| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Tanya Jagdish |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Albion College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Tanya
Jagdish Student Sustainability Employee President's Office |
Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach | 350 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials | 0 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 350 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):
The Whitehouse Nature Center is not regularly managed by the use any chemicals.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
The college uses an IPM program to control pests around campus. We use inorganic granular fertilizers on the quad and athletic fields, however at a minimum rate to provide a visually pleasing and healthy plant. We do not use insecticides as a broadcast application under any circumstances on campus. The insect management practices we use are in the form of natural soaps that prevent certain insects from destroying plants in our greenhouse at the seedling stage in early spring. Fungicides are also not part of any broadcast application plan on campus. Certain herbicides are used to help manage weeds on both the quad and athletic fields, usually in one application per year (fall), and in spring as needed. These products are used at the lowest possible recommended rates, and by certified personnel.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:
N/A
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Albion College does implement the use of native plant species in the landscaping of the campus. The Grounds Department concentrates on plant selection, planning, and maintenance of gardens and landscapes that primarily will optimize the use of native plants.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
In the process of adopting Low-Impact Development stormwater solutions to new projects and renovate old systems, as needed. The guide published by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governements (SEMCOG), "Low-Impact Development Manaual for Michigan: A Design Guide for Implementors and Reviewers." 2008, is our cornerstone.
A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
Passively composted manure/bedding is used in landscape beds and tree circles. Dead trees and limbs are chipped and reused as mulch in landscape beds and tree circles on campus.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
We are working on.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
The goal is to minimize the use of salt and find areas not to use salt. Our pre-treated salt effectiveness allows us to use 30 to 50 percent less product when compared to untreated salt. To minimize salt, grounds keeping pre-treats surfaces with sodium chloride brine.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.