| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.32 |
| Liaison | Emma Parsley |
| Submission Date | Dec. 12, 2022 |
Texas State University, San Marcos
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
James
Vollrath Director 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:
Campus surrounds waterways with endangered and threatened species.
The San Marcos River begins on campus at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment where the Edwards Aquifer meets the surface through its springs.
These springs and the river are listed as protected sensitive environments.
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:
Identified Endangered and Threatened species by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and Texas Parks & Wildlife: Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle, Peck's Cave Amphipod, San Marcos Gambusia, Comal Springs Riffle Beetle, Fountain Darter, San Marcos Salamander, Texas Blind Salamander, and Texas wild-rice.
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:
Identified species are Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle, Peck's Cave Amphipod, San Marcos Gambusia, Comal Springs Riffle Beetle, Fountain Darter, San Marcos Salamander, Texas Blind Salamander, and Texas wild-rice.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
The upper San Marcos River is one of the most biologically diverse aquatic ecosystems known in the southwestern United States and has a number of endemic species that are isolated to the upper 4.5 miles of the river. Consequently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department, and Texas Parks and Wildlife have designated the San Marcos Springs and Spring Lake critical habitat. Critical habitat refers to a particular geographical area that contains all of the physical, chemical, and biological attributes needed for the continued success of an endangered plant or animal and that may require special efforts for their management and protection.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
Individuals from the Edwards Aquifer Authority, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, and university researchers monitor both Spring Lake and the San Marcos River and perform environmental assessments in order to keep an updated count of both endangered and threatened species.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
The Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is intended to provide assurance that suitable habitat for covered species will remain in both the San Marcos and Comal Springs, despite lawful water use activities within the Edwards Aquifer region.
Through a stakeholder driven process, the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program recommended that the Edwards Aquifer Authority, the City of San Antonio–represented by the San Antonio Water System, the City of San Marcos, the City of New Braunfels, and Texas State University apply for an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act.
All projects outlined in the HCP are designed to provide overall benefit to the springs systems and the species that inhabit those springs through the three major project categories:
Habitat protection measures
Flow protection measures
Supporting measures
The ITP was granted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in order to allow the permittees a specified level of disturbance in the system in the understanding that a variety of mitigation measures will be implemented.
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:
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.