Download Determining the Acid Tolerance of Fish Species in Shenandoah

Landscape Classification System &
Environmental Macro-Siting GIS
Mark Lotts
James Madison University Office of the
Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative
Virginia Wind Resource Map
VWEC Environmental Working Group
• Participating Organizations- TNC, VSO, Scenic VA, VA Forest
Watch, Sierra Club, VIMS, VWC & others.
• Participating Agencies- DCR, DEQ, USFS, VMRC, VOF, VA
Game & Fish.
• Convened April 2003, operating within VWEC.
• Focus on GIS and Land Classification System only.
• GIS data and accompanying paper for public consumption April
2005.
• Truly cooperative venture, spirit of grassroots coalition building;
educational. (No budget, all volunteer.)
• VWEC principals have provided assistance when requested, but
the principals have not influenced our deliberations or
conclusions.
Virginia Wind Resource Map
Objectives
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To incorporate environmental factors into the macro-site
selection process, in order to minimize environmental
impacts from utility-scale wind development.
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To increase awareness of real and potential adverse
environmental impacts for areas with Class 3 and above
wind resources.
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To highlight areas and topics for which regional and sitespecific assessments are needed to understand the actual
adverse environmental effects of utility-scale wind project
development.
Use Conflict Descriptions
• Legal/Regulatory
• Environmental
• Aesthetic
Unsuitable - Mapped
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The category “Unsuitable Mapped” is defined as
areas of known geographic extent that are
unsuitable for utility-scale wind development due
to adverse impacts to biological and/or
recreational resources, or to a direct conflict with
legal mandates regarding the management of the
site.
Unsuitable - Mapped
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National Park Service – Appalachian National Scenic Trail and 5-mile buffer zone
National Park Service – Blue Ridge Parkway
National Park Service – Shenandoah National Park (SNP)
U.S. Forest Service – Wilderness Areas
U.S. Forest Service – National Scenic Areas
U.S. Forest Service – Special Biologic Areas (SBAs)
U.S. Forest Service – Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs)
U.S. Forest Service – Research Natural Areas (RNAs)
U.S. Forest Service – Wilderness Study Areas
U.S. Forest Service – Inventoried Old Growth Forest
Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage –
State Parks and Natural Area Preserves
Virginia Outdoor Foundation (VOF) Easements
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges
The Nature Conservancy Preserves
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
Unsuitable Mapped – Western Ridges
Unsuitable Mapped - Coastal
Flagged – (Grey areas)
Potentially Significant Use Conflict
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This category is defined as those areas known to
support Sensitive Resources or those areas
necessitating formal Administrative Review that
will require the developer to consult with the
appropriate State and/or Federal agency and
conduct a site assessment.
Flagged – (Grey areas)
Potentially Significant Use Conflict
• National Park Service – Appalachian National Scenic Trail and 5 to
10-mile buffer zone
• The Nature Conservancy Ecoregional Portfolio Sites
• Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, Division of
Natural Heritage – Heritage Sites
• U.S. Forest Service – Candidate Wilderness Areas
• U.S. Forest Service – Uninventoried Roadless Areas
• U.S. Forest Service – Remaining National Forest Lands
• Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries Wildlife
Management Areas
• Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries Cold Water Streams
Survey – Trout Habitat
• Virginia Department of Forestry State Forests
Flagged – Western Ridges
Flagged - Coastal
Virginia State Cooperation Commission Code
VWEC begins to address
• Natural Heritage, T&E Species (DCR)
• Scenic Resources (AT, Blue Ridge Pkwy)
• Recreation, Forest Resources, Parks
(USFS, DCR)
Contact
Mark Lotts
James Madison University Office of the
Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative
http://vwec.cisat.jmu.edu
(540) 568-8754
[email protected]