Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Starting a Nonprofit Organization in West Virginia
Are you interested in starting a nonprofit organization in West Virginia? Then check out this wonderful checklist provided by the West Virginia Nonprofit Association (WVNPA). For more detailed information, including links to all the required forms, please click here.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Web Soil Survey
The Web Soil Survey provides an easy way to access Natural Resources Conservation Service soil survey information, allowing users to create a customized soil survey map of a specific geographical region.
The Web Soil Survey allows users to (1) define or search and locate an area of interest (AOI); (2) collect and analyze data related to the AOI; and (3) to develop custom reports and maps of the data for the AOI.
Defining an AOI is as simple as entering an address and selecting the boundary. Users can then view and print the soil map. Information such as mean annual precipitation, temperature, slope, drainage class, depth of water table, available water capacity and typical soil profile are provided. From here users can explore soil information including chemical and physical properties and information on suitability for various land uses.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Monongahela National Forest: Climate & Weather Information
The Monongahela National Forest is characterized by warm
summers and cold winters. The temperature averages 19.7°C (67.5°F) in the summer and 1°C (33.8°F) in the winter. The
growing season is only about six months long due to cold winter temperatures. Although
some snow falls on the Forest most of the precipitation falls as rain. The Forest
does not have distinct wet and dry season, however, a rain shadow dramatically
influences the amount of precipitation received on the west and east sides of
the Forest. As storms move across the Forest, they are forced up and over the
Allegheny Mountains causing them to drop most of their moisture. As a result,
the western portion of the Forest may receive upwards of 150 centimeters (60
inches) of precipitation whereas the eastern portion of the Forest only receive
75 centimeters (30 inches). The elevation of the Forest ranges from 275 meters
(902 feet) at Petersburg, WV to 1482 meters (4863 feet) at Spruce Knob, WV. The
wide variation in precipitation and elevation contributes to the remarkable biodiversity
of the Monongahela National Forest. Below are links to current climate and weather information:
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Google My Maps vs ArcGIS Explorer Desktop
Google My Maps
ArcGIS Explorer Desktop
Google My Maps vs ArcGIS Explorer Desktop
Monongahela National Forest: Topo Map - Google My Maps
This map of the Monongahela National Forest was created using Google My Maps.
Monongahela National Forest: General Map - Google My Maps
This map of the Monongahela National Forest was created using Google My Maps.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Biodiversity of the Monongahela National Forest
This blog will explore the biodiversity of the Monongahela National Forest. The Monongahela is the fourth largest National Forest in the
northeast, occupying over 921,000 acres along the highlands of the Allegheny
Mountains in southeastern West Virginia. The Monongahela is one of the most
biodiverse National Forests due to the wide range of elevations, slopes,
aspects and habitats it encompasses. The dense forest ecosystems making up the
Monongahela range from high elevation red spruce forests to northern hardwood
forests to drier oak-hickory and pine stands. The Monongahela stretches from
900 feet on the valley floor to 4,863 feet at the highest point in the State,
Spruce Knob. The diversity of ecosystems within the Monongahela support a wide
variety of flora and fauna, The Monongahela is home to at least 75 tree
species, over 225 bird species, 72 fish species, over 2000 plant species
including eight federally listed threatened or endangers species. Having lived
and worked my entire life among the Monongahela National Forest, I have often
taken its beauty and majesty for granted.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
What is Biodiversity?
The Center for
Biological Diversity defines biodiversity as, “the variability among living
organisms on the earth, including the variability within and between species
and within and between ecosystems.” Biodiversity can be viewed at three levels: 1) genetic biodiversity
(i.e. variation in the genetic makeup of individuals or populations within a
species), 2) species biodiversity (i.e. the variety of species within an area) and
3) ecosystem biodiversity (i.e. the variety of ecosystems in an area) (adapted
from World Wildlife Fund).
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