Appendix E Ecosystem Diversity Report                                           George Washington National Forest 
                  Draft EIS                                                                                                April 2011 
                    
                   
                               U.S. Department of Agriculture 
                   Forest Service 
                   Southern Region 
                   
                   
                                                                          
                             Ecosystem Diversity Report 
                   
                                 George Washington National Forest 
                                                                 April 2011 
                   
                                                                          
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
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                      Appendix E Ecosystem Diversity Report                                            George Washington National Forest 
                      Draft EIS                                                                                                April 2011 
                       
                      Table of Contents 
                      TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................. I 
                      1.0  INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................. 1 
                      2.0  ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATION PROCESS ................................... 3 
                      3.0  ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS .................................................................................................. 7 
                         3.1  Background and Distribution of Ecosystems ..................................................................................................... 7 
                         North-Central Appalachian Acidic Swamp ............................................................................................................ 10 
                         3.2 Descriptions of the Ecological Systems ............................................................................................................ 10 
                         3.2.1  Spruce Forest: Central and Southern Appalachian Spruce-Fir Forest .......................................................... 10 
                         3.2.2  Northern Hardwood Forest : Appalachian (Hemlock)- Northern Hardwood Forest ..................................... 11 
                         3.2.3  Cove Forest:  Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest ..................................................................... 11 
                         3.2.4  Oak Forests and Woodlands ......................................................................................................................... 13 
                         3.2.4.a.  Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest ............................................................................................ 13 
                         3.2.4.b.  Central and Southern Appalachian Montane Oak Forest .......................................................................... 13 
                         3.2.4.c  Central Appalachian Dry Oak-Pine Forest ................................................................................................. 14 
                         3.2.5  Pine Forests and Woodlands ......................................................................................................................... 14 
                         3.2.5.a  Southern Appalachian Montane Pine Forest and Woodland ...................................................................... 14 
                         3.2.5.b  Central Appalachian Pine-Oak Rocky Woodland ...................................................................................... 15 
                         3.2.6 Mafic Glade and Barrens and Alkaline Glades and Woodlands .................................................................... 16 
                         3.2.6.a  Southern and Central Appalachian Mafic Glade and Barrens .................................................................... 16 
                         3.2.6.b  Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland ................................................................................. 17 
                         3.2.7 Cliff, Talus and Shale Barrens ....................................................................................................................... 18 
                         3.2.7.a  North-Central Appalachian Circumneutral Cliff and Talus ....................................................................... 18 
                         3.2.7.b  North-Central Appalachian Acidic Cliff and Talus ................................................................................... 18 
                         3.2.7.c  Appalachian Shale Barrens ........................................................................................................................ 18 
                         3.2.8.a  Central Appalachian Floodplain ................................................................................................................ 19 
                         3.2.8.b  Central Appalachian Riparian .................................................................................................................... 20 
                         3.2.8.c  Central Interior Highlands and Appalachian Sinkhole and Depression Pond ............................................ 20 
                         3.2.8.d  Southern and Central Appalachian Bog and Fen ....................................................................................... 20 
                         3.2.8.e  North-Central Appalachian Acidic Swamp ................................................................................................ 21 
                         3.2.8.f  North-Central Appalachian Seepage Fen ................................................................................................... 21 
                         3.2.9  Caves and Karstlands .................................................................................................................................... 22 
                      4.0 SPECIAL BIOLOGICAL AREAS ..................................................................................... 23 
                      5.0  FOREST-WIDE ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY – ALTERNATIVES AND EFFECTS . 24 
                         5.1  Ecosystem Diversity Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 24 
                         5.2  Ecosystem Diversity Indicators by Alternative ............................................................................................... 40 
                      6.0  FOREST PLAN DESIRED ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS.......................................... 46 
                         6.1  Plan Components for Ecosystem Diversity ..................................................................................................... 46 
                         6.2 Extent of Ecological Systems ........................................................................................................................... 46 
                         6.3 Forest-wide Desired Conditions ....................................................................................................................... 46 
                         6.4  Standards ......................................................................................................................................................... 47 
                         6.5  Forest-wide Management Strategies ................................................................................................................ 48 
                         6.6 Ecological System Specific Direction .............................................................................................................. 48 
                         6.6.1  Spruce Forest ................................................................................................................................................ 48 
                         6.6.2  Northern Hardwood Forest ........................................................................................................................... 49 
                        E-i 
                  Appendix E Ecosystem Diversity Report                                           George Washington National Forest 
                  Draft EIS                                                                                                April 2011 
                   
                     6.6.3  Cove Forest ................................................................................................................................................... 50 
                     6.6.4  Oak Forests and Woodlands ......................................................................................................................... 50 
                     6.6.5  Pine Forests and Woodlands ......................................................................................................................... 51 
                     6.6.6 Mafic Glade and Barrens and Alkaline Glades and Woodlands .................................................................... 52 
                     6.6.7 Cliff, Talus and Shale Barrens ....................................................................................................................... 53 
                     6.6.8 Floodplains, Wetlands, and Riparian Areas ................................................................................................... 54 
                     6.6.9  Caves and Karstlands .................................................................................................................................... 56 
                     6.6.10 Special BiologicAreas .................................................................................................................................. 58 
                     6.6.11  Additional Guidance ................................................................................................................................... 58 
                     6.7  Forest Plan Strategies for Addressing Ecological Stresses and Threats ........................................................... 61 
                  APPENDIX 1 ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS STRESSES, THREATS AND STRATEGIES 62 
                  LITERATURE CITED .............................................................................................................. 65 
                   
                   
                   
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