| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.75 |
| Liaison | Lacey Raak |
| Submission Date | March 16, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
California State University, Monterey Bay
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Anya
Spear Campus Planner Campus Planning and Development |
Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/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:
Adjacent to CSUMB is the Fort Ord National Monument and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. A comprehensive, multi-species Former Fort Ord Habitat Conservation Plan is being developed under the oversight of the Fort Ord Reuse Authority. For the details and current status, please check their site at http://fora.org/habitat.html
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas (including most recent year assessed) and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Bio-studies are completed prior to every capital improvement project.
Return of the Natives is a community and school based environmental education program dedicated to involving students (Kindergarten through University) and the community in native habitat restoration in Monterey County, CA. Our mission is to bring nature closer to people, and people closer to nature through hands-on experiences in community based habitat restoration and environmental education. They have done significant work on the grounds of CSUMB and elsewhere.
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
We avoid or relocate any threatened or endangered species per California Environmental Quality Act.
From a Landscape Management Scope of Work with a Contractor:
The California Invasive Plant Council (http://www.cal-ipc.org/) guidelines on invasive plant management will be followed to control and, if possible, eradicate invasive species. Specifically, view Invasive Plants of California’s Wildlands at http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/index.php. Ice plant is a particular problem at the CSUMB campus. According to the California IPC, this vigorous groundcover forms impenetrable mats that compete directly with native vegetation, including several rare and threatened plants. Small mammals can carry seeds of ice plant from landscape settings to nearby natural areas. Pieces of the plant can be washed into storm drains and into natural areas where they become established. In order to address the ice plant problem, the Contractor is expected to keep it from spreading, to contain it by cutting it back on a routine basis. Contractor must be extremely cautious with the cuttings so as not to spread the plant. Ice plant can be replaced with other native groundcovers such as wild ginger. As the Landscape Management Plan is updated, there will likely be plans to systematically eradicate this invasive species and replace it with native grassland groundcovers. The only effective method to contain ice plant currently is through using herbicide. Mowing ice plant just spreads it further and should never be done.
Other invasive plant species that can be found around the Monterey Bay Peninsula are:
• Ripgut Brome
• French Broom
• Scotch Broom
• Sea-fig Broom
• Hottentot-fig iceplant
• Crystalline iceplant
• Pampas grass (remove and replace with Deer grass)
• Jubatagrass
CSUMB aims to attempt to eradicate invasive species and replace them with California natives and the Contractor will make every attempt toward this goal.
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
Return of the Natives is a CSUMB organization that works on eradicating invasive species and re-establishing native plants.
Falconry is used to prevent nesting and in compliance with migratory birds act. This is done in the Spring to avoid nesting and thereby eliminate the need for disturbing any nests in the future.
The biological resources chapter in the Environmental Impact Report for the 2007 Master Plan provides further detail. csumb.edu/campusplanning
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.