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Observed Changes in Phenology Across the United States - Northeast: Phenology — the seasonal timing of life cycle events in plants and animals such as flowering, hibernation, and migration — has been linked to shifts in the timing of allergy seasons, public visitation to National Parks, and cultural festivals. Change in phenology, recognized as a bio-indicator of climate change impacts, has also been linked to increased wildfire activity and pest outbreak, shifts in species distributions, spread of invasive species, and changes in carbon cycling in forests. Phenological information can and already is being used to identify species vulnerable to climate change, to generate computer models of carbon sequestration, to manage invasive species, to forecast seasonal allergens, and to track disease vectors, such as mosquitoes and ticks, in human population centers.

Range of Energy Assessment: Boundary of current energy analysis project area.

ISC Meeting & Workshop, July 11-13, 2012: The Interim Steering Committee met in Blacksburg, VA to develop the Cooperative’s key goals, formulate guiding principles, and define next steps for incorporation into the LCC's first Work Plan.

ISC Meeting December 8th, 2011: The Interim Steering Committee (ISC) meeting took place on Thursday, December 8th, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Items discussed during the meeting can be accessed by clicking on the links below. Two key decisions were made at this meeting: 1) adoption of 5 Top Science Needs to which the AppLCC would target project funds and 2) approval to hire a half-time Communications Specialist.

Full Proposal - Cave & Karst Classification and Mapping: As stated in the RFP, “developing a consistent classification system for karst habitats is a foundational need for this unique habitat type,” but not without familiar antecedents. This proposal builds on existing knowledge in order to provide context for the proposed work described in the next section, following the structure in the RFP.

Wetland Link International Webinar: The Association of State Wetland Managers is a member of Ramsar U.S. As a member we have been working with Wetland Link International to provide an opportunity for wetland education and interpretive centers in North America to have a common venue for sharing information and collaborating on issues of common concern.

A bold plan: The story of WVU and the salvation of a historic home for brook trout: A team at WVU has been working for years with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to examine all of the factors that led to warmer temperatures, a wider and shallower stream and other changes that over time threatened the brook trout productivity of this important natural and economic resource.

Interior Department Proposes Expansion of Hunting, Fishing Opportunities in National Wildlife Refuge System: In advance of National Hunting and Fishing Day on September 28th, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to expand fishing and hunting opportunities throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System, opening up new hunting programs on six refuges and expanding existing hunting and fishing programs on another 20 refuges. The proposed rule also modifies existing refuge-specific regulations for more than 75 additional refuges and wetland management districts.

Appalachian LCC Chair David Whitehurst Receives Seth Gordon Award: David Whitehurst, Steering Committee Chair of the Appalachian Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) and Director of the Bureau of Wildlife Resources for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, has been awarded the Seth Gordon Award at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' (AFWA) 103rd Annual Meeting held September 10th in Portland, Oregon.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lists Neosho Mucket as Endangered and Rabbitsfoot as Threatened: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is listing the Neosho mucket as endangered and the Rabbitsfoot as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Both species are freshwater mussels found in river systems in the eastern half of the United States.

Summary of LCC National Council Convening Process: Since the creation of the Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) network, concerns have surfaced over the need for a national body to maintain broad national-level support and coordination. In 2011, the Department of Interior (DOI) requested the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution (USIECR) conduct a neutral third-party assessment of national DOI and LCC representatives to gauge potential support, concerns, and recommendations for convening an LCC National Council. Interview findings indicated that there were national-level needs that could not be met through the existing LCC enterprise but were critical to the long-term viability of the LCC network. Respondents recommended that: (1) the Council should not be driven by a single agency/entity; (2) the Council should help coordinate, define, and focus the LCC enterprise; and (3) this Council should respect the self-governing, self-directed nature of the individual LCCs.

Summary Response to Comments Received on the Draft LCC National Charter: In late 2012, the LCC National strategy team sought feedback on the proposed purpose, goals, organizational framework, and composition outlined in the draft charter for the LCC National Council. To obtain partner input, the draft charter was broadly distributed through a series of webinars and via email communication. Partners and other interested parties were encouraged to submit comments.