Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.75
Liaison Jennifer Daniels
Submission Date May 28, 2020

STARS v2.2

California State University, Stanislaus
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.52 / 2.00 Hugo Hernandez
Director of Landscape, Custodial, & Events
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area:
228.80 Acres

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 110.38 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed 100 Acres
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices 0 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 210.38 Acres

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:

Land excluded from the area of managed grounds includes buildings, parking lots, roads, and tennis courts.


Percentage of grounds managed organically:
52.47

A brief description of the organic landscape management program:

The University equips mowers with mulching decks, so that all grass clippings are left on the lawn to decompose, which eliminates the need to use inorganic fertilizers, because grass clippings contain valuable nutrients and moisture. This process is more commonly known as Grasscycling.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
47.53

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

A brief description of the IPM program:

The IPM program includes the following: 1. Cultural practices--Adjusting irrigation to minimize, weed growth and installing drip irrigation on planters instead of conventional irrigation systems. 2. Biological controls--Allowing natural enemies to control pest populations and electing plants suitable to the climate that are also pest resistant. 3. Mechanical and physical methods--Pulling and hoeing weeds instead of using chemicals, traps for rodent control, and mulch beds to retain moisture and weed suppression. 4. Chemical Control--Chemicals are utilized only when all of the above have been exhausted.


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

Existing vegetation is protected, in particular, the university's urban forest of 3,500 trees. New landscape designs and installations emphasize the use of native plants whenever possible, but most importantly, the use of plants that are drought tolerant, pest resistant and suitable to the Central Valley climate.


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

The university's managed grounds are irrigated entirely with reclaimed water using a system that is composed of smart controllers and a weather station to increase efficiency. Drip irrigation is installed on new landscape projects to ensure that the root system is exposed to a direct supply of water and to prevent water from being wasted. Mulch is also utilized heavily in the landscape to help retain moisture on the ground and to minimize the amount of water that needs to be provided to a plant.


A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:

The University equips the majority of its mowers with mulching decks and all grass clippings are left on the lawns to decompose thereby eliminating the need to use inorganic fertilizers as grass clippings contain valuable nutrients and moisture, a practice commonly known as grasscycling. A wood chipper is used to break down pruning materials for use as mulch in the landscape.
This practice is used even when tree work is contracted with an external vendor.


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

Landscape design and installation is conducted for energy efficiency as well as water conservation. For example, trees located inside parking lots are deciduous by design, so that cars can be parked under a shady canopy during the summer months and to allow the sun to warm up the parking lots during the fall and winter when the trees have defoliated. Most paved areas on campus are surrounded by lawn or trees to helps bring the temperature down during the hottest months by at least 15 degrees F.


A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:

All mulch products used at the University are organic. Fire-resistant plants are used close to buildings.


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.