The seeps and headwaters that feed Appalachia’s rivers and streams, such as Scott Run in Coopers Rock State Forest (above), are key to the local ecosystem’s ability to absorb, hold, and distribute water, control flooding, and maintain high quality habitat for the region’s incredible biodiversity. These source waters are the most vulnerable hydrologic features of the mountains, the first to be adversely impacted by mining and deforestation. Despite Appalachia’s long struggle with devastating flooding and degraded water quality, work is underway in many parts of the region to restore previously-impaired lands and headwaters. That’s good news for this chubby Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (bottom photo), which this past Saturday was busy with spring mating duties in one of the headwaters of Scott Run.
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