| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 40.97 |
| Liaison | Sherri Mason |
| Submission Date | June 30, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Sherri
Mason Director of Sustainability School of Science |
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:
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:
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College commissioned Pashek Associates for the preparation of a Sustainability Master Plan for the Wintergreen Gorge (which is located on campus) with funding from PA DCNR. The purpose of this plan was to inventory, analyze, evaluate, recommend, and provide implementation strategies to manage the Wintergreen Gorge for conservation, recreation, and environmental education. This Master Plan was released in December 2014.
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The Wintergreen Gorge is a 3,980-foot long, 250-feet deep natural wonder in Harborcreek Township that was carved from shale and sandstone by Fourmile Creek during the end of the Ice Age. Most of the Gorge is located on the 780-acre campus of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The Wintergreen Gorge is a partially mature forest community of county and state significance, in which there are two rare habitats that harbor plant species of special concern.
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The Wintergreen Gorge Master Plan acts to improve the natural systems, ecological resources, and hydrologic features of the gorge for future generations of Erie County residents to enjoy. In particular the master plan calls for the the installation of:
• boardwalk decking over wet areas as part of the main trail to protect the natural habitat;
• rain gardens to increase the hydrology of the area, decrease erosion, and improve overall water quality;
• overlook/observation points to provide safe vantage points for visitors while maintaining the integrity of the natural environment; and
• signage at multiple points along the main trail to encourage people to stay on the main trail in order to allow many of the existing, unsustainable trail scars to heal.
In totality the Wintergreen Gorge Master Plan provides:
i. Management of the upland forest, lowland forest, and riparian habitats to retain and improve forest structure for habitat;
ii. Habitat restoration of wet meadows, wetlands, open grass meadows, and other landscape types;
iii. Management of upstream storm water discharges to improve the water quality of Fourmile Creek;
iv. Restoration and improvements to Fourmile Creek to improve fish habitat and access for anglers;
v. Habitat protection for the two rare plant species present on the property; and
vi. Interpretation of geologic, hydrologic, and ecological features for casual visitors from the community, school aged children, and post- secondary students.
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.