The Bernard Biological Field Station

"A tour of the property readily convinces visitors of the importance of keeping such a beautiful expanse of land, shrubs, and trees for scientific purposes." Robert J. Bernard in An Unfinished Dream

Where is the Field Station?
The Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station (BFS) is the open space north of Foothill Blvd between College Ave and Mills Ave in Claremont, CA.

What is it?
It is approximately 86 acres of land established as a field station by the Claremont Colleges in 1976 for the use of their students in carrying out studies of natural ecosystems.

What is the controversy presently surrounding the Bernard Field Station?
In spring of 1997, the Claremont Colleges voted to add a seventh college to the consortium, the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences. This is planned to be principally a commuter biotechnology college with strong ties to industry. The Board of Fellows voted to give the KGI the western 11.4 acres of the BFS for its buildings in spite of overwhelming opposition by faculty and students and the existence of alternative sites - the golf course on Indian Hill Blvd and the former gravel quarry on the corner of Foothill and Claremont Blvds. Claremont University Center (CUC) submitted the North Campus Master Plan to the city in April 1998. The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) was released in March 1999. This document stated that the project would have significant unmitigable effects on habitat, wildlife, open space, views of the mountains, recreation, and Claremont's character. In addition, it will affect the educational value of the BFS to the colleges and the community. At the City of Claremont Commission meetings in April, many Claremont citizens expressed opposition to building on the BFS, including the local Native Americans (Gabrieliño-Tongva) who say the project will seriously damage an important cultural site. Furthermore, there is no protection proposed for the rest of the BFS if the project is eventually approved.

Is building on the Field Station a "done deal"?
Absolutely not. According to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), since the DEIR identifies significant unmitigable adverse environmental impacts for the project, the Architectural Commission (AC) must refuse permission for the KGI to be built on the Field Station. In addition, since the DEIR identifies the college-owned quarry as the environmentally superior alternative site, the AC must choose it. Building on the BFS can only be approved if the AC decides to issue a Statement of Overriding Consideration, which would state that the benefits of the project to the community outweigh the environmental impacts. Since all obvious benefits of the new college would be the same no matter where it is located, CUC would need to persuade the city of a particular benefit associated with the proposed site or would have to show why the alternative site is not feasible. The AC and the City Council have the best interests of the community at heart, and if the citizens make it clear that they value this land as it is, the AC may choose not to approve the project as proposed.

Is the BFS connected with the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden?
No. The Station belongs to the Claremont University Center. The Garden is a separate, independent institution with some ties to the Graduate University.

Who uses it?
The Station is used for Claremont Colleges classes in biology, botany, ecology, environmental science, art, geology, and astronomy as well as for faculty and student research. The Station is also used by Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Long Beach, and Cal State LA. Summer programs, Scouts, and K-12 classes use the Station. In addition, during the academic year, college students work with approximately 150 elementary students weekly as part of the Pitzer College Leadership in Environmental Education Program. The average number of user-days/year is well over 4000.

What is the habitat like?
Just over 36 acres are relatively undisturbed coastal sage scrub (CSS), a community fast disappearing in Southern California and considered sensitive. Part of the eastern side was once a citrus grove but is recovering to CSS. There is a small, man-made lake (pHake Lake) and several artificially-created vernal pools. There is oak forest in the north and willows around the lake. The variety of habitats, including some disturbance, makes it especially useful educationally.

Are there any endangered species present?
Two endangered species, the Riverside fairy shrimp and the Nevin's barberry, are present on the Station, but not in the site proposed for development. The fairy shrimp were introduced for research purposes when the species was first discovered, before they were listed as endangered. The barberry may be native or it may be a cultivated form that escaped from the adjacent Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. The endangered coastal California gnatcatcher has been see here in the past, but not recently, although the habitat is suitable for the gnatcatcher and number of other sensitive, threatened, and endangered species. The CSS community itself is considered to be a community under severe threat, and several animals the occur on the BFS are federal or California Species of Special Concern.

How was the BFS established?
It is part of a large parcel of land donated in the 1920's by Miss Ellen Browning Scripps for educational use. The land now houses colleges, the School of Theology, the Botanic Garden, the golf course, and the BFS. When sale of part of the land was considered in the 1970's, Donald McKenna raised the money to buy it from the Scripps Trust and donated the money to Claremont University Center. The land was fenced, the pond was dug, and the station was named after Robert J. Bernard. who had helped to guide the Claremont Colleges Group Plan from the start.

Is there a legal requirement that the land be used for colleges?
No. The trust deed clearly states that use of the land as a field station is acceptable.

Is the BFS the only land that could be used for the KGI?
No. The colleges own the quarry on Foothill and Claremont Blvds as well as the golf course. In addition, KGI has just purchased 3 of the 4 buildings of the Chiron site on Arrow west of Indian Hill so that it can start operation in fall of 2000. The buildings already contain state-of-the-art labs and are close to the freeway.

Aren't there alternative sites for a field station?
There is no other sizeable, relatively undisturbed area within walking distance of the colleges. This close proximity means that hundreds of students a year can work there, both in class and on their own without having to spend time and money on transportation. In addition, the fence makes it safe for students to visit on their own and to leave equipment set up.

The KGI will only be 11.4 acres. Will that hurt the BFS?
The BFS is already quite small in biological terms and any loss of habitat is likely to increase the rate of extinctions, especially since so little undeveloped land is around it. In addition, these 11 acres comprise about 30% of the coastal sage scrub. The smaller it is, the less useful for teaching and research.

But there are more than 75 acres left . . .
There is no guarantee that the rest of the land will remain as a field station. The colleges have stated that more building on the BFS will be considered from time to time. More land could be developed until there is none left. Also, the BFS has a small budget and it is difficult to secure grants for an institution with a limited life span.

Where are we now in the approval process?
The environmental consultants and the city staff prepared responses to the public comments, carried further studies on the plants and animals at the BFS, gathered more detailed information about building on the quarry, and revised the DEIR to produce the Final EIR (FEIR), which was released on July 6, 1999. The public has until July 21 to make comments, and then the AC will decide whether or not to certify the FEIR on July 28. When it does, CUC will begin to modify the master plan in accordance with the mitigation measures contained in the EIR, draw up any necessary develop agreements, etc. Sometime in late fall, the AC will then vote whether or not to approve the revised project. Their decision can be appealed to the City Council after which a referendum could be called or legal action initiated. There is a long way to go before any building can take place.

What can I do to help preserve this valuable open space and habitat?

Talk to the AC and City Council members or write to them at City Hall, PO Box 880, Claremont, CA 91711. Write letters to the Courier or other papers. Ask your friends to do the same. Let people know they can help! If you would like to be kept up-to-date on the issue or help more actively, ask to be added to the mailing list for the Friends of the Bernard Biological Field Station, PO Box 1101, Claremont, CA, 91711, (909) 260-4403.

Last updated 7/17/99.