Welcome Conservation Opportunity Area Tool Users!
Prior to completing the 2015-2025 Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan (Plan), we recognized that resource managers and the public needed more than static documents for effective implementation. Thus, in June 2014, a small group of statewide partners representing state and federal agencies and the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program put our heads together at a structured decision-making workshop hosted by the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV. The results from this workshop, coupled with technological advances, enhanced the likelihood of web-enabling an interactive tool. The product from this work is the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan Conservation Opportunity Area Tool, available to you today.
During the development process, we attempted to maintain a comprehensive list of contributors and greatly acknowledge the individuals and funding sources in the lists below. Please notify us of unintentional omissions. Numerous Game Commission and Fish & Boat Commission staff and partners have greatly advanced the versatility and functionality of this tool. We especially appreciate the dedication of Dan Brauning (PGC), Chris Urban (PFBC), staff from Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (Christopher Tracey, David Yeany II, and Molly Moore), NatureServe (Erik Gelhausen, Michele Bottiaux, and Whitney Weber), and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR; Greg Podniesinski, Nathan Dewar and Kent Taylor). Notably, DCNR and the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, working closely with NatureServe, authored, published, and extensively tested several of the map services for Pennsylvania Conservation Explorer that are graciously included in the COA Tool.
We hope you find this tool to be a helpful resource in your efforts to secure Pennsylvania’s wildlife and their habitats for current and future generations. Thank you!
Appreciatively,
| Catherine D. Haffner |
Diana M. Day |
| Pennsylvania Game Commission |
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission |
| Wildlife Diversity Conservation Planning Coordinator |
Conservation Coordinator |
| Bureau of Wildlife Management |
Bureau of Fisheries |
FUNDING
Financial support has been provided by:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Conservation Training Center, Structured Decision-Making Workshop sponsorship
State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program
Pennsylvania Game Commission
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTORS
Generous time and intellectual contribution have been provided by:
| Name |
Title |
Affiliation |
Structured Decision-Making Team
| Erik Osnas, PhD |
Wildlife Biologist (Lead Facilitator) |
U.S. Geological Survey-Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Rachel Fovargue |
Doctoral candidate (Assistant Facilitator) |
University of Tennessee, Knoxville |
| Christy Coghlan |
Course Leader, Wildlife Biologist |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Sarah Converse, PhD |
Research Ecologist |
U.S. Geological Survey-Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Donna Brewer |
Applied Landscape Conservation |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Gary Smith |
Assistant State Conservationist (Pennsylvania) - retired |
U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service |
| Charles Bier |
Senior Director of Conservation Science |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Jackie Kramer |
Outdoor Recreation Planner |
National Park Service, Chesapeake Bay Office |
| Emily Domoto |
Wildlife Ecologist |
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Cathy Haffner |
Wildlife Diversity Conservation Planning Coordinator |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Diana Day |
Conservation Coordinator |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission |
| Name |
Title |
Affiliation |
Development Team
| Christopher Tracey |
Conservation Planning Manager |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Jeffrey Wagner |
Director, Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| David Yeany |
Conservation Planning Specialist |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Molly Moore |
GIS Specialist |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Erik Gelhausen |
Project Manager |
NatureServe |
| Michele Bottiaux |
Software Engineer |
NatureServe |
| Daniel Brauning |
Wildlife Diversity Division, Chief |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Christopher Urban |
Natural Diversity Section, Chief |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission |
| Cathy Haffner |
Wildlife Diversity Conservation Planning Coordinator |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Diana Day |
Conservation Coordinator |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission |
| Name |
Title |
Affiliation |
Terrestrial Work Group
| Scott Bearer, PhD |
Habitat Planning and Development Division, Chief |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Emily Domoto |
Wildlife Ecologist |
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Tamara Gagnolet |
Energy Program & GIS Manager |
The Nature Conservancy |
| James Gillis |
State Biologist |
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service |
| Kathy Gipe |
Herpetologist |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission/ Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Gary Kolesar |
Wildlife Biologist |
USDA-Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest |
| Betsy Leppo |
Entomologist |
Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program/ Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Denise Mitcheltree |
Game Lands Management Group Supervisor |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Doug Gross |
Nongame and Endangered Bird Section, Chief /State Ornithologist – retired |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Sean Murphy, PhD |
Nongame and Endangered Bird Section, Chief /State Ornithologist |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Mark Niessner |
Administrative (GIS) Officer 3 |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Jeanne Ortiz |
Program Manager |
Audubon |
| Mark Roberts |
Supervisory Fish & Wildlife Biologist |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Dave Scamardella |
Service Forester |
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Charlie Schwarz |
Land Protection Specialist |
Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Greg Turner |
Endangered & Nongame Mammal Section, Chief/State Mammalogist |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Justin Vreeland |
Southcentral Region Wildlife Management Supervisor |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Name |
Title |
Affiliation |
Aquatic Work Group
| Greg Barren |
Project specialist; Data Analysis and Management |
Academy of Natural Sciences |
| Charles Bier |
Senior Director of Conservation Science |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Jacob Bransky |
Aquatic Biologist |
Delaware River Basin Commission |
| Eric Chapman |
Director of Aquatic Sciences |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy -Watershed Conservation Program |
| Molly Cheatum |
Staff Scientist |
Chesapeake Bay Foundation |
| Emily Domoto |
Wildlife Ecologist |
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Su Fanok |
Director of Freshwater Conservation |
The Nature Conservancy |
| Doug Fischer |
Fisheries Biologist |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission |
| Jim Gillis |
State Biologist |
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service |
| Brittney Hartzell |
Watershed Specialist |
Columbia County Conservation District |
| Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy |
Associate Director, Stream Restoration |
American Rivers |
| Robert Hughes |
Executive Director |
Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) |
| David Lieb |
Aquatic Invertebrate Ecologist |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy & Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission |
| Derrick McDonald |
Watershed Manager |
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection |
| Michael Millard, PhD |
Director Population Ecology, Statistical Analysis, Experimental Design |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Fishery Center |
| Molly Moore |
GIS Specialist |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Jeff Schmid |
Habitat Biologist |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission |
| Matt Shank |
Aquatic Ecologist |
Susquehanna River Basin Commission |
| Chris Urban |
Chief, Natural Diversity Section |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission |
| Mary Walsh |
Aquatic Ecologist |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Nathan Welker |
Fisheries Biologist |
U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service |
| Nevin Welte |
Malacologist |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy & Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission |
| Name |
Title |
Affiliation |
Reviewers
| Robert Anderson |
Assistant Field Supervisor, State College Office |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Scott Bearer, PhD |
Habitat Planning and Development Division, Chief |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Dan Brauning |
Wildlife Diversity Division, Chief |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Tammy Colt |
Wildlife Diversity Biologist, Southwest Region |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Nathan Dewar |
GIS Specialist |
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Emily Domoto |
Wildlife Ecologist |
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Lindsey Erdman |
Mammologist |
Pennsylvania Biological Survey, Mammal Technical Committee |
| Rich Fritsky |
Wildlife Diversity Biologist, Northeast Region |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Mario Giazzon |
Wildlife Diversity Biologist, Northcentral Region |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Kathy Gipe |
Herpetologist |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission/Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Brittney Hartzell |
Watershed Specialist |
Columbia County Conservation District |
| Timothy Haydt |
Public Lands Section, Chief |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Daniel Heggenstaller |
Assistant Regional Forester, Northcentral Region |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Susan Klugman |
Conservation Information Manager |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy/Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program |
| Sean Murphy, PhD |
Nongame and Endangered Bird Section, Chief/State Ornithologist |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Jeanne Ortiz |
Senior Program Manager, Landscape Conservation |
Audubon Pennsylvania |
| Greg Podniesinski, PhD |
Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Director |
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Bill Savage |
Fisheries Biologist |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission |
| John Taucher |
Private Lands Section, Chief |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Kent Taylor |
Natural Resource Program Specialist |
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Samara Trusso |
Wildlife Management Supervisor, Southwest Region |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Justin Vreeland |
Wildlife Management Supervisor, Southcentral Region |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Jeffrey Wagner |
Natural Heritage Program, Director |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |
| Mary Walsh |
Aquatic Zoology Coordinator |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy/Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program |
| Andrew Wilson, PhD |
Associate Professor |
Gettysburg College |
| David Yeany II |
Conservation Planning Specialist/Ornithologist |
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy/Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program |
| Name |
Title |
Affiliation |
Production
| Joshua DiFlorio |
Network Administrator |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Ray Brugler |
Technical Services Division, Chief |
Pennsylvania Game Commission |
| Wayne Melnick |
Chief Counsel |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission |