Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 49.59
Liaison Lily Strehlow
Submission Date Feb. 2, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Lily Strehlow
Sustainability Specialist
Risk Management, Safety, and 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:
The Chippewa River is part of the Lower Chippewa River Basin, made up downstream from Eau Claire on the Chippewa River and downstream from Menomonie on the Red Cedar. This area contains more than 125 rare species and 25% of the state’s native prairie than any other comparable size in Wisconsin. Lowes and Rock creeks watershed are part of the makeup of the UWEC Campus with much of these watershed areas in agricultural use with the exception of urbanized areas around Eau Claire and the forested hillsides. UWEC’s campus includes Putnam Park, a 105-acre natural area along Little Niagra Creek. The park contains bedrock exposures, seepage springs, and varied topography that supports many plant and animal species. More than 400 species of plants, including one threatened species, 100 species of birds in summer, 23 mammal species, and six reptile species have been documented.

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?:
Yes

A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
The list could include but not limited to:

Endangered: Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis), Sheepnose Mussel (Plethobasus cyphyus), Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis), Rusty Patch Bumblebee (Bombus affinis)

Proposed Endangered: Tricolored Bat (Perimytois subflavus)

Experimental: Whooping Crane (Grus americana)

Candidate: Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Areas of biodiversity importance

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

A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
Putnam Park is a 230-acre natural area owned by UW-Eau Claire and consists of natural, mostly forested land that extends in a long curving, narrow strip through the city of Eau Claire. Forested with southern wet-mesic and northern dry-mesic forests, it contains diverse flora and fauna including a state-threatened plant. Most of the park's land was donated to the city of Eau Claire in 1909 by Henry C. Putnam, who wished to see the land remain in its natural state and serve as a botanical laboratory and park in perpetuity. About half of Putnam Park is designated a Wisconsin State Natural Area. The eastern section of the Park, at its lower elevation, ranges from mesic to swamp-like conditions. The other side of Putnam Drive, which passes through this section of the Park, is relatively steep hilly terrain. The western section of the park borders the Chippewa River, with sandy soil along some of this section. There are rock outcrops also in this region. Further into the Park, it is a combination of both flat (where the trail is located) and hilly forested terrain. The far section of the Park is a meadow area. Impressive white and red pines dominate the dry-mesic forest while the wet-mesic forest is dominated by river birch, silver maple, hackberry, red maple, and paper birch. Occasional tamarack and white cedar are found in the wettest portions. With varied topography, bedrock exposures, seepage springs, and a variety of soil types all nearby, Putnam Park possesses many plant and animal habitats. More than 400 species of plants, 100 species of birds in summer, and 23 mammal species have been recorded within the park.

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:
Completed by Wisconsin DNR and Ecological Services through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services

A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
Per the IPaC (Information for Planning Consultation) Website for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services: “The primary information used to generate this list is the known or expected range of each species. Additional areas of influence (AOI) for species are also considered. An AOI includes areas outside of the species range if the species could be indirectly affected by activities in that area (e.g., placing a dam upstream of a fish population even if that fish does not occur at the dam site, may indirectly impact the species by reducing or eliminating water flow downstream). Because species can move, and site conditions can change, the species on this list are not guaranteed to be found on or near the project area. To fully determine any potential effects to species, additional site-specific and project-specific information is often required.”

A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private landowners, to avoid, minimize, and mitigate threats to our nation's natural resources. They are responsible for implementing numerous laws, including the Endangered Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Federal Power Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and Sikes Act.

Optional Fields

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:
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Watersheds/basins/lowerchip

https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/water/watershedDetail.aspx?code=LC24&Name=Lowes%20and%20Rock%20Creeks

https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/location/EZIATJWDNFA2RP6NMEO2IHPC4I/resources#endangered-species

https://www.chem.uwec.edu/putnam/putnam-home.html

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.