California State University, Chico
OP-9: Landscape Management

As of July 1, 2020 FMS Grounds took over the landscape maintenance for University Housing & Food Services (UHFS). They have also been maintaining properties managed by Chico. FMS Grounds does not maintain any Associated Students (A.S.) buildings, nor any landscape at the University Farm or the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER).

BCCER acreage accounts for 7,835 acres of the 8,847 and is managed by personnel on campus using natural practices absent of pesticide use and environmentally harmful practices. CSU Chico does not use pesticides, fungicides, etc. in maintaining the ecological reserve.

Campus grounds utilize methods that aim to focus on organic landscaping and maintaining the natural beauty of campus grounds. Our grounds team focuses on implementing the installment of native plants in new landscaping projects across the 132 expanse of the main campus.

Our campus mulch program has grown in size. We are adding more equipment to better process the green waste generated on campus. This will further enable us to reduce pesticide and fertilizer use across campus. Mulch is cultivated solely with on campus green waste and landscaped vegetation.

Inorganic pesticides, herbicides and similar chemicals are not utilized in managing the total area of the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (7,835 acres). While not codified into policy, currently the reserve is maintained through natural maintain the ecological system.

The purpose of our Campus IPM program is to manage pest and horticultural problems by eradication or suppression using the safest products available. “Safety”, meaning the least harmful to people and the environment, while maintaining a beautiful healthy campus. The goal is to accomplish the above purpose by using organic and non-chemical solutions whenever possible. When using chemicals, to use the best choice, and the safest product available. Also limiting chemical fertilizers, replaced by organic options. There is also a class that specifically teaches PRINCIPLES OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT on campus (PSSC 441).

One of the most appreciated aspects of CSU, Chico is its beautiful campus. Big Chico Creek, with seasonal populations of wild Chinook salmon, runs through the center of campus. As stewards of the land, the campus community understands the fragility of this ecosystem and recognizes the university's role in supporting its integrity. The University takes action to manage its landscaping and grounds to ensure that this extraordinary space and its unique natural resources are managed for the enjoyment of future generations.

The grounds at CSU, Chico are primarily maintained by Facilities Management and Services' (FMS) Grounds and Landscape Services Department and University Housing. Since April 1997, Facilities Management and Services' (FMS) Grounds and Landscape Services Department is nas been incorporating many native plant species as spaces are transformed from lawns to pollinator gardens, bioswales, xeriscapes, and demonstration gardens. Additionally, the Grounds Department is improving their pest-control methods, which includes a reduction of pesticide use in favor of organic compounds, and employing integrated pest management techniques and mechanical pest control. University Housing also cares for its grounds using integrated pest management, organically based flower fertilizers, and non-systemic herbicides.

The Creekside Nature Walk is a self-guided walk along Big Chico Creek to view native plant species demarcated with numbered posts referenced in an educational brochure. (The brochure is available at the Bidwell Mansion, CSU, Chico Alumni Association, and the Office for the Department of Biological Sciences.)

University Center Landscape Project - Native Garden:

http://www.csuchico.edu/pdc/projects/uclandscape.shtml

FMS Grounds has been installing centrally controlled irrigation controllers throughout campus. The new systems allow for monitoring of flow rates and weather, which allows for automatic adjustments to be made according to seasonal conditions. To date, over 60% of campus is under central control, reducing overwatering and related problems. Where applicable, irrigation systems have been retrofit to high-efficiency sprinklers and drip tubing, and plant material has been changed or removed to reduce the use of water.

In the past, green waste was collected primarily by FMS grounds crew and UHFS grounds and placed into a green waste bin which was collected by our waste vendor, and taken to the Chico Green waste Composting Facility on Cohasset Rd in Chico. The campus would then purchase the composted soil as needed.

As of Jan. 2016, FMS constructed a set of mulch bins as a way to keep as much green waste as possible on campus, and then processing it into a fine mulch. The mulch is then returned to campus where it is spread around tree wells, in shrub beds, and along Chico Creek to enrich the soil and suppress weeds.

The mulch bin project has been a great success, leading to a visible improvement in plant health, has reduced the need for pesticides, led to student & faculty research, and saved the campus approximately $15K annually, as the cost to haul green waste has been greatly reduced.

Additional areas have been updated to xeriscape/native landscape. FMS Grounds has also upgraded parts of the central controls for irrigation, adding new controllers and software.

With the ability to create 100's of yards of mulch, the Grounds dept. will reduce the need for green waste bins. Less green waste bins also reduce the carbon footprint associated with the hauling of full bins off-site, and returning the empty bins. (It takes 2 round trips across town to empty one bin) Each bin is approx. $300 per exchange, and we have 3 to change out on a regular basis.

Acreage total includes 132-acre main campus.

University Farm (800 acres) and Ecological Reserves (7,835 acres) are not counted in the Main Campus Landscape Management. The Ecological Reserves are managed using organic means that are not environmentally harmful.

https://www.csuchico.edu/ehs/_assets/documents/pesticide-mgmt-program-11-27-19.pdf

Information gathered from grounds manager, Mike Alonzo. BCCER information was gathered by Eli Goodsell, Ecological Reserves Director.