Dig deeper at nature.org/explorewv west virginia THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN FA L L / W I N T E R 2 014 N E W S L E T T E R Wildlife on the Brink Saving species from extinction BY JE S SICA K EI T H T he West Virginia northern flying squirrel is inherently hard to find. Strictly nocturnal and existing only atop some of the highest mountains in the state, the animal also relies on spruce forests—an ecosystem that in the past was in fast decline. So when it was removed from the Endangered Species List last year, it didn’t mean that suddenly the woods were filled with them. But it did mean the squirrel’s fate had improved— a great success considering the plight of the species just over 40 years ago, when the Endangered Species Act went into effect. West Virginia northern flying squirrel status | Vulnerable conservancy- protected habitats | Mt. Porte Crayon Preser ve, Cheat Mountain, Dolly Sods Quite a lot can happen in 40 years. Consider: It took just 40 years, beginning around 1880, for people to destroy through logging and fire nearly all the spruce forest habitat upon which the West Virginia northern flying squirrel relies. Alternatively, the recovery of a species can take at least that long. The challenging and expensive process of habitat protection, and in many cases, restoration, can span many decades. That makes the story of the West Virginia northern flying squirrel all the more inspiring. At the time the Endangered Species Act was created, the squirrel’s future wasn’t so bright. But a conservation program developed by The Nature Conservancy and partners helped turn things around. The program protected, connected and restored much of the spruce forest that had been missing from the landscape. While the squirrel still faces challenges like climate change, real progress has been made, and the flying squirrel no longer is on the brink of extinction. That should be celebrated. Above: Spruce forest © KENT MASON; West Virginia northern flying squirrel © PATRICK CAVAN BROWN IN THIS ISSUE 2 Director’s Message 2-3Conservation Highlights 4 Wildlife on the Brink 6 Faces of Conservation 7 Donors Continued on Page 4 DI R ECTOR’S M ESSAG E CONSE RVATION H IG H LIG HTS A fter more than 20 years as a Nature Conservancy employee, including 12 as state director, Rodney Bartgis announced earlier this summer he would be stepping down. His last day with us was July 19. Thunderstruck Project Complete As we look to fill the position of state director, we’re celebrating Rodney’s many accomplishments as a Conservancy employee and, really, his entire adult life as an advocate for West Virginia’s natural areas. This past summer, the final 75-acre parcel of a larger 2,000acre project came under protection, officially completing the 10-year-long Thunderstruck project. The effort was first envisioned by Conservancy staff more than a dozen years ago during biological surveys conducted for its former owner, MeadWestvaco. The findings? The project area not only featured red spruce and northern hardwoods from the valley floor to the ridgeline on the western slope of Mount Porte Crayon, it also boasted a labyrinth of subterranean sinkholes, threatened and endangered animals like the Cheat Mountain salamander and the Virginia big-eared bat, and the globally rare white monkshood. His accomplishments include helping to conserve some of West Virginia’s most iconic places, including: areas in Cheat Canyon, the New River Gorge, Canaan Valley, the Smoke Hole Canyon, Cheat Mountain, Bear Rocks, Panther Knob and Pike Knob. For his tireless devotion to conservation, Rodney was included as one of the “Inspiring West Virginians” in a feature last year on West Virginia Public Radio. West Virginia Board of Trustees Chair Bob Steptoe © STEPTOE West Virginia Board of Trustees Robert M. Steptoe, Jr., Chair Pamela Byrne, Vice Chair Robert E. Lannan, Vice Chair Robert Nutting, Vice Chair David W. Gerhardt Rodney leaves big shoes to fill, but among his many accomplishments has been the development of a passionate and professional staff who will maintain the conservation momentum established in recent years by ensuring the success of projects under way, including: The 3,800-acre Cheat Canyon conservation project, formally dedicated to the public in September. We continue to complete fundraising for the remaining $450,000. The restoration of high-elevation spruce forests at places like Gandy Ranch, a conservation project announced last December. And that’s just the start of it. The Chapter has a bright future ahead of it, and I look forward to working with the team to build on our success. We know that with your continued dedication, we’ll make great strides in protecting our natural heritage for future generations. Yours in Conservation, Benjamin A. Hardesty Brooks F. McCabe Dan O’Hanlon Robert O. Orders, Jr. Daniel A. Weekley Bob Steptoe Chair, Board of Trustees The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia Catherine G. Abbott, Emerita Edward C. Armbrecht, Jr., Emeritus Judith D. Dumke, Emerita Charles Jones, Emeritus Printed on 90% recycled (including 30% PCW), process chlorine-free paper, creating the following benefits: 3.6 trees preserved for the future 10.4 lbs. waterborne waste not produced Ronald R. Potesta, Emeritus The Nature Conservancy is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) international membership organization. Its mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. An annual membership fee of $25 includes membership to the Pennsylvania Chapter and the worldwide organization. The Nature Conservancy meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability established by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance is a national charity watchdog affiliated with the Better Business Bureau. 2 FALL/ WINTER 2014 Three-fourths of the property has been transferred to the Monongahela National Forest, and there’s intent to transfer the remaining 450 acres—including the last 75-acre parcel. Together with the Forest Service, the Conservancy will help to restore the high-elevation landscape by planting red spruce trees. Red Spruce Restoration and Invasive Species Removal Efforts Get Boost Grant enables restoration and management on thousands of acres James E. Grey Joyce McConnell Last 75 acres of 2,000-acre parcel now under protection On September 12, The Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources—allies in the permanent conservation of West Virginia’s Cheat Canyon— gathered with funding partners and the community to dedicate the canyon to the people of West Virginia. The new Cheat Canyon Wildlife Management Area protects 3,800 acres of remote canyon forest surrounding seven miles of roaring whitewater. Pictured (from left to right): Senator Joe Manchin, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, WV Division of Natural Resources Director Frank Jezioro and Nature Conservancy Chief External Affairs Officer Glenn Prickett. © SAMUEL TAYLOR PHOTOGR APHY 168.9 lbs. solid waste not generated 333 lbs. net greenhouse gases prevented The Nature Conservancy recently was awarded a $285,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture through a partnership agreement with the Monongahela National Forest to help implement its red spruce restoration and invasive species eradication efforts on public and private lands in the Cheat, Greenbrier and Potomac River watersheds in the Central Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. Two AmeriCorps service members and a new, two-year-term Conservancy employee will be secured to serve as the Ecological Restoration Team to implement work under the agreement. As part of the project, 2,700 acres will be treated for invasive species while another 2,000 acres will be managed and restored to nurture red spruce ecosystems. The Conservancy intends to restore red spruce on 150,000 acres throughout the Central Appalachian Mountains. Currently, less than 50,000 acres are forested with red spruce, which as a system supports 240 rare species. In addition to red spruce restoration and invasive species removal, the team also will focus on river riparian improvements, native seed collecting, wetland monitoring and running buffalo clover restoration. Clockwise from top: Thunderstruck © KENT MASON; Monongahela River © RUST YOILER /IMGUR.COM; red spruce forest © KENT MASON Conservancy Studies Effects of Dam Operations Results to inform flow recommendations in Monongahela River Basin The Nature Conservancy is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess how operations at three dams impact stream flows in the Monongahela River basin. Results will be used to create flow recommendations aimed at improving conditions for fish, mussels, amphibians, aquatic insects and vegetation. The Corps is in the process of updating its Water Control Plans, which dictate how each dam will be operated. The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia | nature.org/explorewv 3 WI LDLI FE ON TH E B R I N K (continued from Page 1) In addition to the West Virginia northern flying squirrel, here’s a look at some of the other threatened or endangered species in West Virginia that the Conservancy helps to protect. “Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” —PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON Statement upon signing the Endangered Species Act, December 28, 1973. Virginia big-eared ba t En status | Cheat Mountain salamander Threatened conservancy- protected habitats | Cheat Mountain, Dolly Sods, Mt. Porte Crayon status | da ngered conservancy- pro Smoke Hole bergamot status | tected habitats Thorn Creek Wild life | Smoke Hole Ca nyon, Ma nagement Area Species of Concern conservancy- protected habitats | Smoke Hole Canyon cerulean warbler status | Species of Concern conservancy- protected habitats | Smoke Hole Canyon New River Gorge, Cheat three-toothed snail status | Threatened tnc- protected habitats | Cheat Canyon (in fact the only place this species is found) Barbara’s buttons status | Species of Concern conservancy- protected habitats | Cheat Mountain Virginia spiraea Threatened eek Preserve, ats | Br ush Cr protected habit conservancyGauley Ca nyon status | Clockwise from top left: © KENT MASON, © CR AIG W. STIHLER, © COPPERHEAD CONSULTING, © GLEN DANILES AND ELIZABETH BYERS, © MARJA BAKERMANS, © GEORGE ROGERS USFWS, © ELEANORD43 / FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS, © COPPERHEAD CONSULTING running buffalo clover status | Endangered conservancy- protected habitats | Gauley Canyon 4 FALL/ WINTER 2014 New River Gorge, The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia | nature.org/explorewv 5 FACES OF CONSE RVATION DONORS Staff Spotlight: Mike Powell The following list recognizes donors who have given $1,000 or more during this past fiscal year (July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014). We thank you for your support! JESSICA KEITH A s stewardship manager for The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia, Mike Powell has what a lot of nature lovers would consider a dream job. I sat down with the eight-year Conservancy veteran to learn more about his role. First off, what exactly do you do in your role, and why is it important? Mike: I manage our network of preserves and conservation easements. The Conservancy protects natural areas for a particular reason, like their plant and animal composition. If, for example, we let invasive species take over, then even though the land is protected, our conservation target is jeopardized. What types of activities do you typically engage in during the outdoor field season? Mike: Invasive species management, preserve monitoring and a lot of red spruce restoration—especially this past year, during which we planted about 14,000 red spruce trees at our Gandy Ranch project in Randolph County. In-Kind Services $5,000–$9,999 Ms. Judith C. Baldassare Mr. Jeffrey Wimsatt & Ms. Karen Innes Adventures on the Gorge Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Abbott Joan T. Bastable Roger & Joyce Zipfel Lowell Greenwood, Esq. Mr. & Mrs. Edward C. Armbrecht, Jr. Ms. Jeanette Berning What are some other recent highlights? Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Mrs. Margaret A. Biggs Evan & Theresa Buck Ms. Pamela M. Byrne & Mike: We’ve been doing a lot of In-Kind Gifts Steve & Amanda Cherry research at Pike Knob Preserve to help inform our management practices. We set up transects to monitor plants, analyzed soil chemistry and completed a germination study. You also recently hosted students through the Conservancy’s Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future (LEAF) program, right? Mike: Yes, this was our sixth year supporting the program, which offers urban students an opportunity to learn about environmental careers while working to support our efforts. These students are extremely bright, motivated and curious. Their enthusiasm for the outdoor world is really refreshing. Stan & Sarah Corwin-Roach Mr. Christopher Carr $200,000+ General Electric Foundation Ms. Rashenya C. Craig Antero Resources Matching Gifts Program John & Maxine Denham Eugene A. Nojek Mrs. Giovanna Deveny Leslie & Robert Nutting Mrs. Robert F. Reusche, Mr. & Mrs. Robert O. Orders, Jr. Ms. Emily Selbe & Mr. Michael Lavelle $50,000–$99,999 Margaret Decker Mr. & Mrs. H. T. Grimes $100,000–$199,999 Frances Hamilton White Ms. Kathryn K. Powers Larry & Ann Hargrove Margaret H. Hitchman Mr. & Mrs. Richard W. Humphreys Ms. Jennifer Sims Kurt & Carla Jaenicke Mr. Henry K. Willard II Mr. & Mrs. Eugene L. Jeffus Timothy B. Kline Sophie A. & Harry F. Nojek Clark H. Reed Mr. Robert F. Reusche CORPORATE COUNCIL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Leadership Council ($25,000+) Joyce E. McConnell & Vincent Trivelli Ann C. & Robert O. Orders, Jr. Dominion Resources Sue & Jerry Dorsch Mr. Lee T. Paules Triana Energy Gat Creek Judge Dan P. O’Hanlon & Family Foundation $10,000–$24,999 ANONYMOUS Debra Auble & Rodney Bartgis Kathleen M. Brown Mr. & Mrs. David W. Gerhardt Dr. Kathy O’Hanlon John & Judith Hall Dr. Leslie Petteys Charles T. & Mary Ellen Jones Rafe & Lenore Pomerance Dr. & Mrs. Robert L. Kendall Ms. Janis Reynolds & Douglas Kilmer Leslie S. Mead & Jeffrey P. Petrich Trustee Spotlight: Board of Trustees Chair Bob Steptoe Dr. Christopher D. Earl & Mr. & Mrs. Ronald R. Potesta Dr. & Mrs. Harlan M. Smith II JE S SICA K EI T H Ben & Jeanie Hardesty Annette Tanner P Jessie M. Harris & Woody Cunningham 6 FALL/ WINTER 2014 Dr. Charles H. Baer Dr. F.K. Millar The Chingos Foundation “As chair, my job is to develop the board in size and diversity, as well as create broader financial support for our conservation work,” he says. “And in recent months I’ve been helping the Chapter work through a transitional Mrs. Dianna L. Barnosky Ms. Nelle Ratrie Chilton Senator & Mrs. John D. Rockefeller IV This appreciation for nature was sustained into adulthood, during which time Bob’s interest grew to include mountain climbing, which he’s enjoyed with long-time friend Ben Hardesty. It was Ben, a Conservancy trustee both Received Memorial Tribute $25,000–$49,999 Mr. & Mrs. Douglas W. Richards “I grew up on a farm outside of Martinsburg in Berkeley County, so I spent a lot of time outside,” Bob says. “I was active in the Boy Scouts, and loved to camp, horseback ride, and quail hunt.” Bob & Ann Orders Mr. & Mrs. Kent W. Mason Mrs. Catherine Lyons Since then, Bob has become increasingly involved, joining the board in 2005 and ultimately stepping up as chair in 2008. While he’s supported a number of protection efforts over the years, it’s his work as board chair that’s been especially important to the Chapter. Karen S. & Paul Miller Mr. Jerry R. Brooks Mrs. Angus E. Peyton Steve & Marjorie Lewellen Director’s Circle ($10,000–$24,999) Appalachian Power Co. Charleston Newspapers Orders Construction Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Founder ($5,000–$9,999) Mr. Thomas Z. Srnak Dingess-Rum Properties Mr. Edward W. Stifel III Partner ($2,500–$4,999) Kevin Stiles Amherst Madison, Inc. $1,000–$2,499 Mr. James R. Stultz Dow West Virginia Operations Ms. Veda R. Lewis ANONYMOUS Shelby Vaughn Mead Westvaco Mr. & Mrs. John W. Streeter, Jr. Charles & Elizabeth Agle Mr. Robert Walkingshaw Potesta & Associates, Inc. Walbridge Family Foundation Inc Allied Realty Company Ms. Ann L. Wardwell Snowshoe Mountain Resort Dr. Abby Telfer “Right away I was struck by the Conservancy’s high-quality conservation work, which is always rooted in science” Bob says. “And I respected its non confrontational approach.” Ruth K. Heal, James E. Heal & Jay Heal ANONYMOUS Mike: I love working with nature and then and now, who first introduced Bob to the organization in 2001. Mr. & Mrs. James Keisfer Mr. Thomas Lampron ANONYMOUS Mr. Stephen J. Callen art of Bob Steptoe’s job as chair of the board of trustees for The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia is to persuade others to care about conservation as much as he does. It’s an easy sell for Bob, former CEO of law firm Steptoe & Johnson, who says he’s always had an interest in the outdoors. Dr. David Kappel $2,500–$4,999 Sounds like they have a good mentor in you, because you also are full of enthusiasm for the outdoor world. sharing what I know. And I feel fortunate to do it for the Conservancy, which has a global vision, but at the same time really values how the boots-on-the-ground work I do locally fits into the big picture. Mr. John Huerta Appalachian Forest Restoration LLC Warburg Pincus, LLC Mike Powell © ANDREA BR ANDON/ TNC Donna T. & Carroll B. Cook Received Honorarium Tribute Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Steptoe, Jr. Do You Cherish the Cheat? Bob Steptoe climbing the Matterhorn © COURTESY OF BOB STEPTOE period as we look to build on the legacy of Rodney Bartgis, who stepped down as director in July.” Steptoe says he’s been impressed with the great strides staff has made. “We have such a strong team here,” he says. “And I’m proud to be part of it.” We were thrilled to announce in April that, together with partners, we’ve taken action to permanently protect nearly 4,000 acres along a seven-mile stretch of the Cheat River. Acquiring a land and river tract of this magnitude, which encompasses most of the Canyon between Coopers Rock State Forest and the Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area, is incredibly rare and represents a significant victory for this beautiful state and the people who love it. As part of our goal to protect Cheat Canyon for generations to come, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC has challenged the community to join them in supporting this project through a special campaign. Individual gifts up to $25,000 for Cheat Canyon will be matched 1:1 for a total of $50,000. Help us leverage additional funding for the protection and stewardship of this cherished landscape by making a gift in support of Cheat Canyon today! Go to nature.org/cherishthecheat to make your gift! The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia | nature.org/explorewv 7 The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia 194 Airport Rd. Elkins, WV 26241 NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PALATINE, IL PERMIT #171 nature.org/westvirginia Your West Virginia FALL/ WINTER NEWSLET TER IS ENCLOSED Dig deeper and stay connected online: nature.org/westvirginia facebook.com/westvirginianatureconservancy © 2014 MRCE WVFall14 PA S S O N YOUR VA L U E S Leave a lasting legacy for conservation. in this issue » The Nature Conservancy helped improve the fate of the West Virginia northern flying squirrel. Discover the other species we’re helping to save from extinction. Making a bequest to The Nature Conservancy is a simple way to protect the places you value. You can name the Conservancy as a beneficiary of your will, trust, retirement plan, life insurance policy or financial accounts. Anyone can make a bequest and no amount is too small. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Amy Martin (304) 637-0160 | [email protected] nature.org/bequestad THE NATURE CONSERVANCY CANNOT RENDER TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR BEFORE MAKING A GIFT. IMAGE CREDIT: © KENT MASON. PWVPM141101001 Left: West Virginia northern flying squirrel © PATRICK CAVAN BROWN
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