California Polytechnic State University
OP-10: Biodiversity

Cal Poly is adjacent to Los Padres National Forest. The Los Padres National Forest serves an enormous population base including the San Francisco Bay Area, the greater Los Angeles Metropolitan area, the southern San Joaquin Valley and the many communities along the south and central coast. The Forest provides the scenic backdrop for many communities and plays a significant role in the quality of life in this area. The Forest also supplies a substantial portion of the water needs of several downstream communities.

Ecosystems in Los Padres National Forest range from semi-desert in interior areas to redwood forest on the coast. Forest vegetation is classified into two major types: chaparral (68%) and forested lands (30%). Forested land includes mixed evergreen forests, oak woodland, pinyon-juniper woodland, and conifer forest. Management of chaparral vegetation consists essentially of prescribed burning and wildfire suppression. Forested lands are managed primarily to maintain health and vigor.

Cal Poly has a high biodiversity and variety of native biotic communities within walking distance of the Campus Instructional Core. This feature is recognized and addressed in the Campus Master Plan (2001) and is an integral part of the current Master Plan update (2019). Wildlife habitats are carefully monitored and protected, as well as vegetation which is highly valued for its aesthetic and educational benefits. Cal Poly has identified several rare or endangered species and sensitive habitats on the campus and put in place measures to protect and maintain their relatively undisturbed native biotic communities.

The College of Science and Mathematics manages several preserves and study areas for long-term research and protection, some of which are on the main campus, in close proximity to the Academic Core for frequent access by students and faculty.
• Botanical Garden (east of the trail head of Poly Canyon, partly in Peterson Ranch)
• Ecological Preserve on the north side of Brizzolara Creek (above Poly Canyon
Village)
• Ecological Preserve on Escuela Ranch (211 acres)
• Cal Poly Pier at Avila Beach for activities of the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences
• Ragged Point (at the southern edge of the Big Sur coastline)

In addition, faculty conduct class-related field trips and student and faculty research on riparian corridors, ponds, grasslands, woodlands, and serpentine slopes on the campus. These scientifically interesting features also overlap with environmentally sensitive areas and some agricultural rangelands. Faculty and students in other colleges, such as Liberal Arts, also take advantage of these areas for nature sketching and photography and to connect the humanities and social sciences with the land.

There are a variety of sensitive plant and animal species that have been found to live on Cal Poly lands and were identified in the 2035 Cal Poly Master Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Those plant and animal species are listed below:
Plants
The data review preliminarily identified 75 special-status plant species that could occur in or near the main campus
(Appendix E). Table 1 of Appendix E summarizes the regulatory status, habitat associations, and potential for
occurrence in the main campus for each special-status plant species evaluated during this analysis. Of these 75 plant
species, six are known to occur in the Master Plan Area but are not expected to occur within the main campus due to
lack of suitable soils, 17 have a moderate or high likelihood to occur in the main campus, and the remainder have a
low (or no) potential and are not expected to occur. These determinations were based on the types, extent, and
quality of habitats in the main campus determined during the reconnaissance-level field surveys; the proximity of the
main campus to known occurrences of the species; and the regional distribution and abundance of the species. Table
3.5-1 lists the plants that may or are likely to occur within the study area and is a subset of Table 1 of Appendix DE,
which presents all of the special-status plant species evaluated.
Table 3.5-1 Special-Status Plants That May or Are Likely1 to Occur Within the Study Area
Species Legal Status2
Federal/ State/CRPR
Marsh sandwort
Arenaria paludicola

Mile’s milk-vetch
Astragalus didymocarpus var. milesianus

Coulter’s saltbush
Atriplex coulteri

San Luis Obispo owl’s clover
Castilleja densiflora ssp. obispoensis

Dwarf calycadenia
Calycadenia villosa

San Luis Obispo sedge
Carex obispoensis

Congdon’s tarplant
Centromadia parryi ssp. congdonii

San Luis Obispo fountain thistle [=Chorro Creek Bog Thistle]
Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense

La Graciosa thistle
Cirsium scariosum var. loncholepsis

Blochman’s dudleya
Dudleya blochmaniae ssp. blochmaniae

San Joaquin spearscale
Extriplex joaquiniana

Coulter's goldfields
Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri

Jones’s layia
Layia jonesii

Spreading navarretia
Navarretia fossalis

Shining navarretia
Navarretia nigelliformis ssp. radians

Adobe sanicle
Sanicula maritima

Saline clover
Trifolium hydrophilum

Table 3.5-2 Special-Status Wildlife Known or With Potential to Occur Within the Study Area
Species Legal Status2
(Federal/State)
Monarch butterfly
Danaus plexippus

South-Central California Coast steelhead DPS
Oncorhynchus mykiss

California red-legged frog
Rana draytonii

Coast Range newt
Taricha torosa torosa

Western pond turtle
Actinemys marmorata

Tricolored blackbird
Agelaius tricolor

Grasshopper sparrow
Ammodramus savannarum

Burrowing owl
Athene cunicularia

Western yellow-billed cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus occidentalis

White-tailed kite
Elanus leucurus

Least Bell’s vireo
Vireo bellii pusillus

Loggerhead shrike
Lanius ludovicianua

Purple martin
Progne subis

Pallid bat
Antrozous pallidus

Ringtail
Bassariscus astutus

Townsend’s big-eared bat
Corynorhinus townsendii

Monterey dusky-footed woodrat
Neotoma fuscipes annectens

American badger
Taxidea taxus

The data review preliminarily identified 75 special-status plant species that could occur in or near the main campus
(Appendix E). Table 1 of Appendix E summarizes the regulatory status, habitat associations, and potential for
occurrence in the main campus for each special-status plant species evaluated during this analysis. Of these 75 plant
species, six are known to occur in the Master Plan Area but are not expected to occur within the main campus due to
lack of suitable soils, 17 have a moderate or high likelihood to occur in the main campus, and the remainder have a
low (or no) potential and are not expected to occur. These determinations were based on the types, extent, and
quality of habitats in the main campus determined during the reconnaissance-level field surveys; the proximity of the
main campus to known occurrences of the species; and the regional distribution and abundance of the species. Table
3.5-1 lists the plants that may or are likely to occur within the study area and is a subset of Table 1 of Appendix DE,
which presents all of the special-status plant species evaluated.

This impact analysis is based on data collected during the reconnaissance survey conducted on June 26, 2019, and
review of the existing data sources described previously. To evaluate the potential impacts of the 2035 Master Plan
on biological resources, the types, extent, and quality of biological resources that could be directly or indirectly
affected were considered in relation to the proposed construction and operation of facilities within the Master Plan
Area and any policies and programs related to the protection of biological resources.
Analysis of potential impacts of the 2035 Master Plan on biological resources focused on the campus areas where
future facilities would be developed, expanded, or renovated (i.e., Academic Core, North Campus, East Campus, and
West Campus subareas). Potential impacts were initially identified by overlaying GIS layers of project components on
land cover maps of the project site and maps of sensitive biological resources. Any natural community and wildlife
habitat that overlapped with an area of proposed modification was considered to be directly affected during project
construction. Short-term construction impacts would occur where natural vegetation would be removed to construct
new features and facilities or modify existing features. Construction-related impacts could affect biological resources
through storm water runoff, erosion, and the introduction of invasive or non-native species. Long-term impacts on
biological resources could occur in or adjacent to habitats that would experience a permanent conversion in land use
and cover (i.e., conversion of natural vegetation to paved areas, other facilities, and landscaping) or an increase in
disturbance from long-term operations/uses as a result of the 2035 Master Plan.
Section 3.5.2, “Environmental Setting,” addresses the special-status plant and animal species evaluated in this analysis,
and Tables 1 and 2 in Appendix DE summarize the potential for each of these species to occur in the Master Plan
Area.

The following “Guiding Principles” were developed early on in the process by the 2035 Master Plan professional team
with input from campus leadership, including the college deans, and considering continuity with the 2001 Master
Plan. Guiding Principles can be thought of both as starting points for the plan process and as overarching directives
relevant to all or most Master Plan topics. They are organized by topic heading in the Master Plan as General
Principle, Academic Mission and Learn by Doing, Design Character, Implementation, Implementation Program (IP),
Other Recommendation (OR), Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship (S), Transportation and Circulation, or
Residential Community and University Life. The following principles are considered relevant to the evaluation of
biological resources impacts associated with implementation of the 2035 Master Plan:
 IP 9: A trail plan should be developed to provide access to Cal Poly’s natural resources and open spaces where
appropriate considering factors such as safety, avoidance of degradation of the resources and interference with
educational priorities. Such a plan should address design, management and signage to addressing appropriate
use and signage, including possible links between off campus public lands.
 OR 17: Cal Poly should be the model for Low Impact Design principles.
 S 02: Cal Poly should preserve and enhance the viability of agriculture and natural habitat systems on its holdings
by providing adequate land area including appropriate buffers, connectivity or corridors between related natural
communities, and linear continuity along streams.
 S 03: Impacts to environmentally sensitive areas should be avoided; environmentally degraded areas should be
enhanced or restored where practical.

Implementation of the 2035 Master Plan could result in conversion of undeveloped habitats that may provide
marginally suitable habitat for several special-status plants. Removal of these undeveloped habitats could result in
loss of special-status plants if they are present. Loss of special-status plants would be a significant impact.
Seventeen special-status plant species have the potential to occur within the Master Plan Area (see Table 3.5-1).
Proposed projects under the 2035 Master Plan, such as the University-Based Retirement Community, Faculty and Staff
Workforce Housing, Facility Operations Complex/interim surface parking lot, the expansion or improvement of the existing trail system, proposed informal recreation areas, and the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) (including proposed
water storage ponds), are proposed or include components in areas that may provide suitable habitat for special-status
plant species. Construction activities, such as conversion of undeveloped ruderal grassland, pasture, riparian corridors,
under the 2035 Master Plan could result in the loss of these special-status plant species if they are present. Plants could
be directly removed, damaged, including being broken, crushed, or buried. Damaged plants may experience altered
growth and development, or reduced or eliminated seed-set and reproduction, and mortality of individuals or local
populations could eventually result.
The expansion or improvement of the existing trail in conjunction with the planned increase in student body would likely
increase the amount of use the trail receives. The trail near Brizzolara Creek and other parts of Poly Canyon (which
generally extends from the northeast corner of the Academic Core, following the upper stretches of Brizzolara Creek)
supports natural vegetation types, including serpentine soils (Cal Poly 2019). The existing trail is near several sensitive
resource occurrences. CNDDB documents occurrences of California red-legged frog, Coast Range newt (Taricha torosa
torosa), Jones’s layia, San Luis Obispo owl’s-clover, most beautiful jewelflower (Streptanthus albidus ssp. peramoenus),
mouse-gray dudleya (Dudleya abramsii ssp. murina), Brewer’s spineflower (Chorizanthe breweri), Eastwood's larkspur
(Delphinium parryi ssp. eastwoodiae), and San Luis mariposa lily (Calochortus obispoensis) in the Poly Canyon area.
Ongoing and increased use of the existing trail could affect the sensitive species occurrences and habitat. Adverse
effects could result if trail use or maintenance required grading. The grading could physically remove the resources, alter
drainage patterns that support the resources, or provide an avenue for invasive weeds to spread and alter the habitats
that support the resources. Indirect effects of ongoing trail use including trampling or other degradation of adjacent
habitats could occur if trail users walked off-trail or conducted other activities that could disturb habitat, such as creating
increased dust and leaving litter behind. This impact would be significant.
Mitigation Measures
Mitigation Measure 3.5-1a: Conduct Special-Status Plant Surveys
Prior to approval of specific projects under the 2035 Master Plan, Cal Poly shall have a qualified botanist (i.e., a
professional biologist with expertise in native and naturalized plants found in California who is able to use appropriate
field survey methods and protocols that satisfy documentation and assessment requirements) evaluate the potential for
special-status plant habitat at the proposed project sites containing undeveloped land cover types as shown in Figure
3.5-1, “Land Cover.” Should suitable habitat for any of the species listed in Table 3.5-3 be identified, the qualified
botanist, at Cal Poly’s direction, shall conduct protocol-level surveys for the potentially occurring special-status plants
that could be removed or disturbed by project activities during the blooming period for the plant(s) that could be
present on-site. Protocol-level surveys shall be conducted in accordance with Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating
Impacts to Special Status Native Plant Populations and Natural Communities (CDFW 2009). Concurrent with the specialstatus plant survey, the botanist shall document non-native invasive plants within the project areas and provide a
separate report with the location and extent of non-natives within the project area to Cal Poly. If special-status plants are
not found, the botanist shall document the findings in a letter report to CDFW and further mitigation shall not be
required.