Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.87
Liaison Ian Johnson
Submission Date July 29, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Colorado College
OP-11: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 George Eckhardt
Campus Planner
Facilities Services
"---" 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, and/or regions of conservation importance?:
Yes

A brief description of any legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance on institution owned or managed land:

Colorado College owns/ manages land that includes or is adjacent to the South Crestone Creek Riparian Corridor, the Monument Creek wetlands, and Corp of Engineer managed wetlands.


Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes

Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes

The methodology(-ies) used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:

In 2011, Landscaper Peter Mays assisted the College in identifying endangered and vulnerable species for its 300 acre Baca Campus and put forth strategies for enhancing biological diversity. He updated this report in June of 2012.


A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:

South Crestone Creek Riparian Corridor: Strategies for safety, fire management, and biological diversity: “This riparian corridor is characterized by an overstory of narrowleaf cottonwood (P. angustifolia) and Rocky Mountain Juniper (J. scopulorum). To date there are two invasive species in the riparian zone. They are Canada thistle (C. arvense) and Russian Knapweed (A. repens). These two species are highly invasive and tend to displace native species. The pinyon pine (P. edulis), Rocky Mountain juniper, and ponderosa pine component of the forest will continue to be monitored for beetle activity and forest health issues. Native shrub species have and will continue to be restored along the riparian corridor. Installations have and will include native chokecherry (P. virginiana), serviceberry (A. alnifolia), raspberry (R. strigosus), red-osier dogwood (C. alba), Boulder raspberry (R. deliciosus) and other native flowering and fruiting species. Part of Colorado College’s 300 acres includes grasslands.

+ Date Revised: July 13, 2015

A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:

The plan includes removing hazardous fuels (fire mitigation) including standing dead trees, protecting habitats, planting native seedlings, establishing and studying native plant plots, prescribed burning, and photo-monitoring.


The website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity policies and programs(s) is available:
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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.