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Wood County Commission receives briefing on Mountaineer Trail Network
by Duane Nichols 03 Jan '22

03 Jan '22

https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2022/01/wood-county-commiss… Wood County Commission receives briefing on Mountaineer Trail Network From an Article by Larry Launstein Jr., Parkersburg News & SentinelJanuary 3, 2022 A sign is shown on a trail at Mountwood Park. The park is planned to be part of the Mountaineer Trail Network, spanning 15 counties in northern West Virginia. (Photo by Art Smith) PARKERSBURG — The Mountaineer Trail Network, in northern West Virginia, will offer free recreational opportunities for everyone, especially hikers, mountain bike riders and boat users. Trails at Mountwood Park in Wood County and North Bend State Park in Wood and Ritchie counties are under consideration to be part of the network of anchored trails, said Chris Swarr, president of the Wood County Parks and Recreation Commission, with others yet to be determined. Ultimately, the network will cover 15 counties, including Wood, Doddridge and Ritchie counties. Swarr also said the network will consist of state and private trails. “It’s going to be a series of the best non-motorized trails in Northern West Virginia,” he said. Swarr said the network will be closely modeled after the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, a series of five to 10 individual trails in southern West Virginia. Senate Bill 317, signed into law by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice in 2019, set the tone for what the Mountaineer Trail Network could become. It’s an effort to build tourism around an existing trail complex involving Mountwood Park and North Bend State Park. Swarr spoke to the Wood County Commission about the network last week. “I was really surprised about the amount of people partaking in this (using the trails),” Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said. “The more they improve the trails, the more people will use them.” According to a press release, the goal is for the network to become the best non-motorized trail in the eastern United States. The press release said the Friends of the Cheat has been awarded $1.1 million to start the network by the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Power Initiative. Friends of the Cheat spent 20 years restoring the Cheat River watershed and helps provide recreational opportunities in the area. Also involved is Down Street Strategies of Morgantown, an environmental-based recreational firm. According to the press release, the benefits beyond recreational opportunities include: * Inclusion in a large-scale branding and marketing effort to try to bring non-local, overnight visitors throughout the U.S. to the area. * Assistance with funding and long-term planning for trail maintenance to ensure the trails stay world-class. * Liability protection for private landowners participating once they enter a contract with MTNRA. The document sets a goal of finalizing operating procedures in 2022 and having an executive director in place by 2024. Another goal for trail and tourism planning involves reviewing each county’s trails and tourism assets, conducting inventories, preparing for finalist trail networks and providing targeted business assistance to get the area ready for large-scale tourism from 2022 to 2024. In 2024, they are looking to enter into executive agreements with landowners to recognize from four to eight trail systems. As far as branding and marketing goals for 2022 to 2024, they look to create brands and marketing materials for the network and build out an interactive web presence for the network, consisting of designing, procuring and installing signage and other print materials for recognized trails. And finally, in 2024, organizers want to start designing their first order of Mountaineer Trail Network merchandise, plan and implement opening events at each recognized trail center, and open the network for business.

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UD professor Douglas Tallamy hopes to save native species, one lawn at a time | News | newarkpostonline.com
by DUANE NICHOLS 01 Dec '21

01 Dec '21

https://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/ud-professor-douglas-tallamy-hopes-to… Standing in a garden of native plants on the University of Delaware campus, UD professor Douglas Tallamy puts his hand on an oak tree, one of the many species he hopes to encourage people to grow in their own yards. “It’s a grassroots solution, and the goal is to convert 50 percent of the area that’s in lawns now to functional ecosystems,” Tallamy said. Tallamy started the nonprofit Homegrown National Park with the help of Michelle Alfandari in the fall of 2020. The organization helps homeowners transform their yards from plots with nothing but grass into ecosystems full of native plants like the ones at UD. “It’s our effort to reach beyond the choir,” Tallamy said. “I’ve been lecturing to the choir for 15 years, a choir of people who already get it.” Tallamy met Alfandari when she attended a talk he gave in Connecticut about biodiversity. “He motivates you to take action by telling you that you are empowered to turn this around to regenerate biodiversity,” Alfandari said. Homegrown National Park’s website has an interactive map showcasing individuals who have contributed to the project by turning their yards into homes for native plants. The site currently counts over 11,000 participants. Tallamy’s goal is to move the focus of conservation from public lands, like national and state parks, to private land, which represents the vast majority of land in the U.S. He said 78 percent of land in the United States is privately owned, with 86 percent of land east of the Mississippi being privately owned. “For this to work, you need to reach tens of millions of people – all the people who don’t have any clue that their little piece of earth is important for the future of this country,” Tallamy said. He said the health of an ecosystem can be measured by the number of caterpillar species, because caterpillars are an important food for birds. Approximately 96 percent of birds raise their young on insects. “Most of those insects are caterpillars,” Tallamy said. “So you get rid of your caterpillars, you’ve gotten rid of your birds.” Tallamy said there are four things every ecosystem needs to accomplish: sequester carbon dioxide, manage the watershed, support the local food web and support pollinators. “A lawn does none of those,” Tallamy said. “It’s the worst plant for carbon sequestration. It destroys watersheds rather than manages them. It doesn’t support any pollinators, and it doesn’t support any food webs.” His latest book, “The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees,” published in 2021, focuses on oaks because the native species supports over 950 species of caterpillars, far more than other trees. The problems facing Delaware’s ecology – climate change, the extinction crisis, overpopulation of deer and invasive species – are all linked together. Humans and nature cannot exist separately, Tallamy added, since our actions impact areas like White Clay Creek State Park that are often considered pristine untouched nature. “You go to White Clay Creek, walk around, and over a third of that vegetation is from China,” Tallamy said. Tallamy’s interest in conservation began when he was in third grade and a bulldozer filled in a pond near Tallamy’s childhood home, killing his favorite toads. “I pursued it in the same way that everybody did,” Tallamy said. “I thought we had to preserve what wasn’t wrecked yet. I never once thought about enhancing our yard where I lived. It never occurred to me. Nature was someplace else.” Tallamy’s shift toward public advocacy started when he moved to Oxford, Pa., and saw how invasive plants covered his lawn. He worked with an undergraduate conducting research into how invasive plants damage the food web for insects, which in turn hurts bird populations. An article on his research got picked up by the Associated Press, leading to a bird club in Pennsylvania inviting him to give a speech. “My message is that you can help turn this around,” Tallamy said. “People get excited about that. I get four talk requests a day now.” Tallamy’s own garden is a testament to native plants, with 10 species of oaks living along with 120 genera of woody plants on his 10-acre property in Oxford. Newark Neighbors is a biweekly column that spotlights everyday Newarkers who have an interesting story. Know somebody who should be featured? Contact reporter Matt Hooke at mhooke(a)chespub.com.

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Inaugural WV TRAIL Conference Energizes Mass Effort for Statewide Trails Movement
by DUANE NICHOLS 30 Nov '21

30 Nov '21

https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2021/november/23/inaugural-wv-trail… Inaugural WV TRAIL Conference Energizes Mass Effort for Statewide Trails Movement Kelly Pack is RTC's trail development director and a driving force behind many successul rail-trail projects around the country. Pack recently served as a lead author for RTC's 2013 America's Rails-with-Trails report. Posted 11/23/21 by Kelly Pack in America's Trails As part of the conference program, longtime West Virginia trail advocates Peggy Pings, Ella Belling and Amanda Pitzer celebrate Ella’s recognition as a leader of trail advocacy on the Mon River Rail-Trail System in Morgantown. | Photo courtesy Amanda Pitzer Exciting happenings in West Virginia last week—as local and national trail advocates gathered virtually for the inaugural WV TRAIL Conference (Nov. 16–18, 2021). Hosted by WV TRAIL, the National Park Service – Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, Friends of the Cheat and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), the conference brought together more than 250 people with the goal of building a broad network of trail planners, managers and advocates from across the Mountain State. Special thank you to the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, whose generous support to the Mountain State Trail Alliance and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy made this conference possible. In his keynote address on Tuesday, Nov. 16, Peter Harnik, RTC co-founder and author of “From Rails To Trails: The Making of America’s Active Transportation Network,” highlighted West Virginia’s role and good standing as a national leader in rail-trail development, noting the nearly 600 miles of rail-trails that crisscross the state. RELATED: Top 10 Trails in West Virginia West Virginia Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby emphasized the demand for trails in her welcome remarks. “I regularly meet with local officials across the state, and I’ve never had a meeting where somebody didn’t say, ‘What can I do to get more trails in my area?’” said Ruby. “It’s the hot topic.” Rich Edwards, the outdoor recreation infrastructure coordinator for West Virginia University’s Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative emphasized the importance of trails in boosting West Virginia’s economy. He stated, “Our dream is a West Virginia that is known as a place for outdoor recreation ... the energy from this conference makes me think that dream is being realized.” Caperton Trail along the Mon River in Morgantown, West Virginia | Courtesy RTC Conference attendees heard from a variety of panelists and speakers who shared inspiring stories, lessons learned and recommendations for building a trails movement in West Virginia. On Wednesday, RTC’s Vice President of Communications, Brandi Horton, joined Flatwater Trail Commission leader Bill Currey and West Virginia-based communications strategist James Hersick to share stories and strategies for communicating the impact of trails. The closing session on Thursday, “Trail Advocacy in Action,” highlighted the role and importance of engaging state, local and federal officials to support investment in trail development at all levels of government. State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Ohio), State Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-Ind.) and Andrea LaFontaine, executive director of the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, spoke about the impact of legislative trails caucuses—which have built support and momentum for trail development in Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin in recent years—while Mayor Amy Goodwin (Charleston, West Virginia), Mayor Sam Felton (Marlinton, West Virginia) and Amy Dingle of Five Rivers MetroParks (Dayton, Ohio) shared successful strategies for engaging decisionmakers at the local level. To round things out, Marianne Fowler, RTC’s senior strategist for policy advocacy, provided a helpful overview of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and its potential impact for West Virginia communities. Analysis: Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Passes With New Opportunities for Trails, Walking and Biking Greenbrier River Trail in Marlinton, West Virginia | Photo by TrailLink user tarwheel Along with nonmotorized trail groups from across the Mountain State, RTC is contributing to the trail movement in West Virginia by creating and connecting a broad network of trail advocates and users through our leadership in the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition and beyond. We look forward to supporting WV TRAIL, the new statewide trails organization that aims to increase the awareness of and appreciation for trails of all kinds—with a mission to develop a vibrant network of trail leaders who will work toward expanding trail systems throughout West Virginia.

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Can a Better Understanding of Fungi Help Restore Northeastern Forests? | Sierra Club
by DUANE NICHOLS 29 Nov '21

29 Nov '21

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/can-better-understanding-fungi-help-resto… Can a Better Understanding of Fungi Help Restore Northeastern Forests? Why we should respect soil as a living organism By Lela Nargi, Sierra Club Magazine, Nov 24 2021 In the northeastern United States, deciduous hardwood forests have been experiencing declines for decades. A new study from Clark University and the Nature Conservancy, for example, found that New York and New England have been losing a combined average of 23,500 acres of forest a year to development, agriculture, and other land uses. Even in the remaining smaller, fragmented tracts of trees, though, change is afoot. It can come from blights like beech bark disease or pests like the emerald ash borer, which can weaken trees or kill some of them outright. Or, the changes can be subtler, with various species starting to thrive in some places while others become supplanted. Some of this is just the way in which what’s called succession, or the natural replacement of plant and animal species over time, works in forests. Some of it is attributable to climate change, in which warming temperatures are altering what species grow and thrive in certain regions. Why and how change is happening, and what the implications could be for people seeking to conserve or restore forested land, are questions that Nahuel Policelli and Corinne Vietorisz, researchers in the Bhatnagar Lab of Microbial Ecology at Boston University, have been looking to answer. Their interest, though, lies less in what’s happening aboveground with the trees themselves (a departure from conservationists’ traditional concern, which, according to Policelli, has the potential to result in conservation failures) and more in the role of fungal communities, located belowground in soil and attached to tree roots, in forests’ changes. “Fungi in general have been overlooked along with other soil microbes,” says Policelli. “They are tiny and difficult to study, but in the last 20 years we have the technology to identify them and which processes they’re involved in.” Policelli and Vietorisz recently embarked on a new project to examine the soil in urban forests in Massachusetts, to see if they could figure out how fungi living in soil as well as ectomycorrhizal fungi—that is, fungi that attach to tree roots and allow them to better access nutrients and water in exchange for sugar—might be assisting pine trees in encroaching into predominantly oak and other hardwood forests. “Pine trees have been cut multiple times since the British colonization, to build ships, and they always come back; this is the fourth or fifth time these forests have regenerated this way,” says Policelli. “Our work is a little piece of the puzzle of pine encroachment [and] how forests are shifting. How do [microbes like fungi] change soil, and what will happen to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous [in the soil] as pines move in and forests change?” Photo courtesy of Katherine Sotiropoulou (undergrad student, Boston University) To find out what’s going on down there, over the course of several humid weeks this past summer and early fall, Policelli led a small team out into six local fragmented forests: three sites in Harvard Forest in Petersham; Hammond Woods in Newton; Landlocked Forest in Burlington; and Whipple Hill in Lexington. Each of these spots, on which the team will conduct soil and root comparisons, contain four types of forest: mature pine, mature hardwood, hardwood with young pines encroaching, and mixed forest featuring both mature hardwood and mature pines. One overarching question the team hopes to answer: Which ones have the greatest fungal species diversity, and how might that be affecting the diversity of trees growing there? Plunging a sterilized knife into the dirt, the team collected soil “brownies” at various forest intervals, starting with the city-abutting edge and then moving farther into the forest’s interior, as fungal and other microbial communities are known to differ along this gradient, according to Vietorisz. They also took soil core samples to check root density, and to determine which kinds of ectomycorrhizal fungi are pairing with different tree species. Analyzing DNA and RNA extracted from their samples will additionally allow Policelli and Vietorisz to identify which fungi are associated with which trees and to figure out how the fungi are interacting with their host trees and impacting carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous in the soil. At the moment, “It is unknown how the changes in fungal communities with [pine encroachment] relate to the changes in soil nutrients, and if there are key fungal species that may be drivers of soil nutrient changes,” explained Vietorisz by email. “We care about this because soil nutrient changes could affect the health of native forests, soil carbon storage, decomposition, and lots of other things. Or, if ectomycorrhizae and pines are preferentially [encroaching on] areas with specific soil nutrient conditions, that could help predict where pines may [encroach]” and perhaps allow for interventions before things get too serious. What is known, though, is that pines can have a strong propensity for taking over. In the Global South, pine trees were planted for timber beginning in the early 20th century. A lot of these plantations were abandoned starting in the 1950s, whereafter some trees started to invade native areas, says Policelli, taking over grasslands and turning mixed forests into monospecific ones—until researchers realized the trees were being helped along by ectomycorrhizal fungi and were thus able to change the way they managed the invasions. “Before, they were investing tons of money to get rid of pines, but now we understand that to control pines and restore areas, we need to consider the belowground aspect,” Policelli says. And although there are differences in the ways non-native pine trees invade in places like Argentina and New Zealand, and the way native pine trees encroach in New England, the way the ectomycorrhizal partnership works between the trees and fungi is the same. Another question for the researchers is whether understanding the underground functioning of one will shed understanding into the underground functioning of the other. Above all, though, what Policelli hopes materializes from his and other research around these fungal relationships is that forest conservationists will start to think more holistically about what goes on in the soil—and how that affects what goes on above it. “Stop considering soil as the recipient—this black box we put nutrients like nitrogen into,” he says, “and start thinking of it as a living organism.”

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Buckley Table 11-17-2021.docx
by DUANE NICHOLS 17 Nov '21

17 Nov '21

For your information, these tables on the Cheat River watershed were released today in the River of Promise program of the Friends of the Cheat. Sent from my iPad

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WNS takes a toll on West Virginia bat populations - The Wildlife Society
by DUANE NICHOLS 29 Oct '21

29 Oct '21

https://wildlife.org/wns-takes-a-toll-on-west-virginia-bat-populations/ WNS takes a toll on West Virginia bat populations By Joshua Rapp Learn, Wildlife Society, I October 18, 2021 Researchers found that little brown bats in West Virginia declined due to white-nose syndrome. Credit: Keith Christenson Populations of several bat species plummeted in West Virginia due to the spread of the deadly white-nose syndrome over the past decade, according to long-term surveys. White-nose syndrome has decimated bat populations across much of North America. A fungal disease, it kills affected bats during hibernation periods, causing them to use more energy than uninfected bats during colder winter weather. A researcher extracts a Virginia long-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus) from a mist net. Credit: Tim Jones Researchers in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia wondered how it was affecting the state’s 11 known bat species. Biologists had conducted mist net surveys for bats at hundreds of different sites in the forest since the late 1990s—before white-nose syndrome emerged—and recorded the species, body condition and sex of the bats they captured. “It became very fortuitous that we had all this data before white-nose syndrome hit,” said Catherine Johnson, who then worked as the wildlife program manager for the Monongahela National Forest. In a study published recently in Ecology and Evolution, Johnson and her colleagues split the data into two portions. They compared data from 2003 to 2008, before WNS was confirmed in the state, to data taken on surveys from 2011 to 2019, after it had spread through West Virginia. Northern long-eared bats were among those that declined after white-nose syndrome struck West Virginia. Credit: Keith Christenson “We could see this long-term change,” said Johnson, who now works as a coastal ecologist with the National Park Service. They found that three species declined dramatically after WNS hit the state: little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus). Those trends matched data gathered from other research conducted on hibernacula counts, Johnson said. The population of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and eastern red bats (Lasiurus borealis), however, actually increased after WNS appeared in the state. Johnson isn’t sure why, but other research has shown that big brown bats may benefit from more prey availability when WNS diminishes other species. They may also benefit from more quality roost space, Johnson said. Other bat species, like federally endangered Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis), also declined but were so rare even before WNS that it was hard to tell what was happening statistically, Johnson said. A tricolored bat with white-nose syndrome symptoms visible on its nose. Credit: Craig Stihler The researchers also found that two species—northern long-eared bats and big brown bats—began to breed 5 to 6 days earlier on average in recent years. That may be attributed to the spread of the disease, Johnson said, or it may be due to climate change. “These bats are dealing with so many different things at the same time,” she said. “White nose syndrome is one, but there’s also habitat loss, disturbance of hibernacula and maternity roosts, climate change and many other stressors.”

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Some History of Mont Chateau
by DUANE NICHOLS 27 Oct '21

27 Oct '21

John May on Facebook Admin · October 10 at 7:22 PM · The bill to sell Mont Chateau had passed the Senate during the 1977 Legislative session. House delegates from Monongalia County, however, opposed the bill, arguing that access to the trail system and the only public beach on Cheat Lake would be eliminated. One local delegate charged that DNR had “purposely let the property run down … and made the property unattractive to the public to encourage the sale.” The bill failed to pass the House. Mont Chateau Beach, from the Morgantown Dominion Post 4/15/1977: >>>>>>>>>………………………>>>>>>>>>………………………>>>>>>>>>> John May on Facebook Admin · October 12 at 7:31 PM · The bill to sell Mont Chateau had failed to pass the Legislature. Quarry Management had terminated its lease and no other prospective parties could be found to manage the Park. DNR did not want to resume operation due to the prohibitive costs to rehabilitate the facilities. The State had a property that it could neither sell nor operate as a park. There followed some discussion as to repurposing the Lodge for other uses. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps, for example, had expressed interest in the building but, upon an on-site inspection, the facility was deemed “not large enough to provide the necessary housing room and would be too expensive to convert to uses to suit our purpose.” On June 21, 1977, Governor Jay Rockefeller announced that the Mont Chateau Lodge would be leased to and occupied by the West Virginia Geological Survey, at that time housed in White Hall on the WVU campus and in several leased facilities in the Morgantown area. From the Morgantown Morning Reporter 7/12/1977: >>>>>>>>………………………>>>>>>>>>…………………………>>>>>>>>>> John May on Facebook Admin · October 7 at 7:35 PM · Unable to generate income from the Park, and given the neglected state of the Lodge, DNR recommended that Mont Chateau be sold. Per the DNR Director, “The public doesn’t support it. It never has been popular since the day it was built.” A resolution to sell the property for not less than $1,000,000 was proposed in the 1977 Legislative session. The rationale given for the proposal was that, “as of late, Mont Chateau operated more as a hotel than a park and did not fit into the scheme of the State Park system because it only had 42 acres that were not suitable for recreational development”. Per the chairperson of the House Parks sub-committee, “It will cost much to upgrade the park in a condition that will not embarrass the State and dim the image of the other State Parks. On the other hand, we do believe the park can be easily sold to the adjoining country club or land developers on Cheat Lake.” From the Morgantown Dominion Post, 1/12/1977:

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Scientists work to catch up with Va.’s endangered and threatened species before it’s too late - Virginia Mercury
by DUANE NICHOLS 20 Oct '21

20 Oct '21

https://www.virginiamercury.com/2021/10/20/scientists-work-to-catch-up-with… Scientists work to catch up with Va.’s endangered and threatened species before it’s too late Following an announcement in September from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that 23 species should be declared extinct, Virginia’s environmental scientists are feeling the pressure to learn more about the commonwealth’s endangered and threatened species so they can be protected. “That list really highlights that extinction is not just a down-the-road possibility; it’s a very real possibility that can happen now,” said Anne Chazal, chief biologist at Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Natural Heritage Inventory. “People think of it as a tropical rainforest issue or an arctic tundra issue, but this is happening in the rivers and forests of Virginia.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists 71 endangered and threatened species living in Virginia. The list is made up of fish, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, birds, mammals and plants. The convergence of northern and southern habitats spanning from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic makes Virginia ecologically unique, according to Tom Akre, program scientist at the Conservation Ecology Center at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. “Ecologically, Virginia is an amazing crossroads, and as a result, we have amazing biodiversity and lots of species that are threatened and endangered because they were naturally on the margins of their ranges anyways or naturally not super abundant across wide ranges,” said Akre. Matthias Leu, associate biology professor at William and Mary, said he is concerned about the future for many of these species. “I don’t think it’s looking very good,” said Leu. “We’re worldwide losing a lot of species across all taxons, and the sad part for a lot of these species is we don’t even know how well they’re doing before all of a sudden they’re gone.” Piney Grove Preserve in Sussex County is home to one of Virginia’s last breeding populations of red-cockaded woodpeckers, Oct. 8, 2021. (Evan Visconti/ For the Virginia Mercury) Habitats are changing Sara Zeigler, a research geographer at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Coastal and Marine Science Center, said endangered species are often threatened by changes to their habitat. “It’s this constant conflict between habitat and people,” Zeigler said. In Virginia, Zeigler analyzed the habitat of the piping plover, a threatened shorebird that nests along Virginia’s barrier islands during the spring and summer. The piping plover requires wash-over habitats, which are created when an event such as a storm pushes sand and dunes from the beach further inland, covering much of the vegetation. “That allows the birds to nest further back from the ocean shoreline so the nest isn’t in danger of being flooded,” said Zeigler. “It gives them a lot of visibility so they can see any predators coming from shrubs or grasses on the interior. It also gives them access to the back side of the barrier which is where they bring their chicks to forage after they hatch.” When shorelines are developed and communities build sea walls or engineer dunes to protect from flooding, those overwash features that provide a habitat for piping plovers disappear, said Zeigler, and so do the piping plovers. The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker is experiencing a similar problem further inland. It requires large swaths of mature pine forest to survive due in part to the fact that it is the only woodpecker that excavates nesting cavities in live trees, according to Brian van Eerden, the Nature Conservancy’s Virginia Pinelands Program director. An aerial view of Piney Grove Preserve’s longleaf pine savanna, Oct. 3, 2021. (Evan Visconti/ For the Virginia Mercury) The southern longleaf pine forest historically provided tens of millions of acres of suitable habitat spanning south from Virginia to Florida and east all the way to Texas. “The red-cockaded woodpecker filled that niche with a large communal population structure,” said van Eerden. “Over the course of several hundred years, starting at Jamestown with colonial activities until the 1990s, there was a degradation of forest conditions suitable for species like the red-cockaded woodpecker,” said van Eerden. “The collapse of the red-cockaded woodpecker mirrored the collapse of the habitat it depends on.” Much of the southern pine forest was developed for agricultural land and harvested for timber. The natural role of fire in shaping the forest ecosystem was also curtailed. Without fire, the forest becomes thick and overgrown, limiting the abundance of herbaceous vegetation and causing a chain reaction that adversely affects the red-cockaded woodpecker’s source of food: insects, said van Eerden. The Nature Conservancy manages nearly 4,000 acres of forest called the Piney Grove Preserve in Sussex County. In an effort to restore the natural habitat and return the red-cockaded woodpecker to Virginia, conservationists began an aggressive prescribed burning program, removed canopy trees, installed artificial cavities (or nests) in trees and brought in juvenile red-cockaded woodpeckers from a donor population in South Carolina, said van Eerden. “We now have a stable enough population that we can safely contribute juvenile birds to other recovery areas, like the Great Dismal Swamp,” said van Eerden. “That’s a very convincing example of how we used science and some of the best ecological forest managers to drive population growth.” Relying on the science Conservation efforts across Virginia depend on scientists to monitor species’ populations and determine what a particular ecosystem or species needs in order to survive. This often requires teams of scientists to go into the field to collect data and make visual assessments. “We really need to be outdoorsy people who enjoy going out early in the morning and late at night to get bitten by mosquitos,” said Leu. “We are always pointing into the landscape and assessing the diversity at those points, so we need to be really well versed in recognizing bird songs and frog vocalizations and identifying plant species.” Christopher Davis, a fisheries biologist at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, monitors endangered Atlantic sturgeon and sea turtles in Virginia waterways as part of the Protected Species Observer Program. Davis teams up with commercial gillnet fisherman to study and track any sturgeon or sea turtles that get pulled up as accidental bycatch. If a sturgeon is caught, Davis sticks a transponder tag in it to track its movements after it is released. “We get length, weight and document any injuries that we see,” said Davis. “Then we get a fin clip for a DNA sample and we release it.” Different types of tags are used to monitor sturgeon movements. A VEMCO tag utilizes a string of receivers across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel that pings the tag when it comes within range to give scientists an estimate of the number of fish coming in and out of the bay. An Atlantic sturgeon caught off the coast of Chincoteague is tagged as part of the Protected Species Observer Program, April 25, 2021. (Photo by Christopher Davis) Additionally, scientists are utilizing new technology that can detect environmental DNA, or eDNA, in a given ecosystem to determine whether a species is present, said Akre, who used eDNA to detect threatened wood turtles in Virginia. “In the places we worked in northern Virginia, eDNA was almost as effective as visual encounter surveys at finding wood turtles, and it’s significantly cheaper because you don’t have to pay all these people to go out there and do these surveys,” said Akre. “You don’t get an understanding of how abundant the populations are, but it is a great surveillance tool and a fairly cheap one.” Surveyors from Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources snorkeling in the Clinch River at Speers Ferry to try to document all mussel species present at the site, Sep. 17, 2017. (Photo by Brian Watson) Scientists essentially take a sample of water (land and air eDNA samples are still being developed) and test it to see if they can find a particular species’ DNA. If the DNA is found in the water sample, scientists now have reason to believe that the species can be found in that ecosystem. Brian Watson, the statewide aquatic invertebrate biologist at Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources, said eDNA is starting to be used to look for certain species of mussel, but the science is still in the works. Virginia is home to a wide diversity of freshwater mussel species, several of which are endemic, or only found in one particular location. Due to freshwater mussels’ immobility, complex breeding process and overall sensitivity to changes in their ecosystem, they make up the largest portion of Virginia’s federally endangered species, said Watson. “eDNA, if it works properly, will allow you to get into a lot of sites rapidly and at least get an answer to the question of whether a particular species is present there or not,” said Watson. “It’s definitely an interesting tool that we are pursuing for freshwater mussels.” Given freshwater mussels’ stream bottom habitat and the sheer miles of waterways in Virginia, surveying with traditional methods can be difficult and time consuming, according to Watson. Watson sees drawbacks in potential false positives or negatives with the use of eDNA, but Akre and other scientists around the world are working to make eDNA more reliable and eventually have the ability to measure population abundance. “If we can use eDNA for abundance, then we can use it beyond just surveillance but also for monitoring how well a population is doing,” said Akre. “It does have great value in Virginia for detecting rare and endangered species.” xxx

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Take Your Leaf Peeping Escape to New Heights in West Virginia
by DUANE NICHOLS 04 Oct '21

04 Oct '21

Pictures of the day, of the week, of the month, October 2021. DGN https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/take-your-leaf-peeping-escape-to-new-hei… Take Your Leaf Peeping Escape to New Heights in West Virginia Blackwater Falls is an absolute masterpiece in autumn. Courtesy Image This article was produced in partnership with West Virginia Department of Tourism. Whether you’re desperately clinging on to the last glimmer of summer or eagerly counting down to the first day of fall, one thing’s for certain—autumn is coming. It’s time to grab your gear, pack your bags, and load up the car for that leaf peeping road trip you’ve been talking about. The crisp autumn air starts working its magic in late September, transforming summer’s lush canopies into sepia-tinted masterpieces across the country. But Mother Nature saves one of her most spectacular seasonal performances for West Virginia, where things are (quite literally) taken to new heights. The Mountain State is, not surprisingly, blessed with an awesome range of elevation. This rich and diverse topography allows the fall foliage to gradually reveal itself in waves for weeks on end. Depending on what part of Almost Heaven you’re exploring, you could either be a couple hundred or a few thousand feet above sea level, with nothing but stunning vistas and jaw-dropping panoramas as far as the eye can see. Trust us…it’s a show you won’t want to miss. Beech and birch trees erupt in brilliant explosions of gold. Scarlet oak and sumac trees become blanketed in crimson. And some species like witch hazel, hornbeam, and white oak trees dish out technicolored palettes that combine shades of copper, ochre, and burnt sienna. So whether you’re gazing out from a mountain overlook, wandering the winding trails, or enjoying the views during a statewide road trip, there’s an entire season of leaf peeping just waiting to be discovered this fall in West Virginia. Don’t miss the chance to see the majestic scenery for yourself—here’s how to plan an unforgettable leaf peeping adventure in Almost Heaven. Courtesy Image When to Go The cooler temperatures typically start hitting West Virginia’s higher elevations in late September. Regions like the Potomac Highlands become painted in bursts of burgundy, chestnut, and marigold. As the vibrant hues start washing over the treetops, in-the-know visitors head to iconic sites like Snowshoe Mountain and Canaan Valley Resort State Park to catch an early glimpse. Be sure to visit Monongahela National Forest. The national recreation area contains Seneca Rocks (paradise for rock climbers) and Spruce Knob, West Virginia’s highest peak, clocking in at 4,863 feet above sea level. Soon after, the flood of fall colors makes its way to Mountaineer Country and the Greenbrier Valley, dazzling onlookers in Historic Lewisburg and Stonewall Resort State Park. By late-October, the Northern Panhandle is usually in full swing. The region’s Tomlinson Run State Park converts into a spellbinding autumnal oasis, drawing hikers and campers in search of the changing leaves. It’s also the perfect time to visit the Mid-Ohio Valley, flaunting hot spots like Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park and the North Bend Rail Trail. Toward the end of the month, the dazzling display prepares for its final act. This is when you’ll want to explore regions like the Eastern Panhandle, Metro Valley, and New River-Greenbrier Valley. You can also choose to witness Mother Nature’s mesmerizing exhibition at other popular sites close by, like Babcock State Park and Hawks Nest State Park. Glade Creek Mill in fall Courtesy Image Can’t-Miss Leaf Peeping Destinations Babcock State Park: Babcock State Park is a fan favorite all year long, but it’s a real showstopper in the fall. Located in Clifftop, the beloved park boasts 4,127 acres of striking scenery that lures daredevils of all disciplines, from mountain bikers to whitewater rafters. It also happens to be one of the most photographed spots in the entire state, thanks to its iconic Glade Creek Grist Mill (above). The fully functional structure is a replica of the original Cooper’s Mill, which formerly operated on the grounds. The rustic campsite is an idyllic haven to use as a basecamp during your visit, complete with 28 electrical hook-up sites, 24 non-electric sites, and fully stocked cabins available to guests. Blackwater Falls State Park Courtesy Image Blackwater Falls State Park: Don’t be misled by the name…Blackwater Falls comes alive in the fall with one of the most vibrant foliage displays in the state. Tucked away in the Potomac Highlands and surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains, Blackwater Falls actually draws its name from the amber-colored waters that rush from its namesake 62-foot cascade, darkened by the tannic acid released from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles. The park offers plenty of picture-perfect moments, from the waterfall viewing platforms to Pendleton Point Overlook and Lindy Point Overlook, which peers across the Blackwater River Canyon. Table Rock is another can’t-miss spot within the park. The famed rock climbing site offers spectacular mountain vistas and can be found toward the far western end of Canaan Loop Road. There are also 75 primitive campsites strung along the 18-mile road, which make for a magical getaway. Fall foliage in the Mountain State. Courtesy Image Dolly Sods Wilderness: Part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, Dolly Sods Wilderness sprawls across more than 17,000 acres within the Monongahela National Forest. Here, elevations range from 2,500 to over 4,700 feet, lending to drastic demonstrations of fall foliage that cover the spectrum from butterscotch to rich mahogany. Fishing, hunting, and camping are all desired activities at Dolly Sods, but the best leaf peeping experiences exist along its 47 miles of trails, most of which follow weathered railroad grades and old logging pathways. In the 1940s, the military used this region for World War II maneuvers and mountain training. Though the area has been swept, hikers are encouraged to stay on designated paths as there may still be live mortar shells. Coopers Rock State Forest comes to life in the fall. Courtesy Image Coopers Rock State Forest: Ask any West Virginian to rattle off their favorite spots to watch the autumn leaves change, and chances are Coopers Rock State Forest will rank high up on their list. Located in Bruceton Mills, this iconic forest covers more than 12,700 acres—so there’s no shortage of foliage to see. The main overlook gives way to sweeping views of the Cheat River Gorge that stretch on for miles and miles. Immerse yourself in the action by exploring the forest’s 50-plus miles of zigzagging hiking and biking trails. There’s also a six-acre, trout-filled pond on the north side of the forest, providing a quiet retreat to appreciate the autumn scenery in all its glory. Harpers Ferry National Historic Park: If you’re on the hunt for an Instagram-worthy, autumn-themed escape, look no further than Harpers Ferry. This cozy little town serves up all the quintessential fall vibes you can imagine. The historic community sits at the convergence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. It’s chock-full of waterfront views, beautiful brick buildings, and charming storefronts, restaurants, and museums. It’s the perfect place to stroll the quiet tree-lined streets with a hot apple cider in hand. Visitors can also trek to serene overlooks, hike along skirmish lines from the Civil War, or join a ranger-guided wilderness tour. A visit to Harpers Ferry feels like you’re turning back the hands of time to a picturesque, bygone era. Blackwater Falls State Park Courtesy Image Where to Stay to Take Advantage of Fall Foliage Blackwater Falls State Park: Tucked away in the mountains of Tucker County, Blackwater Falls State Park offers an extensive range of outdoor excursions for visitors. The park was officially established in the 1930s, but the area had been attracting adventure enthusiasts since the early 1800s. Its key features include the namesake Blackwater Falls, as well as Elakala Falls, Lindy Point, and Pendleton Point Overlook. Within the park, overnight guests can immerse themselves in nature by taking advantage of their range of lodging options. The park has 39 fully furnished cabins, a 65-unit tent and trailer campground, a spacious 54-room mountain lodge, and a Tentrr campsite with additional standalone canvas platform tents. Lafayette Flats: Planning to explore the New River Gorge? Find your home away from home at Lafayette Flats. Located in charming Fayetteville, this boutique property blends historic appeal with all the modern-day comforts you’d expect. The grand brick building boasts four open and airy flats for visitors to choose from: the Nuttall, Corten, Quinnimont, and Eddy. After checking in, spend the day discovering local hidden gems downtown or working up a sweat in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Comfortable, clean, and conveniently located—what more could you ask for? Hotel Morgan: Nestled deep in the heart of Mountaineer Country, Morgantown is a quaint town known for its rapidly growing multicultural heritage. Home to West Virginia University, the destination has an always-on energy, thanks to its youthful collegiate population (which also comes with a frenetic nightlife scene, exceptional restaurants, and an eclectic arts community). Here, visitors will find the polished Hotel Morgan, a Wyndham Hotel. Sleek and sophisticated, this refurbished hotel is perfectly positioned on Main Street, and just a 15-minute drive to Coopers Rock State Forest. Bavarian Inn: Looking for more international flair? Consider booking an escape to the Bavarian Inn, perched on a striking bluff that overlooks the Potomac River Bend (just minutes from Harpers Ferry). A stay at this 11-acre, European-inspired boutique resort will feel like you’ve traveled worlds away (but luckily, you can leave the passport at home). Steeped in Alpine heritage, the luxurious property offers 72 spacious state rooms (where you can cozy up next to a gas fireplace) or live large in one of its four classical old-world chalets. And in true Bavarian tradition, make sure to stop by its on-site Brew Pub, Brew Lounge, and outdoor Beer Garden. This is the perfect place to splurge on a romantic autumnal retreat. The Billy Motel: Sure, the idea of bunking at a motel might not be your first choice, but The Billy Motel is anything but typical. This boutique motel is equal parts retro and edgy, with a dash of (what they call) “hillbilly fabulous.” Positioned off Route 32, the 10-room property was recently renovated and oozes personality. This mountaintop getaway is only minutes from the nearby towns of Thomas and Davis, teeming with funky shops, cool coffee bars, art galleries, and music venues. Outdoor adventure hubs like Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, Canaan Valley State Park, and Monongahela National Forest are also just a short drive away. Canaan Valley Cabins: For a more private escape, check out the inventory listed by Canaan Valley Cabins. The company offers a diverse assortment of rentals and vacation homes sprinkled throughout the Canaan Valley. From isolated log cabins deep in the woods to bucolic estates that can sleep the whole crew, they offer something to fit every taste and budget. Plus, you can find your perfect retreat by filtering options with criteria such as pet-friendly listings, waterfront locations, and more. No matter where you wind up booking, you’ll be right in the heart of the region’s brilliant fall foliage and heart-racing outdoor exploits. Oglebay Resort: The stately Oglebay Resort can be found in Wheeling, just an hour from Pittsburgh, two hours from Columbus, and three hours from Cleveland. It’s perched on 1,700 rolling acres and offers tons of activities fit for the whole family. The recently updated Wilson Lodge sports first-class accommodations with top-notch amenities, while their collection of cottage rentals and estate homes come in three tiers: rustic, deluxe, and premium. Play a round on one of their four golf courses, spend the day exploring Schenk Lake (outfitted with pedal boats, mini golf, and an aerial challenge course), or get up close and personal with the wildlife of The Good Zoo.

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Learning to enjoy the journey - - The Intermountain, Elkins, WV
by DUANE NICHOLS 10 Sep '21

10 Sep '21

https://www.theintermountain.com/opinion/columnists/2021/09/learning-to-enj… Learning to enjoy the journey Sep 9, 2021 Chris Wood, Davis & Elkins College President Wispy clouds floated overhead doing very little to block the warm summer sun. The light breeze caused the trees to sway as my tube floated slowly and haphazardly down the cool waters of West Virginia’s Cheat River. More than once I found myself humming the familiar melody of John’s Denver iconic “Country Roads” because the experience really was “almost heaven.” This memory is from a float trip taken with my family during a gathering this summer. As I resume my “Reflections Along the Journey” weekly column following a summer hiatus, this casual float trip down the Cheat River seemed the perfect metaphor to reflect, share and interpret the journey. Somehow on that refreshing summer afternoon, life once again was put into proper perspective. Sometimes, in the busyness of recent days, I return in my mind’s eye to the beauty of the river and listen for the tranquil sound of the splashing water against the smooth river rocks. These are the advantages of West Virginia living! I have two frames on a wall in my office that remind me about the importance of the journey. One reads, “The Joy is in the Journey” and the other reminds me that “Life is a Journey Not a Race.” These pearls of wisdom caused me to ponder the lessons of a lazy summer float trip down the river. A few life lessons that I learned include: Far too often we have little control over where the current takes us. We can fight it, or we can enjoy the journey. It is quite simple to live so distracted that we miss the beauty and tranquility that surrounds us. Closing our mouths, opening our eyes and quieting our souls reveals an amazing world. There are always rocks and bumps along the journey. They are overcome by simply going with the flow. Due to a lack of rain there were occasional spots where the river was unusually shallow, and a member of our group got out and pulled our tubes as we held on to one another. During life’s journey there are times we need to accept the help of others, and we certainly always need to hold on to one another. The tube held me up and kept my head above the water. For those of us who cling to faith, it is reassuring to rest in God’s hands and trust that God’s Spirit will sustain us. Floating down the river with the members of my family was the best part of that memorable day. The company we keep along the journey is the best part of all. With my river adventure now just a spectacular memory, the ebb and flow of life finds the students, faculty and staff back on campus and a new academic year underway at Davis & Elkins College. It means the lazy days of summer are behind us, but the lessons from the river are as relevant today as they were then. May those lessons guide your life and mine in this moment and around the next bend, as the journey continues.

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