| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.47 |
| Liaison | Ian McKeown |
| Submission Date | March 30, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Loyola Marymount University
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Eric
Strauss President's Professor in Urban Ecology College of Science & Engineering |
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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:
The LMU Bluff is adjacent to the protected Riparian Corridor of the 51 acre Ballona Freshwater Marsh ecosystem (FWM). It is managed separately from the state Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER) west of the property. However, the Bluff is important “fringe” habitat for birds and animals that are present in the Ballona Wetlands. Here are more sites to research more on this: http://ballonarestoration.org/ , http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region5/ballona.html
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:
We have regularly scheduled surveys conducted by professional biologists and additional surveys conducted by community members and Audubon Volunteers
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
Here are some speciess who are either species of special concern, or state or federally listed as endangered, and who are found foraging or breeding in the Ballona Wetlands:
1. Belding’s Savannah Sparrow
2. El Segundo Blue Butterfly
3. Least Bell’s Vireo
4. Least Tern (Breeds at Least Tern Colony on Venice Beach, forages in the Wetlands for fish)
5. Legless Lizard
6. Virginia Rail
Here are some birds who have been extirpated (meaning they once bred here and now only pass through occasionally):
· Burrowing Owl (almost every winter there are one or two Burrowing Owls spotted in the Wetlands or along the Creek)
· California Gnatcatcher (rare sightings)
· California Quail (a single male and a single female were spotted several years apart, have not re-established breeding)
· Clapper Rail (hasn’t been seen for a long time)
· Loggerhead Shrike (it’s been declining, only winters at Ballona – rare sightings)
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The lands adjacent to the campus are part of a State and Regional restoration initiative that is partly funded by the Annenberg Foundation. LMU and the Center for Urban Resilience are leading community science programs and STEM education professional development in urban ecology for middle and high school teachers. In addition, LMU operated a natural history park at the edge of the Ballona Reserve that serves a s both an outdoor classroom and public education space.
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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