West Virginia Partners for Fish and Wildlife

Riparian and riverbank restoration

Loss of forested riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian areas degrades habitat for wildlife that are dependent on these areas for breeding and as dispersal corridors.

Livestock fencing, streambank stabilization using bioengineering techniques, and streambank tree and shrub planting are techniques used to restore riparian habitat. Our fencing typically involves constructing two- or three-strand, high-tensile electric fence along streams to limit the access of cattle or other livestock to waterways. A buffer zone is created between pasture and stream. The fencing is very flood tolerant, easy to maintain and repair, and is highly beneficial to fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and farm operation. We also construct livestock exclusion fencing to enhance and protect wetlands and forested areas.

Benefits of riparian fencing include:

• Improved fish and wildlife habitat
• Improved herd health
• Reduced run-off and sedimentation to streams
• Improved water quality
• Streambank stabilization
• Increased nesting cover within the buffer zone
• Connected wildlife travel corridors

Stream restoration

Dam removal

The Service works to identify, prioritize and provide funding for the removal or renovation of selected stream barriers. The Service is currently working with the Clarksburg Water Board, the owner of four West Fork River dams, to remove three of the dams and install an aquatic fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.

Learn more about fish passage structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

Learn more about structure on the fourth. Other partners assisting in this effort include the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Canaan Valley Institute.

In-stream restoration

In-stream, or fluvial geomorphic, restoration involves the restoration of streams using natural channel design. Streams were historically considered "restored" by building elaborate structures, removing debris, dredging or placing rip-rap along stream banks. Often, these former methods of restoration created more problems, especially downstream of the project. If the structures did work initially, they sometimes failed after only a few years.

Fluvial geomorphic restoration involves extensive data collection coupled with a strongly engineered design. The work is designed to return natural flows and function to the streams and give a more natural look to a previously degraded stream. Large rocks or logs are typically placed in specific locations and configurations to achieve the desired results.

Upland forest restoration

Our program specializes in upland habitat restoration and enhancement with livestock exclusion fencing and division fencing. Loss of forested upland areas degrades habitat for wildlife that are dependent on these areas for breeding and as dispersal corridors.

Restoration and enhancement through exclusion fencing and division fencing

Our fencing typically involves constructing two- or three-strand, high-tensile electric fence along woodlands to limit the access of cattle or other livestock to forests. This keeps cows from degrading timber value and results in higher pasture productivity as nutrients are deposited in pastures. The fencing is easy to maintain and repair, and is highly beneficial to fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and farm operation. We also construct livestock exclusion fencing to enhance and protect wetlands.

Benefits of upland forest fencing include:

• Improved fish and wildlife habitat
• Improved herd health
• Reduced run-off and sedimentation to streams
• Improved water quality
• Protection of timber value
• Improved pasture productivity

Restoration and enhancement through tree planting

The Partners Program provides thousands of shrub and tree seedlings to the public for planting upland and riparian areas in West Virginia. Landowners can get the free seedlings if they sign an agreement that requires the trees to remain in place for a minimum of 10 years.

Restoration and enhancement of red spruce habitat

The Partners Program works with numerous partners in the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI), particularly landowners interested in restoring red spruce forests in West Virginia with the goal of connecting mountain-top populations of red spruce. By doing so, we hope to connect disjunct populations of the threatened Cheat Mountain salamander and the endangered West Virginia northern flying squirrel.

Wetland restoration

Wetland restoration has historically been the primary focal point for the Partners Program. Of 221 million acres of wetlands that once existed across the U.S. in the late 1700s, less than half remain today.

In West Virginia, about 102,000 acres of wetland remain today, representing a 25 percent loss of historic wetland habitat. About 75 percent of remaining wetlands, more than 76,000 acres, are located on privately owned lands. The collaborative efforts of the Partners Program are and will continue to be crucial in protecting and restoring vital wetland habitats on privately owned lands.

Wetlands are defined in many ways; however, from a restoration perspective, a wetland must exhibit certain criteria. The presence of or the potential for water (hydrology), the presence of hydric (water-loving) soils and the presence of wetland (aquatic) plants are all criteria that must be met.

Partners biologists use these criteria when evaluating potential wetland restoration sites. The most productive wetlands are those that have an average depth of about 18 inches and have an approximate ratio of 1:1 open water to vegetation. The program cannot construct deep, open-water ponds such as those utilized for swimming or non-wildlife related activities.

Invasive species control

Invasive species can cause a multitude of problems for landowners. Problems can range from pastures being overtaken by invasive shrubs like autumn olive, bush honeysuckle and multiflora rose, to loss of stream banks from species such as Japanese knotweed that do not effectively hold the stream bank soil, to a reduction in habitat quality due to plants that have poor wildlife food value such as Japanese stiltgrass. Some invasives like Japanese stiltgrass, garlic mustard, and Japanese knotweed inhibit or preclude the regeneration of our native forests. The Partners Program is working to engage landowners to take advantage of the opportunities available through the program to eradicate invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species on their lands. Two major partners are the Potomac Highlands Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area and the West Virginia Invasive Species Working Group.

Methods to control invasive species

The Partners Program has the ability to contract with certified pesticide applicators for invasive species that require control by herbicide and can provide guidance for pesticide applicator licensing and pesticide application for landowners interested in doing the work themselves.

Work has been done in high-quality brook trout habitats along Thorn Creek and Seneca Creek to remove Japanese knotweed from creek banks, supplementing other stream improvement projects and improving the overall quality of the habitat for trust species.

The Partners Program has also initiated biological control projects to combat purple loosestrife spread in critical wetland habitats. Details of the biological control project can be seen in the following blog: Eat Loosestrife

The Partners Program recently acquired a forestry application skid steer loader equipped with a brush mulching head that can mulch large woody shrubs such as multiflora rose, bush honeysuckle and autumn olive. The initial clearing effort enables the landowner to maintain their reclaimed pastures through continued mowing and/or herbicide spraying. The result is more or improved pastures.