| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.41 |
| Liaison | Kristin Larson |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
San Diego State University
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Joshua
Koss Landscape Services Manager Facilities Services |
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:
The Field Stations Program (FSP) at SDSU is within the College of Sciences and manages three University-owned field stations, the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve (approx. 5,000 acres), Sky Oaks Field Station (approx. 3,000 acres), and Fortuna Mountain Research Reserve (260 acres) that is incorporated into the City of San Diego’s Mission Trails Regional Park. The mission of SDSU’s Field Stations Program is to conserve valuable lands and ecosystems and to foster research, education, and outreach. The FSP reserves consist largely of critical habitats with vulnerable flora and fauna species located in a rapidly urbanizing region of Southern California. These habitats include coastal sage scrub (SMER and Fortuna Mountain), Oak woodland (Sky Oaks and SMER), riparian areas with a free-flowing river (SMER), and chaparral. They also include important links in migration corridors for species including the Mountain lion (SMER and Sky Oaks).
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:
Standard methodologies were employed in the surveys of the FSP properties for the multiple species conservation plans of San Diego and Riverside Counties.
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
These habitats include coastal sage scrub (SMER and Fortuna Mountain), Oak woodland (Sky Oaks and SMER), riparian areas with a free-flowing river (SMER), and chaparral. They also include important links in migration corridors for species including the Mountain lion (SMER and Sky Oaks). Important fauna species include Mountain lion, beaver, golden eagle, steelhead trout, California Gnatcatcher, Swainson’s Thrush, Wilson’s Warbler, Least Bell’s Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Bell’s Sparrow, coast horned lizard, and coastal whiptail. Important plant species include Parry’s tetracoccus, coast live oak, Engelmann’s oak, dudleya, and others.
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
FSP is dedicated to conserving the areas encompassed by the reserves and in working with regional partners to create buffer zones and habitat connections. FSP is part of the Multiple Species Conservation Program of San Diego County and the Riverside County Multiple Species Conservation Plan, which assures compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act and the state Endangered Species Act. FSP maintains these sites with locked gates, regular presence of managers, and other measures to prevent unauthorized intrusion into these sensitive areas.
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.