University of California, San Diego
OP-10: Biodiversity

Scripps Coastal Reserve, established in 1965, occupies nearly one thousand acres in La Jolla, California ranging across a complex landscape including mesa top, coastal canyon and bluff, sandy beach, rocky intertidal, submerged coastal plain and deep submarine canyon. More information here: https://nrs.ucsd.edu/reserves/scripps/index.html  

The San-Diego Scripps State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) and Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve (SMR) are marine protected areas that extend offshore from La Jolla in San Diego County on California’s south coast. They protect most of the unique Scripps Canyon branch of La Jolla's submarine canyon system and the southern-most natural California mussel bed. The areas encompass four distinct habitat zones; rocky reef, kelp forest, sandy flat, and deepwater canyon. More information here: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MPAs/San-Diego-Scripps-Coastal-Matlahuayl#:~:text=San%20Diego%2DScripps%20Coastal%20SMCA,unique%20and%20diverse%20marine%20communities.   

Animal Species: 
In order of federal/state protection status: Coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica), yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia), yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), Orange-throated whiptail (Aspedoscelis hyperythra beldingi), Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii), Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) 

A total of eight additional sensitive animal species that were not observed during 2016-2017 biological surveys are considered to have a high potential to occur on campus. These include coastal whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris stejnegeri), red diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber ruber), Coronado skink (Eumeces skitonianus interparietalis), San Diego horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillii), coast patch-nosed snake (Salvadora hexalepis virgultea), southern California rufous-crowned sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps canescens), northwestern San Diego pocket mouse (Chaetodipus fallax fallax), and San Diego desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida intermedia). 

Plant Species: 
In order of federal/state protection status: Nuttall’s scrub oak, San Diego barrel cactus, short-leaved duleya (Dudleya brevifolia), Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana ssp. torreyana), wart-stemmed ceanothus, ashy spike-moss (Selaginella cinerascens), California box-thorn, Engelmann oak (Quercus engelmannii), San Diego County sunflower (Bahiopsis laciniata), western dichondra (Dichondra occidentalis), and woolly seablite (Suaeda taxifolia) 

The campus harbors a wealth of biodiversity, much of which lies the protected Open Space Preserve. A total of 16 vegetation communities or land use types are mapped on campus. They include four wetland habitat types (southern willow scrub, mule fat scrub, herbaceous wetland, and disturbed wetland) and 12 upland habitat/land use types (beach, native grassland, maritime succulent scrub, southern maritime chaparral, southern coastal bluff scrub, Diegan coastal sage scrub, southern mixed chaparral, chaparral/eucalyptus woodland ecotone, non-native grassland, eucalyptus woodland, disturbed habitat, and urban/developed land). 

In addition, a total of 205 plant species were observed on site during campus-wide biological surveys, of which 117 (57 percent) were native species and 88 (43 percent) were non-native species. Ornamental species occurring within urban/developed land were not included in the species tally. A total of 94 animal species, including 15 invertebrate, one amphibian, four reptile, 69 bird, and five mammal species, were observed or detected on site during 2016 biological surveys. 

Of these species, ten sensitive plant species were observed on campus, including Nuttall’s scrub oak (Quercus dumosa), San Diego barrel cactus (Ferocactus viridescens), Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana ssp. torreyana), wart-stemmed ceanothus (Ceanothus verrucosus), ashy spike-moss (Selaginella cinerascens), California box-thorn (Lycium californicum), Engelmann oak (Quercus engelmannii), San Diego County sunflower (Bahiopsis laciniata), western dichondra (Dichondra occidentalis), and woolly seablite (Suaeda taxifolia). An eleventh species, short-leaved dudleya (Dudleya brevifolia), was not observed during 2016 surveys but has been documented on campus in previous surveys. Six sensitive animal species were detected on campus during 2016 and 2017 surveys: orange-throated whiptail (Aspedoscelis hyperythra beldingi), coastal California gnatcatcher, Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens), and yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia). 

Note: "Special-status” species include those species that have been recognized by either federal or state resource management agencies or conservation organizations as having special management needs due to limited distribution, limited numbers, or significant population declines associated with natural or manmade causes. Special-status species include those designated as endangered, threatened, rare, protected, sensitive, or species of special concern according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California Native Plant Society (CNPS), or applicable regional plans, policies, or regulations. 

Surveys were conducted for vegetation mapping, general wildlife, rare plants, the federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica), and the federally and state endangered least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus). Prior to conducting biological field surveys, HELIX performed a review of aerial imagery and previous vegetation and sensitive resources mapping for UC San Diego conducted as part of the 2004 LRDP (HELIX 2004), as well as vegetation mapping and associated reports prepared for specific UC San Diego projects over the past several years. In addition, HELIX conducted a search of sensitive species databases for information regarding sensitive species known to occur within five miles of UC San Diego, including the USFWS species records (USFWS 2017), CDFW California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB; CDFW 2017a), and CNPS Electronic Inventory (CNPS 2017).  

Vegetation communities were mapped on a 1 inch = 200 feet scale aerial of UC San Diego. The campus was surveyed on foot and with the aid of binoculars. Plant and animal species observed or otherwise detected during the surveys were recorded and a full list of the species detected prepared. Animal identifications were made in the field by direct, visual observation or indirectly by detection of calls, burrows, tracks, or scat. Plant identifications were made in the field or in the lab through comparison with voucher specimens or photographs. The locations of special-status plant and animal species incidentally observed or otherwise detected were mapped. Coastal California gnatcatcher protocol surveys were conducted in 2016 following survey guidelines for the species prepared by the USFWS (1997). Least Bell's vireo surveys were conducted during the breeding season in April through July 2017 following the USFWS 2001 survey protocol (HELIX 2017). A total of 205 plant species were observed on UC San Diego during the 2016 biological surveys, of which 117 (57%) were native special and 88 (43%) were non-native species. 

As part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for UC San Diego's 2018 Long Range Development Plan Update, the university worked with consultants to evaluate the potential for biological impacts associated with implementation of the proposed 2018 LRDP. The term “biological resources” refers to both botanical and wildlife communities on UC San Diego. For the purposes of this document, “special-status” species include those species that have been recognized by either federal or state resource management agencies or conservation organizations as having special management needs due to limited distribution, limited numbers, or significant population declines associated with natural or manmade causes. Special-status species include those designated as endangered, threatened, rare, protected, sensitive, or species of special concern according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California Native Plant Society (CNPS), or applicable regional plans, policies, or regulations. 

Helix Environmental Planning prepared a Biological Resources Technical Report. Surveys were conducted for vegetation mapping, general wildlife, rare plants, the federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica), and the federally and state endangered least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus). Prior to conducting biological field surveys, HELIX performed a review of aerial imagery and previous vegetation and sensitive resources mapping for UC San Diego conducted as part of the 2004 LRDP (HELIX 2004), as well as vegetation mapping and associated reports prepared for specific UC San Diego projects over the past several years. In addition, HELIX conducted a search of sensitive species databases for information regarding sensitive species known to occur within five miles of UC San Diego, including the USFWS species records (USFWS 2017), CDFW California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB; CDFW 2017a), and CNPS Electronic Inventory (CNPS 2017). Additional detail can be found at: https://plandesignbuild.ucsd.edu/planning/environmental.html  

UC San Diego's integrated system of open space areas is collectively referred to as the Open Space Preserve, which covers approximately 335 acres. The four open space types on the UC San Diego campus consist of the Ecological Reserve, Restoration Lands, Urban Forest, and Historic Grove based on their resources present and constraints to development. Specifically, the Ecological Reserve contains the majority of native vegetation communities and sensitive plant species occurring on campus. 

The UC San Diego 2019 Ecological Reserve Habitat Management Plan (HMP) guides the management of the Ecological Reserve pursuant to the Open Space Management Program. This plan takes the Open Space Management Program a step farther by providing specific direction for the preservation and long-term management of the Ecological Reserve and expands upon the applicable management guidelines identified in the LRDP. Given that UC San Diego does not record conservation easements over mitigation areas on campus lands, implementation of specific recommendations in the HMP ensures that the habitat functions and values of the Ecological Reserve are maintained and protected over the long term. Funding for implementation of the HMP is provided on an annual basis through Campus Resource Management and Planning funds, though it is a goal of the university to establish an endowment to fund long‐term management of its Ecological Reserve lands in perpetuity. The 2023 Annual Report documents the status of the Ecological Reserve including the management and maintenance tasks completed during the 2023 calendar year, including updated flora and fauna surveys, invasive species removal, and native plantings. 

In addition, UC San Diego conducts environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for all development projects; CEQA requires assessment and mitigation for impacts to sensitive plant and animal species as well as habitat and water quality. 

In 2010, UC San Diego implemented an Ecological Reserve Habitat Management Plan (HMP), which specifies long-term management and maintenance tasks such as habitat assessment surveys, exotic species removal, erosion control, and sensitive species surveys. The Open Space Management Program is not mitigation for UC San Diego-wide impacts, but is a framework for maintaining and enhancing the biological values of the UC San Diego open space areas. Four types of open spaces with distinct qualities of vegetation, topography, and geography occur on UC San Diego: canyons, steep slopes, native vegetation, and eucalyptus groves. This integrated system of open space areas is collectively referred to in the proposed 2018 LRDP as the Open Space Preserve. Formerly identified as the “UCSD Park” in the 2004 LRDP, the Open Space Preserve also denotes open spaces subject to special constraints on development. The four open space types on the UC San Diego campus consist of the Ecological Reserve, Restoration Lands, Urban Forest, and Historic Grove based on their resources and constraints to development. Because of the sensitivity of the biological resources present within the Open Space Preserve, the HMP was prepared to address the management of the resources in the Ecological Reserve. The HMP takes the Open Space Management Program one step farther by providing specific direction for the preservation and long-term management of the Ecological Reserve and expands upon the applicable management guidelines that were identified in the 2004 LRDP EIR. Implementation of the specific recommendations in the HMP would ensure that the habitat functions and values of the Ecological Reserve are maintained and protected over the long term. It should be noted that UC San Diego does not record conservation easements over mitigation areas on UC San Diego lands. However, UC San Diego is committed to implementing the Open Space Management Program and the HMP to protect the biological functions and values of the preserved lands within its jurisdiction in perpetuity.

A Habitat Management Plan was prepared for the management of the approximately 120-acre Ecological Reserve pursuant to the Open Space Management Program contained within the 2004 LRDP EIR. This plan takes the Open Space Management Program a step farther by providing specific direction for the preservation and long-term management of the Ecological Reserve and expands upon the applicable management guidelines identified in the LRDP. Given that UC San Diego does not record conservation easements over mitigation areas on campus lands, implementation of specific recommendations in the Habitat Management Plan ensures that the habitat functions and values of the Ecological Reserve are maintained and protected over the long term.

 
The La Jolla Community Plan identifies many goals, policies, and recommendations for development within the Coastal Zone. The Local Coastal Program was adopted by the San Diego City Council in 1982 and certified by the California Coastal Commission in 1983. The policies and recommendations of the 1985 La Jolla – La Jolla Shores Local Coastal Program have been incorporated into the 2014 La Jolla Community Plan, along with the La Jolla Shores Precise Plan (1972), and the Fay Avenue Plan (1980) (City of San Diego 2014). The following general community goal is addressed in the 2014 La Jolla Community Plan and Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan: Conserve and enhance the natural amenities of the community such as its views from identified public vantage points, open space, hillsides, canyons, ocean, beaches, bluffs, wildlife, and natural vegetation and achieve a desirable relationship between the natural and developed components of the community. 

Important documents mentioned in the descriptions above. These are the most recent biodiversity assessments and plans.  

Points of contact for credit information:  

• Carrie Metzgar, Campus Sustainability Officer, Utilities & Sustainability
• Lauren Lievers, Principal Environmental Planner, Campus Planning