Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.57
Liaison Juliana Goodlaw-Morris
Submission Date Dec. 18, 2020

STARS v2.2

California State University, San Marcos
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Juliana Goodlaw-Morris
Sustainability Manager
Safety, Risk and Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
The wetland is deed restricted as a biodiversity protected area, as defined by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. We also have several acres on the east side of the campus adjacent to the housing development on La Moree Road that is deed restricted land designated for gnatcatcher habitat.

Endangered and vulnerable species

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?:
Yes

A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
California Gnatcatcher - Least Concern, is the current listing

Areas of biodiversity importance

Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:
Yes

A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
California gnatcatcher is on the Endangered Species List. The gnatcatcher is a blue-gray songbird that lives in coastal sage scrub from Santa Barbara to the Baja peninsula- CSUSM is located in the middle of that land, in San Diego county.

Methodologies

If yes to either of the above, provide the following:

The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
During the initial steps of constructing a new building, California requires an Environmental Impact Report through the California Environmental Quality Act. Through that process, it was determined that we had a natural wetland area and that we had an endangered species- the California gnatcather that liked to nest on our land. Because of these findings, it was determined that California Fish and Wildlife would allow for a constructed wetland to be built adjacent to our housing buildings.

A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
This was conducted through an Environmental Impact Assessment through CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act)

A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
The wetland on campus and campus-owned undeveloped land to the east/ adjacent to campus is deed restricted land designated for the gnatcatcher habitat and is not allowed to be built on.

Optional Fields

Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :
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Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.