Applying LCC Tools to Issues Impacting the Keystone State
On April 27, 2016, Appalachian LCC Assistant Coordinator Ginny Kreitler and GIS & Data Management Specialist Jessica Rhodes met with a variety of resource managers and on-the-ground scientists for a hands-on workshop on recent LCC science and tools that can address many of the issues impacting the Keystone State. Many at the table were fairly new to the activities, tools, and research products developed by the Cooperative. Workshop participants included staff from the Academy of Natural Sciences, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
The goal of the workshop was to provide a thorough summary on available LCC-funded decision-support tools and research products, begin coordinating with these organizations on future planning and management efforts, and start a dialogue on how these products could be used to address issues in the state as well as what additional science needs remain. Tools and products highlighted during the day-long workshop included:
- Energy Forecast Model and Visualization Tool - Using data on trends in energy development, the tool predicts where potential coal, natural gas, and wind developments will intersect with areas of high natural value, such as intact forests and vital watersheds
- Riparian Restoration Prioritization for Climate Change Resilience - Identifies vulnerable stream and riverbanks that lack tree cover and shade in cold-water stream habitats so managers can provide shade that limits amount of heat and reduces impacts from climate change.
- Ecosystem Benefits and Risk Research and Site - The Appalachian LCC has collaborated with the US Forest Service to provide information and tools that fully integrate society’s value of ecosystems with future threats to better inform natural resource planning and management. Users can access information, maps, data, and additional resources brought together through this collaboration to incorporate ecosystem benefits and risks information into planning and management decisions.
- Appalachian LCC Conservation Design Framework – A phased, multi-year effort by Clemson researchers and technical teams is analyzing terrestrial and aquatic resources within the Appalachian LCC geography to help identify places where conservation efforts will be most strategic and effective in achieving conservation goals. The outcome of this modeling and consultative process will be a dynamic ‘Conservation Blueprint’ or 'Landscape Conservation Design'. This will be a dynamic or living design envisioned as an ongoing consultation with the conservation community - both subject-matter experts and committed stakeholders.
Many of the participants saw the value of these tools and products for their current activities. They planned to work with LCC staff to learn how best to use the tools and incorporate them in their planning and management decisions. Others requested additional meetings to provide presentations to additional staff and other organizations who are dealing with issues such as mitigation, restoring streams and riverbanks, developing shared conservation priorities, and addressing pipelines and offshore wind development.
For questions regarding the available tools, contact Jessica Rhodes via email (Jessica_Rhodes@fws.gov) or phone at 804-824-2411. Pennsylvania stakeholders interested in pursuing collaborative endeavors with the LCC should contact Ginny Kreitler (gkreitler@applcc.org or 610.325.9809).
