| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 64.13 |
| Liaison | Michael Kensler |
| Submission Date | Feb. 4, 2022 |
Auburn University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.20 / 2.00 |
Justin
Sutton Landscape Services Superintendent Facilities Management |
Total campus area:
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides | 94 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 270 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 19 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 383 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
Building footprints, roads, parking lots, sidewalks, field laboratories, natural areas, and the Arboretum.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
The 94 acres are comprised and managed as below:
56 acres-Are hayfields on the corner of S. College and Shug Jordan parkway adjacent to Research Park. These areas are mowed approximately once per month during the growing season and no fertilizer or pesticides are applied. This area also contains one wildflower planting on the corner of S. College and Shug Jordan.
30 acres-Hayfields along Donahue Drive and Lem Morrison Drive behind nursing. These areas are mowed bi-weekly during the growing season and no fertilizer or pesticides are applied.
3 acres- Bee Lab on Lem Morrison Drive. This area is mowed bi-weekly and wildflower plantings are installed and maintained by the Bee Lab staff. No fertilizer or pesticides are applied in or adjacent to this area.
3 acres-Garden of Memory- Any fertilizer applied in this area contains poultry biosolids as the source of Nitrogen. Weeds are removed by hand or mechanically with a string trimmer.
2 acres-Wildflower planting areas-there are 2 planted areas with Ag Park, 1 planted area along Donahue Drive, and the planted area on the corner of S. College and Shug.
Also, the Nitrogen fertilizer that contains poultry biosolids is used campus-wide as part of our fertility program on highly maintained turf areas.
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:
Please see the attached document.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Projects designed and installed by Landscape Services give preference to native plants, as outlined in the Landscape Master Plan and the Facilities Management Operations Guidelines. The University's Design Standards also require native species for all new buildings.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Auburn University developed a Campus Landscape Master Plan (CLMP) as part of the overall Comprehensive Campus Master Plan. The Master Plan was approved by the Board of Trustees and serves as the mechanism to ensure that the objectives of the CLMP are achieved. The CLMP embraces a sustainable environment, including an emphasis on stormwater management that incorporates best management practices for maintenance and implementation schedules, as well as Parkerson Mill Creek restoration opportunities.
The Design and Construction Standards performance requirements administered by Facilities Management state a project is to not increase peak stormwater flows for the 2, 5, 10, and 25-year storm events as well as provide water quality treatment for the first 1.2 inches of rainfall with an 80 percent Total Suspended Solids (TSS) reduction goal. Projects are also encouraged to reduce overall stormwater runoff volume by reducing impervious cover campus-wide and promoting infiltration.
In the past few years, Landscaping Services has installed 154 self-watering pots on campus for seasonal flower plantings. These pots reduce overwatering and save on labor.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
Longleaf Pine Straw is used in landscape areas to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and control erosion. All pruned material, leaves, woody debris, and soil-based waste are minimally processed on campus through composting, and the byproducts are utilized when possible at various locations throughout campus. When necessary, we use ice\snow melting compounds (on hardscape) that are safer for our landscape.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program 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.