Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 76.57
Liaison Katie Koscielak
Submission Date April 11, 2023

STARS v2.2

Cal Poly Humboldt
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 2.00 Katie Koscielak
Sustainability Analyst
Facilities Mgmt
"---" 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:

Corp Yard (Samoa Facility) property is adjacent to the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, which “is situated along the Pacific Flyway, a major migratory route for thousands of birds that breed in the far north and winter in California, Mexico and Central and South America. The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary has probably the highest bird populated coastal site between Bodega Harbor and Washington, with literally thousands of birding visitors annually and organized bird walks held at least weekly year-round. The Marsh has hosted over 300 bird species.” (https://cityofarcata.org/340/Arcata-Marsh-Wildlife-Sanctuary).

Jacoby Creek Forest/ Upper Watershed property is adjacent to the city of Arcata’s Jacoby Creek Forest, which is part of a larger community forest. This property also includes a large portion of the Jacoby Creek watershed. These forests “include extensive stands of second-growth Redwoods as well as old-growth Cedar” and are “important habitat for a variety of species including northern spotted owl, bald eagle, Pacific fisher, and red-legged frog, and it is important for the health of downstream species including coho salmon and chinook.” (https://now.humboldt.edu/news/hsu-set-to-receive-884-acre-forest).

Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm property in Korbel “was one of the first to receive a forest stewardship grant from the California Forest Incentive Program. Administered in California through the California Department of Forestry, the Forest Stewardship Assistance Act of 1989 is a cost sharing federal program designed to encourage the environmental enhancement of non-industrial forestlands. The Tree Farm is using the grant to demonstrate the integration of forest management practices with wildlife habitat enhancement and natural area aesthetics around riparian areas at two ponds.” (https://treefarm.humboldt.edu/about-tree-farm).


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:

Yes.

The Department of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt has several undergraduate classes (WDFS 311 Wildlife Techniques, WDFS 365 Ornithology, WDFS 460 Conservation Biology, and WLDF 464 Urban Wildlife Ecology) that have conducted surveys at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm, and on Cal Poly Humboldt campus in Arcata.

By location:
>Main Campus: none known
>Telonicher Marine Lab: none known
>Natural History Museum (Figueiredo Building): none known
>Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center: none known

>Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm
• Species: Sonoma tree vole (Arborimus pomo); Status: State Species of Conservation Concern (SCC-S); State/Federal: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
• Species: Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii); Status: State Species of Conservation Concern (SCC-S); State/Federal: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
• Species: Fisher (Pekania pennanti); Status: State Species of Conservation Concern (SCC-S); State/Federal: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
• Species: Northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina); Status: Federally Threatened (T-F); State/Federal: US Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS)

>Corp Yard (Samoa Facility)
• Species: Willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii); Status: State Endangered (E-S); State/Federal: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
• Species: Bank swallow (Riparia riparia); Status: State Threatened (T-S); State/Federal: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)

>Property #814 Jacoby Creek Forest/ Upper Watershed
• Species: Sonoma tree vole (Arborimus pomo); Status: State Species of Conservation Concern (SCC-S); State/Federal: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
• Species: Fisher (Pekania pennanti); Status: State Species of Conservation Concern (SCC-S); State/Federal: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
• Species: Northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina); Status: Federally Threatened (T-F); State/Federal: US Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS)

See attachment for detail.


Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:
No

A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
---

The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:

The Department of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt has several undergraduate classes (WDFS 311 Wildlife Techniques, WDFS 365 Ornithology, WDFS 460 Conservation Biology, and WLDF 464 Urban Wildlife Ecology) that have conducted surveys at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm, and on Cal Poly Humboldt campus in Arcata. Below we list the methodologies used by location.

Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary - WLDF 365 Ornithology does multiple field trips to the marsh with Dr. Frank Fogarty each semester to identify bird species; we also used eBird data (https://ebird.org/home)

Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm - WLDF 311 Wildlife Techniques does a 2-day field trip each semester to this location with Dr. Nick Kerhoulas. Multiple mammal surveys are conducted. Small mammal surveys are conducted via live trapping with Sherman traps; mammal surveys are conducted with camera traps; and bat surveys are conducted with ultrasonic bat detectors. Dr. Kerhoulas also shares: "In addition to the Wildlife Techniques WLDF 311 Friday-Sunday field trip (where I walk 20-25 miles over the 3 days) I have taken a Mammals Management WLDF 422 class out on a day trips (trail cameras, track plates, sign, and track identification), climbed trees to survey for Sonoma tree voles, as well as spending good amount there helping my wife conduct plant physiology research in both the canopy and on the ground."

Cal Poly Humboldt campus - WLDF 460 Conservation Biology conducts bird point counts every semester with Dr. Barbara Clucas. WLDF 464 Urban Wildlife Ecology conducts mammal surveys every spring semester using camera traps.


A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):

Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary - all accessible areas

Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm - all accessible areas

Cal Poly Humboldt campus - all accessible areas on campus


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

The campus does not at this time have any formal plans to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems but hopes to develop these in the future.


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:

Located at the north end of Humboldt Bay, the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife sanctuary is situated along the Pacific Flyway, a major migratory route for thousands of birds that breed in the far north and winter in California, Mexico and Central and South America. The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary has probably the highest bird populated coastal site between Bodega Harbor and Washington. The Marsh has hosted over 300 bird species.


Located at the north end of Humboldt Bay, the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife sanctuary is situated along the Pacific Flyway, a major migratory route for thousands of birds that breed in the far north and winter in California, Mexico and Central and South America. The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary has probably the highest bird populated coastal site between Bodega Harbor and Washington. The Marsh has hosted over 300 bird species.

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.