Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 46.15
Liaison Jessica Bilecki
Submission Date March 4, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of the Pacific
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.00 / 2.00 Jessica Bilecki
Sustainability Director
Sustainability
"---" 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, 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:

A portion of the Calaveras River runs through the university. The river and its adjacent levees are not owned or managed by the university. River Partners and Friends of the Lower Calaveras helped restore 3 acres of floodplain along the water side section of levee by planting native grasses and forbs.


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?:
No

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?:
No

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:

River Partners worked with the University and levee agencies to develop a restoration plan for a three acre flood plain area along the Calaveras River. This stretch of the Calaveras River is used as a migratory corridor for Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and is tributary to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which is home to multiple threatened and endangered aquatic and terrestrial species. Restoration helps increase ecological functionality by providing native pollen sources for wildlife, including insects and hummingbirds, in addition to erosion control and water filtration. Plus it is extremely visible.

In September 2012 a restoration plan and associated permitting was approved by the Central Valley Flood Protection district. In fall 2012 River Partners removed invasive trees and three acres were planted with ten species of grasses and forbs. Volunteers were trained to identify and avoid disrupting exiting native species. Monitoring was performed in June 2013, July 2014 and July 2015. As of 2015 seven natives still persisted. Supplemental plantings of native grass plugs occurred in 2014, 2014 and 2015.


A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):

Assessments included surveying the restored three acres for species composition and percent cover. A goal of the project was to reestablish at least five native species.


A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:

Pacific campuses do not have any native habitats such as grasslands or woodlands but it is our practice to prioritize landscaping. We follow a policy of not removing trees, pursue increased amounts of native vegetation, and focus on maintaining redwoods and a variety of oak species on campus.


Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :
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Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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