | pesticide   | Rip   |       | p       |
| AP |      |         | gh-e | runoff and  | arian |       | ossible |
| PA |      |         | leva | drift,      | birds |       |         |
|    |      |         | tion |             |       |       | -Cor    |
|    |      |         | ec   | -C          | Phy   |       | rection |
|    |      |         | osys | ontaminated | topla |       | of      |
|    |      |         | tems | mine        | nkton |       | point-  |
|    |      |         |      | drainage    |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | impacts     | Z     |       | source  |
|    |      |         |      |             | oopla |       | po      |
|    |      |         |      | -Effects of | nkton |       | llution |
|    |      |         |      | hazmat      |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | spills      | Water |       | p       |
|    |      |         |      |             | chem  |       | roblems |
|    |      |         |      | -Effects of | istry |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | bridge      |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | re          |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | placements, |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | pipelines   |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | -Effects of |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | erosion,    |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | nutrient    |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | runoff      |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | -Why isn't  |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | there more  |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | aquatic     |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | species     |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | diversity   |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | in OBRI?    |       |       |         |
+----+------+---------+------+-------------+-------+-------+---------+
| BI | HIGH | #       | E&T  | -Impacts of | -Macr | OSM,  |         |
| SO |      | ### MIN | pl   | c           | o-inv | state |         |
|    | HIGH | ING, DR | ants | ontaminated | erteb | d     |         |
| BL |      | ILLING  | and  | mine        | rates | epart |         |
| RI |      | (OIL, G | aqu  | drainage    |       | ments |         |
|    |      | AS, COA | atic |             | -fish | of    |         |
| OB |      | L AND O | spe  | -Erosion    |       | geo   |         |
| RI |      | THER MI | cies |             | -     | logic |         |
|    |      | NERALS) |      | -Siltation  | amphi | reso  |         |
| GR |      |         |      |             | bians | urces |         |
| SM |      |         |      | -Direct     |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | impacts     | -sed  |       |         |
| AP |      |         |      | from        | iment |       |         |
| PA |      |         |      | c           | ation |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | onstruction |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      |             | -     |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | -Access     | water |       |         |
|    |      |         |      | issues      | chem  |       |         |
|    |      |         |      |             | istry |       |         |
+----+------+---------+------+-------------+-------+-------+---------+
| BI | HIGH | #       | -S   | -un         | Popul | State |         |
| SO |      | #### HU | ensi | sustainable | ation | wil   |         |
|    | ME   | NTING,  | tive | harvest of  | size  | dlife |         |
| BL | DIUM | FISHING | spe  | sensitive   | and   | age   |         |
| RI |      |         | cies | resources?  | vigor | ncies |         |
|    |      |         |      |             |       |       |         |
| OB |      |         | -    |             |       |       |         |
| RI |      |         | game |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         | spe  |             |       |       |         |
| GR |      |         | cies |             |       |       |         |
| SM |      |         |      |             |       |       |         |
|    |      |         |      |             |       |       |         |
| AP |      |         |      |             |       |       |         |
| PA |      |         |      |             |       |       |         |
+----+------+---------+------+-------------+-------+-------+---------+

+----+------+---------+------+--------------+--------+------+-------+
| ** | #    | # Man   | # Si | # Monitori   | # Po   | # Po | # Pot |
| Pa | Prio | agement | gnif | ng Questions | tentia | tent | entia |
| rk | rity |  Issues | ican |              | l Indi | ial  | l Man |
| ** |      |         | t Na |              | cators | Coop | ageme |
|    |      |         | tura |              |        | erat | nt Ac |
|    |      |         | l Re |              |        | ors/ | tions |
|    |      |         | sour |              |        |  Fun |       |
|    |      |         | ces  |              |        | ding |       |
|    |      |         | Impa |              |        |  Sou |       |
|    |      |         | cted |              |        | rces |       |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+--------+------+-------+
| BI | HIGH | ##### P | -    | -are         | -dec   | -US  | -LE   |
| SO |      | OACHING | Gins | populations  | lining | Fish | reso  |
|    | HIGH |         | eng, | in decline   | popul  | and  | urces |
| BL |      |         | o    | over a large | ations | Wild | prote |
| RI | HIGH |         | ther | portion of   | of     | life | ction |
|    |      |         | m    | their        | d      | Ser  |       |
| OB | HIGH |         | edic | occupied     | esired | vice | -Ma   |
| RI |      |         | inal | range within | sp     |      | rking |
|    |      |         | pl   | the parks?   | ecies, | -S   | of    |
| GR |      |         | ants |              | such   | tate | po    |
| SM |      |         |      |              | as     | wild | ached |
|    |      |         | -    |              | g      | life | p     |
| AP |      |         | comm |              | inseng | and  | lants |
| PA |      |         | erci |              |        | p    | (     |
|    |      |         | ally |              |        | lant | dyes, |
|    |      |         | tr   |              |        | pr   | m     |
|    |      |         | aded |              |        | otec | icrot |
|    |      |         | or   |              |        | tion | race) |
|    |      |         | name |              |        | agen |       |
|    |      |         | ntal |              |        | cies | -     |
|    |      |         | pl   |              |        |      | repla |
|    |      |         | ants |              |        |      | nting |
|    |      |         | (car |              |        |      | c     |
|    |      |         | nivo |              |        |      | onfis |
|    |      |         | rous |              |        |      | cated |
|    |      |         | pla  |              |        |      | p     |
|    |      |         | nts, |              |        |      | lants |
|    |      |         | orch |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | ids, |              |        |      | -r    |
|    |      |         | ga   |              |        |      | emote |
|    |      |         | lax, |              |        |      | se    |
|    |      |         | bla  |              |        |      | nsors |
|    |      |         | zing |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | st   |              |        |      | -p    |
|    |      |         | ars, |              |        |      | ublic |
|    |      |         | tr   |              |        |      | educ  |
|    |      |         | illi |              |        |      | ation |
|    |      |         | ums) |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | -Bog |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | tur  |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | tles |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | (FT) |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | -But |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | terf |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | lies |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | -l   |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | arge |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | nu   |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | mber |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | of   |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | end  |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | emic |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | spe  |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | cies |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | -b   |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | lack |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         | bear |              |        |      |       |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+--------+------+-------+
| BI | HIGH | **I     | Hi   | -are         | -per   | -Ex  | -i    |
| SO |      | NVASIVE | gh-e | s            | manent | otic | ntens |
|    | HIGH | EXOTICS | leva | ensitive/T&E | veg    | pest | ified |
| BL |      | (See    | tion | species      | plots, | p    | re    |
| RI | HIGH | also    | fore | being        | inc    | lant | moval |
|    |      | forest  | sts, | adversely    | luding | coun | of    |
| OB | HIGH | pests   | T&E  | affected?    | dis    | cils | wild  |
| RI |      | and     | spec |              | turbed |      | boar  |
|    | HIGH | dise    | ies, | -rare of     | areas  | -US  |       |
| GR |      | ases)** | hem  | spread of    |        | Fo   | -i    |
| SM |      |         | lock | exotics      | -      | rest | ntens |
|    |      |         | fore |              | distri | Ser  | ified |
| AP |      |         | sts, | -impacts to  | bution | vice | re    |
| PA |      |         | m    | cultural     | and    |      | moval |
|    |      |         | igra | landscapes   | abu    | -S   | of    |
|    |      |         | tory |              | ndance | tate | ag    |
|    |      |         | b    | -are new     | tr     | Agr  | gress |
|    |      |         | irds | exotics      | acking | icul | ively |
|    |      |         | d    | invading the |        | ture | inv   |
|    |      |         | epen | park?        | -sen   | Dep  | ading |
|    |      |         | dent |              | sitive | artm | p     |
|    |      |         | upon |              | s      | ents | lants |
|    |      |         | th   |              | pecies |      |       |
|    |      |         | reat |              | div    | -    |       |
|    |      |         | ened |              | ersity | Nati |       |
|    |      |         | fo   |              | and    | onal |       |
|    |      |         | rest |              | abu    | Fo   |       |
|    |      |         | t    |              | ndance | rest |       |
|    |      |         | ypes |              |        | Fo   |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | unda |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | tion |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        |      |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | -    |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | Sout |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | hern |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | App  |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | alac |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | hian |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | Man  |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | and  |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | the  |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | B    |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | iosp |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | here |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | Fo   |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | unda |       |
|    |      |         |      |              |        | tion |       |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+--------+------+-------+
| BI | ME   | ####    | Elk, | -sustainable | -popu  | S    | -     |
| SO | DIUM |  REINTR | b    | population   | lation | tate | reint |
|    |      | ODUCTIO | ear, | levels?      | size   | wild | roduc |
| BL | ME   | NS OF N | ot   |              | and    | life | tions |
| RI | DIUM | ATIVE W | ter, |              | vigor  | a    | to    |
|    |      | ILDLIFE | p    |              |        | genc | most  |
| OB |      |         | ereg |              |        | ies, | sui   |
| RI |      |         | rine |              |        | US   | table |
|    |      |         | fal  |              |        | Fish | hab   |
| GR |      |         | con, |              |        | and  | itat; |
| SM |      |         | mus  |              |        | Wild | popul |
|    |      |         | sels |              |        | life | ation |
| AP |      |         |      |              |        | Ser  | co    |
| PA |      |         |      |              |        | vice | ntrol |
|    |      |         |      |              |        |      | if    |
|    |      |         |      |              |        |      | nece  |
|    |      |         |      |              |        |      | ssary |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+--------+------+-------+

+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+
| ** | #    | # Man   | # Si | # Monitori   | #     | # Po   | #    |
| Pa | Prio | agement | gnif | ng Questions | Poten | tentia | Pote |
| rk | rity |  Issues | ican |              | tial  | l Coop | ntia |
| ** |      |         | t Na |              | Indic | erator | l Ma |
|    |      |         | tura |              | ators | s/ Fun | nage |
|    |      |         | l Re |              |       | ding S | ment |
|    |      |         | sour |              |       | ources |  Act |
|    |      |         | ces  |              |       |        | ions |
|    |      |         | Impa |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | cted |              |       |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+
| BI | HIGH | **FIRE  | \-   | -rare        | -fi   | US     | -pr  |
| SO |      | MANAG   | T    | species      | re-ad | Forest | escr |
|    | HIGH | EMENT** | able | declining in | apted | Se     | ibed |
| BL |      |         | mo   | absence of   | sp    | rvice; | burn |
| RI | HIGH |         | unta | fire?        | ecies | State  | ing, |
|    |      |         | in/p |              |       | Forest | w    |
| OB | HIGH |         | itch | -rare        | -fu   | Mana   | here |
| RI |      |         | pine | species      | el-lo | gement | app  |
|    | HIGH |         | com  | responding   | ading | ag     | ropr |
| GR |      |         | muni | positively   |       | encies | iate |
| SM |      |         | ties | to           | -     |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | prescribed   | plant |        | -ha  |
| AP |      |         | \-   | fire or      | comm  |        | zard |
| PA |      |         | g    | managed      | unity |        | fuel |
|    |      |         | orge | wildfire?    | c     |        | r    |
|    |      |         | r    |              | ompos |        | educ |
|    |      |         | ims/ |              | ition |        | tion |
|    |      |         | clif |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | ftop |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | com  |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | muni |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | ties |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | \-   |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | na   |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | tive |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | gr   |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | assl |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | ands |              |       |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+
| BI | HIGH | **A     | W    | -   logging  | -ch   | -Local | -Acq |
| SO |      | DJACENT | ater |              | anges | landt  | uisi |
|    | HIGH | L       | and  | -            | in    | rusts, | tion |
| BL |      | ANDUSES | air  | subdivisions | t     | The    | of   |
| RI | HIGH | (DEVE   | qua  |              | rends | Nature | cons |
|    |      | LOPMENT | lity | -            | of    | Conse  | erva |
| OB | HIGH | OUTSIDE |      | impoundments | air   | rvancy | tion |
| RI |      | THE     |      |              | and   |        | e    |
|    | HIGH | PARK)** |      | -            | water | -      | asem |
| GR |      |         |      | agricultural | qu    | Forest | ents |
| SM |      |         |      |     impacts  | ality | Stewa  |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       | rdship | -pu  |
| AP |      |         |      | -   sources  | -ch   | P      | blic |
| PA |      |         |      |     of       | anges | rogram | e    |
|    |      |         |      |     invasive | in    |        | duca |
|    |      |         |      |     exotics  | land  |        | tion |
|    |      |         |      |              | use   |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | -            |       |        | -    |
|    |      |         |      | incompatible | -sens |        | Best |
|    |      |         |      |     landuse  | itive |        | Ma   |
|    |      |         |      |     on       | sp    |        | nage |
|    |      |         |      |              | ecies |        | ment |
|    |      |         |      |   inholdings | popul |        | P    |
|    |      |         |      |              | ation |        | ract |
|    |      |         |      | -   coal     | l     |        | ices |
|    |      |         |      |     mining   | evels |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | -   oil &    |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |     gas      |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |   extraction |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | -   f        |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | ragmentation |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |     of       |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |     forests, |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |    isolation |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |     of       |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |     wildlife |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |     & plant  |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |  populations |       |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+
| BI | HIGH | **REST  | Fede | -Are         | -     | US     | Res  |
| SO |      | ORATION | rall | minelands    | plant | Fish   | tora |
|    | HIGH | OF      | y-li | being        | comm  | and    | tion |
| BL |      | NATIVE  | sted | restored to  | unity | Wi     | and  |
| RI | HIGH | VEG     | T&E  | suitable     | c     | ldlife | mo   |
|    |      | ETATION | pla  | native       | ompos | Se     | nito |
| OB |      | (in     | nts, | vegetation?  | ition | rvice, | ring |
| RI |      | cluding | o    |              |       | Office | of   |
|    |      | oil and | ther | -hi          | -abun | of     | h    |
| GR |      | gas     | rare | gh-elevation | dance | S      | igh- |
| SM |      | site    | pla  | grassland    | and   | urface | prio |
|    |      | restora | nts, | restoration  | dive  | Mining | rity |
| AP |      | tion)** | neo  |              | rsity |        | s    |
| PA |      |         | trop |              | of    |        | ites |
|    |      |         | ical |              | f     |        |      |
|    |      |         | m    |              | aunal |        |      |
|    |      |         | igra |              | spe   |        |      |
|    |      |         | tory |              | cies, |        |      |
|    |      |         | b    |              | esp.  |        |      |
|    |      |         | irds |              | birds |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+

+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+
| ** | #    | # Man   | # Si | # Monitori   | #     | # Po   | #    |
| Pa | Prio | agement | gnif | ng Questions | Poten | tentia | Pote |
| rk | rity |  Issues | ican |              | tial  | l Coop | ntia |
| ** |      |         | t Na |              | Indic | erator | l Ma |
|    |      |         | tura |              | ators | s/ Fun | nage |
|    |      |         | l Re |              |       | ding S | ment |
|    |      |         | sour |              |       | ources |  Act |
|    |      |         | ces  |              |       |        | ions |
|    |      |         | Impa |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | cted |              |       |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+
| BI | HIGH | **W     | -T&E | -is          | -T&E  | US     | -al  |
| SO |      | ETLAND, | mus  | integrity of | sp    | Army   | tera |
|    | HIGH | FLO     | sels | wetlands     | ecies | Corps  | tion |
| BL |      | ODPLAIN | and  | compromised  |       | of     | of   |
| RI |      | PROTE   | fish | by offsite   | -comm | Engi   | w    |
|    |      | CTION** |      | or onsite    | unity | neers, | ater |
| OB |      |         | -T&E | activities?  | c     | US     | rele |
| RI |      |         | pl   |              | ompos | Fish   | ases |
|    |      |         | ants | -rare        | ition | and    | from |
| GR |      |         |      | species      |       | Wi     | upst |
| SM |      |         |      | trends       | -     | ldlife | ream |
|    |      |         |      |              | soils | Se     | impo |
| AP |      |         |      |              |       | rvice, | undm |
| PA |      |         |      |              | -hydr | N      | ents |
|    |      |         |      |              | ology | atural |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       | Res    | -acq |
|    |      |         |      |              |       | ources | uisi |
|    |      |         |      |              |       | Conser | tion |
|    |      |         |      |              |       | vation | of   |
|    |      |         |      |              |       | S      | h    |
|    |      |         |      |              |       | ervice | eadw |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | ater |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | a    |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | reas |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | and  |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | w    |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | ater |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | sou  |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | rces |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+
| BI | HIGH | **RECRE | -w   | Effects of:  | -soil | -volu  | Con  |
| SO |      | ATIONAL | ater |              | ero   | nteers | trol |
|    | HIGH | OV      | qua  | -Climbing    | sion/ |        | or   |
| BL |      | ERUSE** | lity |              | compa | -univ  | di   |
| RI | HIGH |         |      | -ATV use     | ction | ersity | vert |
|    |      |         | -    |              |       | recrea | recr |
| OB | HIGH |         | rare | \- Horse use | -T&E  | tional | eati |
| RI |      |         | pl   |              | pla   | ecol   | onal |
|    | HIGH |         | ants | \-           | nts/a | ogists | uses |
| GR |      |         |      | Whitewater   | nimal |        | w    |
| SM |      |         | -    | boating      | popul |        | here |
|    |      |         | rare |              | ation |        | ne   |
| AP |      |         | ani  | -Trail       | t     |        | eded |
| PA |      |         | mals | maintenance  | rends |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | -Trampling   |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | -Mou         |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | ntain-biking |       |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+
| BI | HIGH | **INH   | -w   | \- lack of   | -er   | Local  | Acq  |
| SO |      | OLDINGS | ater | protection   | osion | landt  | uire |
|    | HIGH | WITHIN  | qua  | for          |       | rusts, | l    |
| BL |      | THE     | lity | inholdings   | -sedi | The    | ands |
| RI | HIGH | PARK    |      | d            | mient | Nature | or   |
|    |      | B       | -s   | etrimentally | ation | Conser | cons |
| OB |      | OUNDARY | ensi | affecting    |       | vancy, | erva |
| RI |      | (Lack   | tive | the Park's   | -rare | Trust  | tion |
|    |      | of      | habi | ability to   | sp    | for    | e    |
| GR |      | protec  | tats | manage its   | ecies | Public | asem |
| SM |      | tion)** | /spe | resources?   | popul | Land   | ents |
|    |      |         | cies |              | ation |        |      |
| AP |      |         |      |              | l     |        |      |
| PA |      |         |      |              | evels |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              | -     |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              | water |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              | qu    |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              | ality |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+
| BI | HIGH | **CONST | -    | -   Bridge   | -soil |        | -    |
| SO |      | RUCTION | rare |              | er    |        | deta |
|    | HIGH | AND     | spe  | replacement/ | osion |        | iled |
| BL |      | DEVE    | cies | construction |       |        | p    |
| RI | HIGH | LOPMENT |      |              | -     |        | lann |
|    |      | WITHIN  | -w   | -            | water |        | ing, |
| OB |      | THE     | ater |    Pipelines | qu    |        | anal |
| RI |      | PARK**  | qua  |              | ality |        | ysis |
|    |      |         | lity | -   Power    |       |        | in   |
| GR |      |         |      |     lines    | -rare |        | adv  |
| SM |      |         |      |              | sp    |        | ance |
|    |      |         |      | -            | ecies |        | of   |
| AP |      |         |      | Recreational | popul |        | ac   |
| PA |      |         |      |              | ation |        | tion |
|    |      |         |      |   facilities | l     |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |              | evels |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | -            |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |  Maintenance |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |     & use of |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |     roads    |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |     and      |       |        |      |
|    |      |         |      |     trails   |       |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+
| BI | HIGH | *       | \-   | -   related  | -rare | US     | -c   |
| SO |      | *FOREST | Sp   |              | sp    | Forest | hemi |
|    | HIGH | PESTS   | ruce |  detrimental | ecies | Se     | cal, |
| BL |      | AND     | -fir |     changes  |       | rvice, | bi   |
| RI | HIGH | D       | for  |     in       | -     | State  | olog |
|    |      | ISEASES | ests |              | birds | Depar  | ical |
| OB | HIGH | (see    |      |    community |       | tments | con  |
| RI |      | also    | \-   |              | -veg  | of     | trol |
|    | HIGH | i       | hem  | composition, | plots | Agric  | w    |
| GR |      | nvasive | lock |     both     | &     | ulture | here |
| SM |      | exo     | for  |     plant    | f     |        | app  |
|    |      | tics)** | ests |     and      | orest |        | ropr |
| AP |      |         |      |     animal?  | pest  |        | iate |
| PA |      |         | -t   |              | plots |        |      |
|    |      |         | able | -   -adverse |       |        | -mo  |
|    |      |         | mo   |     effects  |       |        | nito |
|    |      |         | unta |     to T&E   |       |        | ring |
|    |      |         | in/p |     species? |       |        | of   |
|    |      |         | itch |              |       |        | sp   |
|    |      |         | pine |              |       |        | read |
|    |      |         | com  |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | muni |              |       |        | -pu  |
|    |      |         | ties |              |       |        | blic |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | e    |
|    |      |         | -s   |              |       |        | duca |
|    |      |         | ugar |              |       |        | tion |
|    |      |         | m    |              |       |        |      |
|    |      |         | aple |              |       |        | -co  |
|    |      |         | and  |              |       |        | llec |
|    |      |         | b    |              |       |        | tion |
|    |      |         | eech |              |       |        | and  |
|    |      |         | for  |              |       |        | pres |
|    |      |         | ests |              |       |        | erva |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | tion |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | of   |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | na   |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | tive |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | s    |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | tock |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | for  |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | even |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | tual |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | re   |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | plan |
|    |      |         |      |              |       |        | ting |
+----+------+---------+------+--------------+-------+--------+------+

+----+------+---------+------+-----------+----------+--------+------+
| ** | #    | # Man   | # Si | # Mo      | # Pote   | # Po   | #    |
| Pa | Prio | agement | gnif | nitoring  | ntial In | tentia | Pote |
| rk | rity |  Issues | ican | Questions | dicators | l Coop | ntia |
| ** |      |         | t Na |           |          | erator | l Ma |
|    |      |         | tura |           |          | s/ Fun | nage |
|    |      |         | l Re |           |          | ding S | ment |
|    |      |         | sour |           |          | ources |  Act |
|    |      |         | ces  |           |          |        | ions |
|    |      |         | Impa |           |          |        |      |
|    |      |         | cted |           |          |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+-----------+----------+--------+------+
| BI | HIGH | **SLOPE | -str | -can      |          | USGS,  |      |
| SO |      | FA      | eams | l         |          | NRCS?  |      |
|    |      | ILURE** |      | andslides |          |        |      |
| BL |      |         | -cer | be        |          |        |      |
| RI |      |         | tain | predicted |          |        |      |
|    |      |         | rare | with      |          |        |      |
| OB |      |         | p    | better    |          |        |      |
| RI |      |         | lant | geologi   |          |        |      |
|    |      |         | com  | cal/soils |          |        |      |
| GR |      |         | muni | mapping?  |          |        |      |
| SM |      |         | ties |           |          |        |      |
|    |      |         | (Ca  | -Are      |          |        |      |
| AP |      |         | in's | anakeesta |          |        |      |
| PA |      |         | re   | -impacted |          |        |      |
|    |      |         | edgr | streams   |          |        |      |
|    |      |         | ass) | r         |          |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | ecovering |          |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | after     |          |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | slides?   |          |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+-----------+----------+--------+------+
| BI | HIGH | **      | -    | -is       | -he      | -state | -    |
| SO |      | OVERPOP | rare | ove       | rbaceous | wi     | hunt |
|    | ME   | ULATION | he   | rflooding | species  | ldlife | ing, |
| BL | DIUM | OF      | rbac | of        | decline  | ag     | with |
| RI |      | NATIVE  | eous | sensitive |          | encies | i    |
|    |      | SPECIES | pla  | wetlands  | -        |        | ncre |
| OB |      | (DEER,  | nts, | by beaver | flooding |        | ased |
| RI |      | BEAR,   | some | n         |          |        | har  |
|    |      | BE      | T&E  | egatively | -T&E     |        | vest |
| GR |      | AVER)** |      | impacting | species  |        | lim  |
| SM |      |         |      | rare      |          |        | its, |
|    |      |         |      | species?  |          |        | in   |
| AP |      |         |      | (swamp    |          |        | p    |
| PA |      |         |      | pink)     |          |        | arks |
|    |      |         |      |           |          |        | w    |
|    |      |         |      | -is       |          |        | here |
|    |      |         |      | over      |          |        | this |
|    |      |         |      | -browsing |          |        | is   |
|    |      |         |      | by deer   |          |        | all  |
|    |      |         |      | seriously |          |        | owed |
|    |      |         |      | affecting |          |        |      |
|    |      |         |      | rare      |          |        | -be  |
|    |      |         |      | plants?   |          |        | aver |
|    |      |         |      |           |          |        | pond |
|    |      |         |      |           |          |        | leve |
|    |      |         |      |           |          |        | ling |
|    |      |         |      |           |          |        | dev  |
|    |      |         |      |           |          |        | ices |
+----+------+---------+------+-----------+----------+--------+------+
| BI |      | **      | -al  | -effects  | -cold    | NOAA   |      |
| SO |      | CLIMATE | pine | on        | -adapted |        |      |
|    |      | C       | re   | high-     | spe      |        |      |
| BL |      | HANGE** | lict | elevation | cies/com |        |      |
| RI |      |         | com  | endemic   | munities |        |      |
|    |      |         | muni | species,  |          |        |      |
| OB |      |         | ties | co        |          |        |      |
| RI |      |         |      | mmunities |          |        |      |
|    |      |         | -hi  |           |          |        |      |
| GR |      |         | gh-e |           |          |        |      |
| SM |      |         | leva |           |          |        |      |
|    |      |         | tion |           |          |        |      |
| AP |      |         | T&E  |           |          |        |      |
| PA |      |         | spe  |           |          |        |      |
|    |      |         | cies |           |          |        |      |
+----+------+---------+------+-----------+----------+--------+------+
| BI |      | **      | -r   | -are      | -repr    | US     | -re  |
| SO |      | GENETIC | are, | intr      | oductive | Fish   | intr |
|    |      | C       | T&E  | oductions | fitness, | and    | oduc |
| BL |      | ONTAMIN | spe  | detr      | es       | Wi     | tion |
| RI |      | ATION** | cies | imentally | pecially | ldlife | of   |
|    |      |         |      | affecting | in rare  | S      | gen  |
| OB |      |         |      | native    | species  | ervice | etic |
| RI |      |         |      | species?  |          |        | s    |
|    |      |         |      |           |          |        | tock |
| GR |      |         |      |           |          |        | from |
| SM |      |         |      |           |          |        | app  |
|    |      |         |      |           |          |        | ropr |
| AP |      |         |      |           |          |        | iate |
| PA |      |         |      |           |          |        | sou  |
|    |      |         |      |           |          |        | rces |
+----+------+---------+------+-----------+----------+--------+------+

**ATTACHMENT 2: APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS NETWORK - - VITAL SIGNS WORKSHOP
(October 18-19, 2001)**

### Table of Significant Natural Resources

+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+
| ## | # N           | #          | # NA   | #                        |
| ## | ATURAL RESOUR | NATURAL RE | TURAL  |  NATURAL RESOURCES SIGNI |
| #  | CES SIGNIFICA | SOURCES SI | RESOUR | FICANT FOR OTHER REASONS |
| PA | NT TO ENABLIN | GNIFICANT  | CES SI |                          |
| RK | G LEGISLATION | TO OTHER L | GNIFIC |                          |
|    |               | EGAL MANDA | ANT TO |                          |
|    |               | TES/POLICY |  PERFO |                          |
|    |               |            | RMANCE |                          |
|    |               |            |  MANAG |                          |
|    |               |            | EMENT  |                          |
|    |               |            | GOALS  |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               |            | (GPRA) |                          |
+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+
| AP | Nationally    | 8          | -resto | -8 G1 and 29 G2 species  |
| PA | significant   | Federa     | ration |                          |
|    | scenic and    | lly-listed | of     | -Globally-imperilled     |
|    | natural       | species:   | dis    | communities, including   |
|    | qualities of  |            | turbed |                          |
|    | lands through | -Carolina  | lands  | red spruce-Fraser fir    |
|    | which the     | northern   |        | forests, Southern        |
|    | trail passes  | flying     | -in    | Appalachian grassy       |
|    |               | squirrel   | vasive | balds, Southern          |
|    |               |            | exotic | Appalachian Mountain     |
|    |               | -Virginia  | plants | bogs                     |
|    |               | northern   |        |                          |
|    |               | flying     | -ID of |                          |
|    |               | squirrel   | vital  |                          |
|    |               |            | signs  |                          |
|    |               | -          | for    |                          |
|    |               | spruce-fir | moni   |                          |
|    |               | moss       | toring |                          |
|    |               | spider     |        |                          |
|    |               |            | -water |                          |
|    |               | -spreading | q      |                          |
|    |               | avens      | uality |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -Roan      | -T&E   |                          |
|    |               | Mountain   | s      |                          |
|    |               | bluet      | pecies |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -rock      |        |                          |
|    |               | gnome      |        |                          |
|    |               | lichen     |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -          |        |                          |
|    |               | Shenendoah |        |                          |
|    |               | salamander |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Wetlands/f |        |                          |
|    |               | loodplains |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Migratory  |        |                          |
|    |               | birds      |        |                          |
+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+
| BI | -"unique      | 12         | -resto | -Old growth forests      |
| SO | gelogic,      | Federa     | ration |                          |
|    | biological    | lly-listed | of     | -Wetlands                |
|    | and scenic    | species:   | dis    |                          |
|    | values"       |            | turbed | -Cliffs, rock outcrops,  |
|    |               | -chaffseed | lands  | cobble bar habitat       |
|    | -preservation | (historic) |        |                          |
|    | of Big South  |            | -      | -harvested wildlife and  |
|    | Fork of       | -          | exotic | fish                     |
|    | Cumberland    | Cumberland | animal |                          |
|    | River and     | sandwort   | c      | -bear, elk, otter        |
|    | major         |            | ontrol | (recently reintroduced)  |
|    | portions of   | -          |        |                          |
|    | its Clear     | Cumberland | -re    | -fire-dependent          |
|    | Fork and New  | rosemary   | introd | communities              |
|    | River stems   |            | uction |                          |
|    | and their     | -Virginia  | of     |                          |
|    | tributaries   | spiraea    | fire   |                          |
|    | as natural    |            |        |                          |
|    | free-flowing  | -          | -in    |                          |
|    | streams       | Cumberland | vasive |                          |
|    |               | elktoe     | exotic |                          |
|    | -preservation |            | plants |                          |
|    | of the        | -Cum       |        |                          |
|    | natural       | berlandian | -T&E   |                          |
|    | integrity of  | combshell  | s      |                          |
|    | the scenic    |            | pecies |                          |
|    | gorges and    | -          |        |                          |
|    | valleys       | littlewing | -water |                          |
|    |               | pe         | q      |                          |
|    |               | arlymussel | uality |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -oyster    | -ID of |                          |
|    |               | mussel     | vital  |                          |
|    |               |            | signs  |                          |
|    |               | -tan       | for    |                          |
|    |               | r          | moni   |                          |
|    |               | iffleshell | toring |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -          |        |                          |
|    |               | Cumberland |        |                          |
|    |               | bean       |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -duskytail |        |                          |
|    |               | darter     |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -re        |        |                          |
|    |               | d-cockaded |        |                          |
|    |               | woodpecker |        |                          |
|    |               | (historic) |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Water      |        |                          |
|    |               | qualit     |        |                          |
|    |               | y/quantity |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Oil/ga     |        |                          |
|    |               | s/minerals |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Wetlands/f |        |                          |
|    |               | loodplains |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Migratory  |        |                          |
|    |               | birds      |        |                          |
+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+

+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+
| ## | # N           | #          | # NA   | #                        |
| ## | ATURAL RESOUR | NATURAL RE | TURAL  |  NATURAL RESOURCES SIGNI |
| #  | CES SIGNIFICA | SOURCES SI | RESOUR | FICANT FOR OTHER REASONS |
| PA | NT TO ENABLIN | GNIFICANT  | CES SI |                          |
| RK | G LEGISLATION | TO OTHER L | GNIFIC |                          |
|    |               | EGAL MANDA | ANT TO |                          |
|    |               | TES/POLICY |  PERFO |                          |
|    |               |            | RMANCE |                          |
|    |               |            |  MANAG |                          |
|    |               |            | EMENT  |                          |
|    |               |            | GOALS  |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               |            | (GPRA) |                          |
+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+
| BL | None          | 8          | -T&E   | -Wetlands-mountain bogs  |
| RI | specified in  | Federa     | s      |                          |
|    | original      | lly-listed | pecies | -High priority bird      |
|    | legislation;  | species:   |        | species identified in    |
|    | mission       |            | -comp  | regional bird            |
|    | statement     | -Carolina  | letion | conservation Plans       |
|    | addresses     | northern   | of     |                          |
|    | conservation  | flying     | n      | -Globally imperiled      |
|    | of            | squirrel   | atural | communities, including   |
|    | significant   |            | re     | red spruce-Fraser fir    |
|    | natural       | -Virginia  | source | forests, Southern        |
|    | resources and | big-eared  | inven  | Appalachian grassy       |
|    | outstanding   | bat        | tories | balds, Southern          |
|    | scenic        |            |        | Appalachian Mountain     |
|    | qualities.    | -bog       | -resto | bogs, high-elevation     |
|    |               | turtle     | ration | rock outcrops/cliffs,    |
|    |               |            | of     | vernal pools             |
|    |               | -spreading | dis    |                          |
|    |               | avens      | turbed | -alpine relict           |
|    |               |            | lands; | communities              |
|    |               | -sma       | conta  |                          |
|    |               | ll-whorled | inment | -old-growth forests      |
|    |               | pogonia    | of     |                          |
|    |               |            | ta     | -fire-adapted            |
|    |               | -          | rgeted | communities              |
|    |               | swamp-pink | distur |                          |
|    |               |            | bances | -Southern Appalachian    |
|    |               | -Heller's  |        | endemics                 |
|    |               | blazing    |        |                          |
|    |               | star       |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -rock      |        |                          |
|    |               | gnome      |        |                          |
|    |               | lichen     |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Approx.    |        |                          |
|    |               | 100        |        |                          |
|    |               | St         |        |                          |
|    |               | ate-listed |        |                          |
|    |               | species    |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Wetlands/f |        |                          |
|    |               | loodplains |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Migratory  |        |                          |
|    |               | birds      |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Peaks of   |        |                          |
|    |               | Otter      |        |                          |
|    |               | salamander |        |                          |
|    |               | (Co        |        |                          |
|    |               | nservation |        |                          |
|    |               | Plan)      |        |                          |
+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+
| GR | -"wild birds, | 11         | -dis   | -Old growth forest       |
| SM | fish,         | Federa     | turbed |                          |
|    | animals,      | lly-listed | land   | -Grassy balds            |
|    | plants,       | species:   | resto  |                          |
|    | springs,      |            | ration | -Caves                   |
|    | trees, wood,  | -spreading |        |                          |
|    | underwood"    | avens      | -in    | -high-elevation          |
|    |               |            | vasive | spruce-fir forests       |
|    | -timber,      | -rock      | exotic |                          |
|    | mineral       | gnome      | plants | -Cliffs, rock outcrops   |
|    | deposits,     | lichen     |        |                          |
|    | "natural      |            | -T&E   | -High-priority bird      |
|    | curiosities   | -Virginia  | s      | species identified in    |
|    | or wonderful  | spiraea    | pecies | regional bird            |
|    | objects"      |            |        | conservation plans       |
|    |               | -Carolina  | -air   |                          |
|    |               | northern   | q      | -1/3-1/2 of the world's  |
|    |               | flying     | uality | landsnail diversity      |
|    |               | squirrel   |        |                          |
|    |               |            | -water | -major center of         |
|    |               | -Indiana   | q      | evolutionary             |
|    |               | bat        | uality | diversification for      |
|    |               |            |        | Plethodontid salamanders |
|    |               | -gray bat  | -e     |                          |
|    |               |            | stabli | -endemic species         |
|    |               | -re        | shment |                          |
|    |               | d-cockaded | of     |                          |
|    |               | woodpecker | lon    |                          |
|    |               | (e         | g-term |                          |
|    |               | xtirpated) | moni   |                          |
|    |               |            | toring |                          |
|    |               | -spotfin   | p      |                          |
|    |               | chub       | rogram |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -smoky     |        |                          |
|    |               | madtom     |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -yellowfin |        |                          |
|    |               | madtop     |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -          |        |                          |
|    |               | spruce-fir |        |                          |
|    |               | moss       |        |                          |
|    |               | spider     |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Wetlands/f |        |                          |
|    |               | loodplains |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Migratory  |        |                          |
|    |               | birds      |        |                          |
+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+

+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+
| ## | # N           | #          | # NA   | #                        |
| ## | ATURAL RESOUR | NATURAL RE | TURAL  |  NATURAL RESOURCES SIGNI |
| #  | CES SIGNIFICA | SOURCES SI | RESOUR | FICANT FOR OTHER REASONS |
| PA | NT TO ENABLIN | GNIFICANT  | CES SI |                          |
| RK | G LEGISLATION | TO OTHER L | GNIFIC |                          |
|    |               | EGAL MANDA | ANT TO |                          |
|    |               | TES/POLICY |  PERFO |                          |
|    |               |            | RMANCE |                          |
|    |               |            |  MANAG |                          |
|    |               |            | EMENT  |                          |
|    |               |            | GOALS  |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               |            | (GPRA) |                          |
+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+
| OB | -Free-flowing | 4          | -dis   | -Old growth forest       |
| RI | streams       | Federa     | turbed |                          |
|    |               | lly-listed | land   | -Cliffs/rock outcrops    |
|    | -Good water   | species:   | rest   |                          |
|    | quality       |            | oarion | -wetlands                |
|    |               | -          |        |                          |
|    | -relatively   | Cumberland | -in    | -Allegheney woodrats     |
|    | undevelolped  | rosemary   | vasive |                          |
|    | shorelines    |            | exotic | -fire-maintained         |
|    |               | -purple    | plants | communities              |
|    | -scenic       | bean       |        |                          |
|    | values        |            | -T&E   | -streamheads/seeps       |
|    |               | -Alabama   | s      |                          |
|    | -"fish and    | lampshell  | pecies | -stream corridor         |
|    | wildlife      | (historic) |        | communities              |
|    | values"       |            | -water |                          |
|    |               | -spotfin   | q      |                          |
|    |               | chub       | uality |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | -re        | -ID of |                          |
|    |               | d-cockaded | vital  |                          |
|    |               | woodpecker | signs  |                          |
|    |               | (historic) | for    |                          |
|    |               |            | moni   |                          |
|    |               | -Indiana & | toring |                          |
|    |               | gray bats  |        |                          |
|    |               | (?)        |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Water      |        |                          |
|    |               | quality    |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Geology    |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Oil/ga     |        |                          |
|    |               | s/minerals |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Wetlands/f |        |                          |
|    |               | loodplains |        |                          |
|    |               |            |        |                          |
|    |               | Migratory  |        |                          |
|    |               | birds      |        |                          |
+----+---------------+------------+--------+--------------------------+

**ATTACHMENT 3: Conceptual Model Example from Draft Network Report**.
The more detailed "working" terrestrial ecological conceptual model
illustrates the drivers/stressors, responses, and some important
relationships between them. Also included at the bottom is a list of
potential indicators.