| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.11 |
| Liaison | Kathleen McCaig |
| Submission Date | March 15, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Berea College
OP-10: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Dewey
Williams Grounds Superintendent Facilities |
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds::
| Area | |
| Total campus area | 9,141 Acres |
| Footprint of the institution's buildings | 21 Acres |
| Area of undeveloped land, excluding any protected areas | 9,000 Acres |
Area of managed grounds that is::
| Area | |
| Managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan | 120 Acres |
| Managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program that includes an IPM plan and otherwise meets the criteria outlined | 0 Acres |
| Managed organically, third party certified and/or protected | 0 Acres |
A copy of the IPM plan:
The IPM plan :
Chemical use is last resort for pest control. In general, the action threshold for pest populations is set very high and usually based on physical harm to the plant or a disruption to a person’s experience on campus. An example would be an abundance of lace-bugs on azaleas not allowing photosynthesis and causing defoliation, or an unplayable percentage (over 20%) of crabgrass on a collegiate sports field. Plants are constantly monitored for any problems, and upon finding a problem the pest is identified if present. If a pest is determined to be the cause of a problem, and the action threshold level has been exceeded, then chemical use will be considered. In most cases a safer non chemical control option will be tried first and the cycle of monitoring will begin again. If other options have tried and the problem still persists, then chemical use will be considered. If the pest problem persists for multiple years after control another plant will be considered for the site. During plant selection for landscapes, low maintenance and balance are always top priority for designs, along with proper siting of the selected plants. This generally leads to healthier plant material that is more likely to prevent a pest problem. During maintenance of planted landscapes, proper cultural care is scheduled also to decrease the chance of a pest problem.
A brief summary of the institution’s approach to sustainable landscape management:
A brief description of how the institution protects and uses existing vegetation, uses native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controls and manages invasive species:
It is practice when determining plant material for projects first to determine the site requirements of the area, including but not limited to sun exposure, drainage, soil type, height requirements, maintenance requirements, safety needs, etc. After determining these needs, plant material is chosen with 3 different categories of material: native, human edible qualities, non-invasive exotic. The goal of every project is minimum 30% native material used for shrub beds, and 75% for trees. The ultimate goal of every project is a low maintenance, properly sited, and well balanced landscape.
A brief description of the institution’s landscape materials management and waste minimization policies and practices:
All grounds related waste is reused. Grass clippings are mulched on site back into the turf. All wood and brush is dumped at a selected location, where burnable wood is given to the community, and all remaining woody material is chipped into mulch for tree rings. Leaves and herbaceous material is stored at another location and reused as leaf mold and compost.
A brief description of the institution’s organic soils management practices:
A brief description of the institution’s use of environmentally preferable materials in landscaping and grounds management:
A brief description of how the institution restores and/or maintains the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus:
A brief description of how the institution reduces the environmental impacts of snow and ice removal (if applicable):
Berea College has approximately 8 miles of sidewalks, 2 miles of roads, and 8 acres of parking lot that are maintained for snow and ice. During inclement winter weather, sidewalks are cleared by 2 to 3 mechanical sweepers, focusing on priority routes first. Building entryways and stairs are hand cleared and salted as needed with MgCl salt. Roads and parking lots are plowed and salted with NaCl rock salt. Throughout the weather event crews are checking all routes and repeating as necessary. If the weather forecast dictates a need for pre-treating, high traffic and high risk safety areas are salted with the above mentioned products, respectively.
A brief description of any certified and/or protected areas:
Is the institution recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Campus USA program (if applicable)?:
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management programs and practices is available:
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.