| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.07 |
| Liaison | Adam Maurer |
| Submission Date | March 31, 2021 |
South Seattle College
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.00 / 2.00 |
Adam
Maurer District Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
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?:
A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
The West Duwamish Greenbelt runs along the eastern property line of South Seattle College. This property is part of the City of Seattle's park system and is "preserved for such." The West Duwamish Greenbelt is the largest remaining contiguous forest in the City of Seattle, which covers over 500 acres and spans over four miles north to south and west to east from a steep slope in the Delridge area in West Seattle to the Duwamish Waterway. The West Duwamish Greenbelt provides a habitat for wildlife such as herons, bald eagles, hawks, owls, foxes, red-legged frogs, salamander, and frogs
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?:
A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
n/a
Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:
A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
n/a
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
n/a
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
n/a
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
We have a no kill policy. We also encourage all types of wildlife free roaming. Currently adding owl nesting boxes. We have other nesting boxes as well.
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:
A full Environmental Impact Statement was conducted in 2006 prior to the last Major Institutional Master Plan in 2007. In 2003, South Seattle College conducted a survey of the vegetative buffer (2.75 acres total) located in the West Marginal hillside area of the West Duwamish Greenbelt. The purpose of the survey was to locate and identify exceptional trees in this area in accordance with teh City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development's (DPD) guidelines for identifying the presence of rare and exceptional trees (Director's Rule, DR6-2001).
From the 2003 survey, two trees were identified as "exceptional" within the study area. The first, Arbutus menziesii, commonly known as Pacific madrone, is located approximately 16 feet of South Seattle's perimeter fence. The second tree, Acer macrophyllum commonly know as bigleaf maple, is located approximately 120 fee west of the perimeter fence, alongside the east edge of the service road. Both of these trees are classified as native species.
The West Duwamish Greenbelt is one of Seattle's largest wildlife corridors. The greenbelt and upland contiguous sites, which include the undeveloped, wooded portions of the South Seattle campus (east) are home to many urban species. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildflife (WDFW) Priority Species and Habitats for this area include; 1) an Osprey nest on the 1st Avenue South Bridge near Terminal 150, seen in 2003, 2) a Bald Eagle nest in a cottonwood off of West Marginal Way, seen in 2002 and 3) a Great Blue Heron nest off of West Marginal Way, seen in 2003. Each of these habitat locations is over a mile from the campus. WDFW has developed management recommendations for Washington's priority habitats and species to provide planners, elected officials, landowners, and citizens with comprehensive information on important fish, wildlife, and habitat resources. These management recommendations are designed to assist in making land use decisions that incorporate the needs of fish and wildlife. However, none of the mapped locations for species are currently located close enough to the campus to require WDFW management recommendations.
The Pacific madrone is located in an area identified as steep slopes (greater than 40 percent) on the City's Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA). This tree appears to be located outside of the campus boundaries. Located within the campus boundaries, the bigleaf maple lies just outside the City's ECA. However, given its location relative to the ECA and the sloping, wooded area to the east, this tree may be regulated by the City. According to City requirements (SMC 25.09.320), a permit from DPD is required for the removal of trees and vegetation in an ECA when certain size-related thresholds are exceeded. Tree or vegetation removal shown as part of a Master Use Permit does not require a separate tree or vegetation removal permit.
https://wdgtrails.wordpress.com/
http://clerk.seattle.gov/search/ordinances/118477
A full Environmental Impact Statement was conducted in 2006 prior to the last Major Institutional Master Plan in 2007. In 2003, South Seattle College conducted a survey of the vegetative buffer (2.75 acres total) located in the West Marginal hillside area of the West Duwamish Greenbelt. The purpose of the survey was to locate and identify exceptional trees in this area in accordance with teh City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development's (DPD) guidelines for identifying the presence of rare and exceptional trees (Director's Rule, DR6-2001).
From the 2003 survey, two trees were identified as "exceptional" within the study area. The first, Arbutus menziesii, commonly known as Pacific madrone, is located approximately 16 feet of South Seattle's perimeter fence. The second tree, Acer macrophyllum commonly know as bigleaf maple, is located approximately 120 fee west of the perimeter fence, alongside the east edge of the service road. Both of these trees are classified as native species.
The West Duwamish Greenbelt is one of Seattle's largest wildlife corridors. The greenbelt and upland contiguous sites, which include the undeveloped, wooded portions of the South Seattle campus (east) are home to many urban species. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildflife (WDFW) Priority Species and Habitats for this area include; 1) an Osprey nest on the 1st Avenue South Bridge near Terminal 150, seen in 2003, 2) a Bald Eagle nest in a cottonwood off of West Marginal Way, seen in 2002 and 3) a Great Blue Heron nest off of West Marginal Way, seen in 2003. Each of these habitat locations is over a mile from the campus. WDFW has developed management recommendations for Washington's priority habitats and species to provide planners, elected officials, landowners, and citizens with comprehensive information on important fish, wildlife, and habitat resources. These management recommendations are designed to assist in making land use decisions that incorporate the needs of fish and wildlife. However, none of the mapped locations for species are currently located close enough to the campus to require WDFW management recommendations.
The Pacific madrone is located in an area identified as steep slopes (greater than 40 percent) on the City's Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA). This tree appears to be located outside of the campus boundaries. Located within the campus boundaries, the bigleaf maple lies just outside the City's ECA. However, given its location relative to the ECA and the sloping, wooded area to the east, this tree may be regulated by the City. According to City requirements (SMC 25.09.320), a permit from DPD is required for the removal of trees and vegetation in an ECA when certain size-related thresholds are exceeded. Tree or vegetation removal shown as part of a Master Use Permit does not require a separate tree or vegetation removal permit.
https://wdgtrails.wordpress.com/
http://clerk.seattle.gov/search/ordinances/118477
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.