| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 30.79 |
| Liaison | Rebecca Jones |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Austin College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Kelby
Archer Coordinator Center for Environmental Studies |
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 | 85 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 | 85 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):
Our five biological field sites totaling 360 acres are excluded from the area of managed grounds. Additionally, we have excluded our 30 acre lake campus, which is leased from the Corps of Engineers.
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:
We use the Texas School Integrated Pest Managment program as recommended by Texas Agri-Life Extension Service. The main control activities are treating visible fire ant mounds with a bait and using containerized rodent bait stations around buildings. We do utilize a state licensed professional pest control service for all buildings/grounds that does maintain service records that reflect all products are environmentally safe.
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:
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Invasive species are not a problem on campus. At our 100 acre prairie restoration we manage invasive species with mowing, carefully managed grazing, and prescribed fires, but do not use any herbicides or other manufactured chemicals. We protect mature trees during construction when feasible. We have over the years implemented more native plantings and also reduced the physical numbers of seasonal planting
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Our new LEED Gold Certified IDEA Center minimizes runoff with a rainwater collection system. Our irrigation systems have rainfall override sensors to automatically avoid watering when soils are moist, watering is unnecessary, and irrigation water could runoff.
A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
We have over the years implemented more native plantings and also reduced the physical numbers of seasonal planting. We make compost from food preparation waste and wood chips provided by companies that trim trees around electric lines. This compost is used on campus landscaping.
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 (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
.
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.