Hobart and William Smith Colleges
OP-10: Biodiversity

The Henry Hanley Biological Field Preserve, located about 15 miles from the main campus, is a 108-acre site owned by the Colleges and operated by the Biology Department. There are approximately 10 acres of wetlands located within the property. The gently sloping sanctuary has more than 60 natural and man-made ponds. The major vegetation types include agricultural fields, deciduous forest, old field/scrub, and a small stand of pines. The preserve also hosts a wide diversity of plants and animals, including white tail deer, coyotes, red fox, beaver, mink, muskrats, red-tailed hawks, great blue herons, green herons, Canada geese, and many species of ducks. The Richard A. Ryan Field Station is located on the preserve and serves as a base for conducting ecological research and as a classroom. In addition, there are a few acres of wetlands near the HWS campus garden off St. Clair Street and other wetlands between St. Clair Street and Hamilton Street to the west of the Caird Center for Sports and Recreation.

Tax maps, NYS DEC maps, surveys by biology classes, surveys by buildings and grounds staff, and discussions/evaluations by an engineering firm have all been used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and environmentally sensitive areas.

The Henry Hanley Biological Preserve hosts a wide diversity of plants and animals, including whitetail deer, coyotes, red fox, beaver, mink, muskrats, red-tailed hawks, great blue herons, green herons, Canada geese and many species of ducks. The major vegetation types include agricultural fields, deciduous forest, old field/scrub and a small stand of pines. In the 10 acres of wetlands, the Colleges have identified such species as red twig dogwood, viburnum, native shrubs and Amelanchier. Hobart and William Smith Colleges were named a 2017 Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, receiving the honor for the sixth consecutive year. Tree Campus USA is a national program that was launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota to honor colleges and universities for their leadership promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. To obtain the distinction, the Colleges met five core standards for sustainable campus forestry, including establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects. http://www2.hws.edu/hws-named-tree-campus-for-fifth-year/

The Colleges have created a wildlife friendly habitat at Odell’s Pond and at the Houghton House grounds by preserving existing habitat and planting native species.