Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison Olivia Herron
Submission Date May 30, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Austin Peay State University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter Wes Powell
Assistant Director-Landscape and Grounds
Physical Plant
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
637 Acres

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 308 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) 15 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 323 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):

Building Footprint=32.6 acres
Impervious surface=37 acres
Athletic fields=9.4 acres
Unmanaged forest= 235 acres


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
95.36

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
---

A brief description of the IPM program:

Thresholds are set for managed areas when pests are inflicting noticeable damage or reducing vigor of plant material, or when safety is a concern. Some preventative chemical measures are used, especially on the campus’ Ash trees, with the threat of Emerald Ash Borer. All managed areas are monitored on a regular basis for pests and conditions that could attract pests, and controlled culturally and mechanically if below thresholds. When chemicals are needed, treatments are applied using correct timing for ultimate control and minimal collateral damage to beneficials. Chemicals are used at the lowest rates possible to return below threshold limits.
APSU actively monitors all managed areas and, other than a couple of instances, deals with issues as they occur. We practice cultural prevention and cultural control prior to chemical usage and it is our intent to treat in manners that are safe for the campus community and environment.
The APSU farm also has set thresholds. The farm manager and his team actively and regularly monitor the fields for pest. Because the farm’s thresholds are so high, intervention is rarely needed. However, when thresholds are exceeded, chemical control is used.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
0

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:

na


A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:

APSU strives to incorporate as many native plants as possible into the campus landscape. It is our goal for new buildings to have at minimum 50% native plant material. Currently we have an all native garden, managed by the Center for Excellence in Field Biology, with over 300 native species. Also, over the past three years, 14 native species of trees and shrubs have been introduced to campus. Last summer, 34 invasive trees were removed and replaced with native species. This past winter, an area of invasive vines was eradicated from campus property.
Within the campus’ Tree Care Plan, ( http://www.apsu.edu/sites/apsu.edu/files/health-safety/2016_APSU_Tree_Care_Plan.pdf ) there is a section for protection and preservation of existing trees on campus. Within construction zones, trees that can be relocated, should be and trees that remain should have protections in place for trunk and canopy damage as well as critical root zones.
All of the 182 trees planted on the farm in the past three years have been native species. The farm is also currently maintaining a re-introduced American chestnut grove.


A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:

The campus has multiple bio-retention areas that have been incorporated with landscape plants to absorb much of the storm water before it reaches the drains. Two of these collect all of the rain that falls onto the roof of our newest building. 90% of the irrigation systems on campus have been converted the Toro Sentinel Water Management System. This system is tied to a Davis weather station that completely shuts down the irrigation for a set amount of time once a rain threshold has been reached. Later this year we hope to be irrigating solely on need based on evapotranspiration rates. 81 trees have been planted in our MS4 areas that drain into an exceptional water way (Red River) to reduce the amount of erosion and storm water that reaches the river.
Last year the farm installed a solar powered well along with a 1500 gallon storage tank in order to reduce the amount of potable water needed for the cattle. Additionally, the 182 native trees mentioned earlier, were planted as a riparian buffer between a hay field and the Red River.


A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):

The University utilizes organic compost in many of our planting beds. The compost is made on site from collected leaves, trimmings and spent flowers used for annual color. Grass clippings and leaves that aren’t removed are mulched and returned to the soil to replenish nutrients and add organic matter to the soil.
Farm hands collect manure from the cattle herd and compost it, along old hay, to spread throughout the pastures and hay fields of the farm for supplemental soil nutrients.


A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:

na


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):

Ice and snow that falls on the campus’ 37 acres of roads, parking lots and sidewalks is plowed with 7 snow plows that attach to our existing mowers, UTV’s and trucks to reduce the amount of chemicals needed to have safe passage through campus. Areas where the plows cannot reach (steps and corners) are shoveled prior to applying any salt or ice melting agent. All amounts of salt and melting agents are reported to the Environmental Health and Safety manager after every winter weather event.


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.