| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 79.37 |
| Liaison | Jillian Leach |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
California State University, Chico
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Eli
Goodsell Sustainability Program Coordinator Associated Students Sustainability |
Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, or regions of conservation importance?:
A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
Big Chico Creek Riparian Corridor runs through the heart of campus. The riparian habitat along the creek is maintained, and when necessary replanted, in support of the native plant species. We are very sensitive to its uniqueness compared to the rest of the landscaped areas on campus. Special restrictions regarding fertilizing, planting, spraying, trimming while eliminating nonnative plant species are practiced in an effort to protect wildlife habitat.
Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve: The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserves is under the direction of the Institute for Sustainable Development. Our mission is to work together with the CSU Research Foundation's Ecological Reserve System to preserve critical habitat and to provide a natural area for environmental research and education.
The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve contains 7835 acres of diverse canyon and ridge habitats, including 4.5 miles of Big Chico Creek, and is home to many species of plants and animals. BCCER was created with the purchase of the Simmons Ranch in 1999 and the Henning Ranch in 2001. It is owned by the California State University, Chico, Research Foundation.
The Reserve ranges in elevation from 700 feet to 2,044 feet and contains a wide variety of habitats, including creek riffles and pools, riparian areas, oak woodlands, chaparral, pine forest, rock cliffs, and springs. These diverse habitats support more than 140 different wildlife species, including a number of listed species and species requiring large tracts of undisturbed habitat. BCCER contributes to the understanding and wise management of the earth and its natural systems by preserving critical habitat, and providing a natural area for environmental research and education.
Butte Creek Ecological Preserve: The Butte Creek Ecological Preserve is a 93-acre site along the middle section of Butte Creek. The site was formerly used for gold, sand and gravel mining, and is recovering from those activities. The property contains more than a mile of creek frontage, which is critical salmon habitat and spawning grounds, as well as habitat for many species of special status, including Chinook salmon and bald eagle. In December 1998 the University Research Foundation purchased this site with grants from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Federation, CALFED, and the Wildlife Conservation Board. The goal of the preserve is to work in conjunction with other programs towards achieving a reasonable balance among the diverse demands on the resource base of the Butte Creek watershed. The research foundation will provide an adaptive management approach to managing the property. Program areas at the preserve include habitat management and conservation, outreach and education, and research. The reserve is open to the public year round.
Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution?:
A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
See attached sensitive species list.
Complete species lists at http://www.csuchico.edu/bccer/natural_resources/species/index.shtml
Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:
A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
Over the past year, the Environmental Resiliency Collaborative leadership team has collected feedback from local, regional, state, and federal stakeholders to prioritize the Collaborative’s goals and identify projects. A mission and vision have been finalized for the collaborative and the collaborative was formally launched in March 2021 with a logo and website. The Environmental
Resiliency Collaborative has already identified and started projects with community partners. The Collaborative will work to increase website presence while identifying and engaging additional community stakeholders.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve conducted an assessment for a draft California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) report in 2017 detailing the species that have been observed or are likely to be on the Reserves.
A plant survey list is available here: https://www.csuchico.edu/bccer/natural-resources/vegetation.shtml
Species at BCCER: https://www.csuchico.edu/bccer/natural-resources/species.shtml
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
Excepts from the BCCER and BCEP Management Plan: "Inventories and maps of natural resources should be ongoing. Vegetation, geologic, soil maps, etc. are valuable tools for research and management and should be updated periodically."
https://www.csuchico.edu/bccer/natural-resources/management-plan.shtml
In depth research and data available here: https://www.csuchico.edu/bccer/research/reports.shtml
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve also plans for individual projects (e.g. a planned prescribed fire in partnership with CalFire). All researchers, students, etc. are required to describe research and apply for access through the University of California Reserves Access Management System, which prompts for permits, etc., then we review and approve the applications.
Management Plan at: https://www.csuchico.edu/bccer/_assets/documents/management-plan-2011-2020.pdf
Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :
Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Information gathered from:
Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve: https://www.csuchico.edu/bccer/index.shtml
Butte Creek Ecological Preserve: https://www.csuchico.edu/bcep/index.shtml
Information gathered from:
Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve: https://www.csuchico.edu/bccer/index.shtml
Butte Creek Ecological Preserve: https://www.csuchico.edu/bcep/index.shtml
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.