| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.31 |
| Liaison | Keaton Schrank |
| Submission Date | June 12, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Westminster University - Utah
OP-11: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Ida
Kolodziejczyk Sustainability Fellow Environmental Center |
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?:
A brief description of any legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance on institution owned or managed land:
The Immigration Creek Natural Area is a National Wildlife Federation certified wildlife habitat.
The campus Pollinator Garden is a registered Monarch Waystation.
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
The methodology(-ies) used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Environmental Biology students have done annual work monitoring the Emigration Creek natural area including water quality testing and species inventories. Westminster has also worked with Trout Unlimited and Utah Rivers Council to improve the habitat of the native Bonneville Cutthroat Trout on the creek and complete regular fish monitoring.
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
Golden Current, Ribes Aureum
Quaking Aspen, Populus Tremuloides
Woods Rose, Rosa Woodsii
Rocky Mountain Maple, Acer Glabrum
Snowberry, Symphoricapos Alba
Beechleaf/True Mountain Mahogany, Cercocarpus Montanus
Rocky Mountain Iris, Iris Missouriensis
Black Hawthorn, Crataegus Douglasii
Blue Flax, Linum Lewisii
Ponderosa Pine, Pinus Ponderosa
Silver Buffaloberry, Shepherdia Argentea
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus Contorta Latifolia
Western Red Birch, Betula Occidentalis Fontinalis
Choke Cherry, Prunus Virginiana var. Melanocarpa
Three Leaf Sumac/Skunk Brush, Rhus Trilobata
Big Tooth Maple, Acer Grandidentatum
Gamble Oak, Quercus Gambelii
Bearberry/Kinnikinik, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi
Pontentilla, Potentilla Fruiticosa
Drummond Willow, Salix Drummondiana
Tufted Hairgrass, Deschampsia Caespitosa
Rocky Mountain Juniper, Juniperus Scopulorum
Curleaf Mountain Mahogany, Cerocarpus Ledifolius
Utah Northern Sweetvetch, Hedysarum Boreala
Munro Globemallow, Sphaeralcea Munroana
Rocky Mountain Beeplant, Cleome Serrulata
Pinion Pine, Pinus Edulis
Cream Brush, Holodiscus Discolor
Utah Serviceberry, Amelanchier Utahensis
Ocean Spray, Holodiscus Dumosa
Arrowroot
Mountain Mahogany
Utah Serviceberry
Sage
Yucca
Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum)
Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Box Elder (Acer negundo)
Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Lewis’s Mock Orange (Phildelphus lewisii)
Western Snowberry (Symphorycarpos occidentalis)
Thimble Berry (Rubus parviflora)-
Russet Leaf Buffalo Berry (Shepherdia canadensis)
Mountain Ash (Sorbus scopulina)
Mallow Leaf Ninebark (Physocarpos malvaceus)
Saskatoon Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa)
Mountain Lover (Pachystima myrsinites)
Bigroot Prickly Pear (Opuntia macrorhiza) - edible purple fruits; origin Canyon Cove area of Mt. Olympus foothills, Salt Lake Couty.
Pink Common Prickly Pear (Opuntia polyacantha) -showy flowers; origin Butterfield Canyon, southwestern Salt Lake County appx. 1987
Orange Common Prickly Pear (Opuntia polyacantha)-showy flowers; origin Butterfield Canyon, southwestern Salt Lake County appx. 1987.
Yellow Common Prickly Pear (Opuntia polyacantha)-showy flowers; origin Butterfield Canyon, southwestern Salt Lake County appx. 1987
Yellow Prickly Pear (Opuntia polyacantha) origin appx. West Salt Lake City industrial area.
Fragile Prickly Pear (Opuntia fragilis)-yellow flowers; cylindrical joints; origin Jordan River bluffs, south Salt Lake County.
Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia compressa)- from Nebraska; few spines & round pads; origin relict grassland in Wildness Park on west bank of Salt Creek, Lincoln, Nebraska appx. 1982.
Cone Flower Sp. Echinacea purpurea
Hardy water lily Nymphaea
Milkweed mix Asclepias sp.
Bleeding Heart Dicentra eximia
Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii
Pickerelweed Pontederia Cordata
Russian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia
Shasta Daisy Chrysanthemum maximum
Sunny Border Veronica Veronica spicata
Bush Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii
Fire Pinks Dianthus Dianthus sp.
Dummond Willow Salix drummondiana
Northern Oat Grass Chasmanthium latifolium
Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides
Oregon Grape (Mahonia-akufolium)
Fire Cracker Penstemen (Penstemen eatonii)
Princess Plume (Stanleya Pinnata)
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium Scoparium)
Wooley Tyme (Tymus Lanuginosus)
Curl-Leaf Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius)
Bonnevile Cutthroat Trout
Emigration Creek Natural Area
Naturescape Garden
Native American Garden
Mountain Desert Garden
Organic Vegetable Garden
Pollinator Garden
Xeriscape Garden
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
Work has been done, and continues to be done, on the creek flowing through campus to promote urban biodiversity, and particularly to improve the habitat for the native Bonnevile Cutthroat Trout.
There are various areas on campus that focus on showcasing native plants, landscaping principles, and wildlife habitats: Naturescape Garden, Native American Garden, Mountain Desert Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Organic Vegetable Garden, Pollinator Garden, and Xeriscape Garden. Each garden features explanatory signs and plant species labels.
Completed in November 2005, the Westminster College Landscape Master Plan addresses the campus as a place of learning, investigation, demonstration and environmental stewardship. As part of this comprehensive look at future landscape design and development, the plan emphasizes the use of water-wise plantings which maintain the traditional feel of campus and provide learning opportunities for students and the community.
The website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity policies and programs(s) is available:
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.