Overall Rating	Silver
Overall Score	58.33
Liaison	Jessica Bilecki
Submission Date	March 14, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of the Pacific
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	0.00 / 1.00 This credit is weighted more heavily for institutions that own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to any of the following: Legally protected areas (e.g., IUCN Category I-VI) Internationally recognized areas (e.g., World Heritage, Ramsar, Natura 2000) Priority sites for biodiversity (e.g., Key Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites) Regions of conservation importance (e.g., Endemic Bird Areas, Biodiversity Hotspots, High Biodiversity Wilderness Areas) 2 points are available for this credit if the institution owns or manages land that includes or is adjacent to any of the above. 1 point is available for this credit for all other institutions. Close	Jessica Bilecki Sustainability Director Sustainability

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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?:

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 Stockton campus. The Calaveras River and its adjacent levees are not owned or managed by the university but they are adjacent to university property on either side of the river. This portion of the lower Calaveras River is not protected under any special legal, biodiversity or conservation status.

Endangered and vulnerable species

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?:

A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:

The university has not conducted any formal assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species on university property. Field observation classes regularly observe and document species on and adjacent to university property but no formal assessments have been conducted. The portion of river that runs through the university campus is in the Central Valley of California, a major migratory corridor for birds as well as several species of fish that are threatened or of special concern. Per a 2020 NOAA Calaveras River Habitat Conservation Plan, potentially threatened species in the river are the California Central Valley steelhead, Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon and a fall-run Chinook salmon of special concern. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/calaveras-river-habitat-conservation-plan-and-environmental-assessment

Areas of biodiversity importance

Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:

A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:

No assessment has been conducted in the last three years. from 2012 - 2015 the university worked with River Partners and Friends of the Lower Calaveras to help assess and restore 3 acres of floodplain along the water side section of levee by planting native grasses and forbs.

Methodologies

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

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. 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 directly manage any native habitats such as grasslands or woodlands. Landscaping practices prioritize keeping and replacing trees and utilizing increased amounts of native vegetation.

Optional Fields

Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :

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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