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Breaking Traditional Barriers to Model Climate Change and Land Use Impacts on Freshwater Mussels: Thomas Kwak, Leader of the U.S. Geological Survey North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Professor of Biology, North Carolina State University, will give a presentation on global declines in the abundance and diversity of freshwater mussels that have been attributed to a wide array of human activities that cause pollution, water-quality degradation, and habitat destruction.

Implications of the National Climate Assessment: Join the Security and Sustainability Forum for the second session in the National Climate Assessment series and hear from NCA lead authors and sustainability leaders from local government, higher education, and industry, discussing priorities for addressing destabilizing threats posed by a changing climate.

Disease Deadly To Bats Confirmed In Georgia: The disease that has killed millions of bats in the eastern U.S. has been confirmed for the first time in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that bats with white-nose syndrome were found recently at two caves in Dade County.

Undercover Wildlife Operation Cracks Down on Poaching in North Carolina, Georgia: State and federal wildlife officials announced today an undercover operation involving more than 80 wildlife violators and as many as 900 wildlife violations detected.

Eagle Release Draws Attention to State’s Endangered Species Protection Law: The Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife today released a rehabilitated bald eagle at a Morris County golf course to draw attention to the 40th anniversary of the state’s endangered species protection law. The annual state income tax check-off provides critical support to efforts such as this.

AMJV Partners Release Cerulean Warbler Best Management Practice Guide: Cerulean Warbler management guidelines for enhancing breeding habitat in Appalachian forests have been released.

OSM Announces More Than $300 Million Available to Clean Up Abandoned Coal Mines: The U. S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) today announced the availability of more than $305 million in Abandoned Mine Land (AML) grants to states and tribes—90 percent of the more than $339.4 million available for distribution—to eliminate environmental hazards caused by past coal mining. OSM administers the grants in accordance with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), which requires OSM to make AML funding available to eligible states and tribes.

Steering Committee Call for 2-11-13: The Appalachian LCC Steering Committee held a conference call on February 11, 2013 to decide on project descriptions, developed through the review and revision of the Science Needs Portfolio, for full solicitation as RFP grants for this year's projects to be funded. The Steering Committee discussed and voted on which project descriptions the Appalachian LCC will accept applications for and specified specific funding guidelines and requirements for those project applications. The call concluded with details on the next face-to-face meeting to take place on April 22-24 in Blacksburg, VA.

Work Plan Research-related Needs: Elements of the recently adopted 5-‐year Work Plan provide guidance on science needs and project activities that would support the AppLCC Steering Committee’s near-‐term objectives.

Discussion Summary of Top Ranked Science Needs: The Integrated Planning Team recommended 5 Top Ranked Science Needs to the Steering Committee. Each project for science needs is thought to be completed in 12-18 months.

Agenda for February 11th, 2013 ISC Call: Details meeting objectives, prioritization of the top ranked science needs, work plan research-related tasks, and close of meeting instructions.