Yesterday, Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner reintroduced the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act, legislation that would add a total of 5,600 acres to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest (GWNF) in Bath County, Virginia. A Wilderness designation is the highest level of protection for public land under federal law. These additions were recommended by the U.S. Forest Service in 2014 and endorsed by members of the GWNF Stakeholder Collaborative, a group of forest users that has worked together for seven years to agree on acceptable locations in the GWNF for wilderness, timber harvest, trails, and other uses.  

“These wilderness designations will preserve these beautiful wild areas of the George Washington National Forest in perpetuity,” the Senators said. “The good-faith work that went into this bill by local stakeholders shows that land-use decisions need not be adversarial and that we can provide for sustainable use of National Forest lands for many purposes while also preserving Virginia’s most treasured spaces. I’m thankful for all the local officials and conservationists who’ve worked together over the years to create this plan, and we’ll continue working to ensure this bill is signed into law.”  

The Senate passed Warner and Kaine’s bill in January 2020, but the legislation was not signed into law.

The Harrisonburg City Council passed a resolution of support for the 90,000-acre Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (SMNSA) proposal with a unanimous vote last night.   The SMNSA proposal would provide Wilderness protection for Skidmore Fork, the pristine watershed that feeds Switzer Reservoir, ensuring clean water for City residents for generations to come.
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The SMNSA proposal would also protect the scenic beauty and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that City residents and visitors to the area enjoy.

​Support from local governments is crucial to introduction of federal legislation to designate the SMNSA and embedded Wilderness.  By passing a resolution of support, Harrisonburg joins Rockingham County, Augusta County, and the City of Staunton in endorsing the proposal, and brings the 20-year campaign closer to fruition.

Photo of Lynn Cameron, scouting for the SMNSA 20 years ago.

There's still lots of ice and snow at higher elevations and streams are running high. It is encouraged that you wear traction devices on your boots and be aware that stream crossings may be treacherous on many trails. The forecast has a wind advisory and temperatures will be in the lower 20s today and tonight. ​

As wildlife move across land or through the water, they increasingly find their habitat shrinking or fragmented  by human development. SB 1274 seeks to combat the decline of Virginia’s natural ecosystems by helping wildlife  move safely from one place to another. This bill will both protect wildlife and the public of Virginia.
  
To do this, SB 1274 builds on the Virginia Wildlife Corridor Action Plan (WCAP), which will compile and condense the  best available science on the status of habitat connectivity in Virginia. The WCAP will assess the connections  between core habitat areas, list potential projects to improve such connections, and provide an action plan for the  completion of those projects.  

SB 1274 directs DCR, VDOT, and the State Forester to integrate wildlife corridors identified in the WCAP into their  own strategic planning guidance documents. This will help ensure that wildlife corridors are considered and protected  across Virginia and across agency jurisdictions. This will allow agencies to best integrate wildlife connectivity, and  the corresponding public safety considerations, into their existing operations. 

SB 1274 has been assigned to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee. It could be heard as soon as Wednesday morning (2/17). If you have a moment, please help this bill make its final steps through the House. Make your comments here: https://hodspeak.house.virginia.gov/committees/H01/bill_feedback 

Thank you! 

Dear Virginia wildlife enthusiast, 
 Over the past 3.5 years, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has been working collaboratively with researchers in Virginia Tech's Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation to develop a state-wide Wildlife Viewing Plan. This Wildlife Viewing Plan is the first comprehensive plan for engaging with and supporting wildlife viewers (people who intentionally observe, photograph, feed, or collect data about wildlife or visit parks and natural areas because of wildlife) developed for the DWR. It was co-produced by an 18-member Technical Advisory Committee, composed of DWR staff, and a 20-member Stakeholder Advisory Committee, composed of individuals and organizational representatives with experience and interest in wildlife viewing in Virginia. 
 The resulting Virginia Wildlife Viewing Plan provides direction and priorities to orient the DWR's efforts related to wildlife viewing through 2031. Plan goals emphasize connecting diverse segments of the public to wildlife and wildlife viewing in Virginia; providing a variety of wildlife viewing opportunities accessible to all in the Commonwealth; promoting wildlife and habitat conservation through wildlife viewing; and connecting broader constituencies to the Virginia DWR through wildlife viewing. 
 Researchers at Virginia Tech are now working with DWR staff to collect broad public input on the draft Wildlife Viewing Plan to ensure that the plan reflects the values and interests of people throughout the Commonwealth. We invite you to visit https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife-watching/wildlife-viewing-plan/ to view the draft plan and to share your comments through a research survey, which will take approximately five minutes to complete. The draft plan will be available for public input through March 3rd. This input process has been approved by Virginia Tech?s Institutional Review Board (IRB) (Protocol #17-754). If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please contact Dr. Jessica Barnes by email at WildlifeRecreation@vt.edu. 


We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Virginia Wildlife Viewing Plan!


Sincerely, 


Brian Moyer
Deputy Director, Outreach Division, DWR
Dr. Ashley Dayer
Assistant Professor, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech


Dr. Jessica Barnes
Research Scientist, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech