Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 77.56
Liaison Ruairi O'Mahony
Submission Date Feb. 15, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Massachusetts Lowell
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Erik Shaw
Grounds Manager
Facilities: Operations & Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
UMass Lowell's campus is adjacent to the Merrimack River. The Merrimack River is one of the three most important large rivers on the East Coast in its conservation value to migratory river herring and one of the six most important for 12 migratory fish species. The Merrimack watershed also supports at least 75 state and federally-listed endangered species, numerous pairs of bald eagles, the largest tidal marsh habitat in New England, and a portion of the Atlantic Flyway bird migration route.

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?:
Yes

Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes

If yes to either of the above, provide the following:

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:
In 2018 UMass Lowell worked with the Ecological Extension Service (EES) of Mass Audubon to perform a campus biodiversity assessment and to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land.

A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
Please see attached Report from MassAudubon

A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
Per MassAudubon Report working in close partnership with our Facilities Grounds Department.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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