Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.75
Liaison Keaton Schrank
Submission Date April 26, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Westminster University - Utah
OP-11: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Mariah McCoy
Sustainability Fellow
Westminster Environmental Center
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

None
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

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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.

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Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes

None
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes

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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.

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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

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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 Xeroscape 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.

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The website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity policies and programs(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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