Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.21
Liaison David Husemoller
Submission Date June 7, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

College of Lake County
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.95 / 2.00 David Husemoller
Sustainability Manager
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
249.80 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 134.90 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 8.40 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 16.40 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 159.70 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):

CLC's grounds include:
13.3 acres of building footprint
37.1 acres of parking
18.5 acres of interior roads
6.9 acre arboretum
Natural Areas that are less intensively managed:
34.6 acres of wetland
10.7 acres of woodland
8.6 acres of prairie
12.1 acres of grassland (not managed)
15.6 acres of lake and ponds


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
84.47

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:

The College of Lake County includes its IPM plan in its Landscape Management Plan, which is also outlined in its Green Buildings Guidelines (attached). The four-tiered Integrated Pest Management Plan outlines how maintenance tasks are managed. With the first tier, stakeholders set action thresholds for areas for intervention. The Grounds department monitors and identifies pests under tier 2, with guidance from state agencies. Tier 3 involves prevention activities to create healthier conditions for growth and health of desired species. Tier 4 involves manual and chemical control of weeds and other pests. Pesticides and fertilizers are only used once, in the spring, whereas they used to be applied four times a year. Pesticides and fertilizers are only applied in areas of especially high visibility (near entryways) and high use (e.g. athletic fields).


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
5.26

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:

CLC farm is not certified as organic but utilizes organic standards, without any inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides.


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

CLC takes a sustainable approach to its landscaping and plant stewardship. Our grounds department is minimizing the amount of annuals being planted and installing more native plant species that are well-adapted to their conditions.


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

The only areas on campus that are irrigated are the medians of the main thoroughfare. Parts of the medians have been planted with drought resistant natives, creating zones which will not require irrigation.

In 2016-17 CLC is installing 2150 linear feet of bioswales in four different parking lots in order to reduce and clean stormwater flow entering our lake and ponds. These bioswales are being planted with deep rooted native plants.


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

CLC installed compost stalls in 2015 for landscape waste from the sustainable farm and also food scraps from the coffee shop and culinary program. Fallen limbs are collected and mulched in this area as well.


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

CLC is installing low mow grass next to its new Science Building, designed to LEED Platinum standards. Based on the results of this planting, CLC Grounds Department will consider planting low mow grass in other areas around campus.


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):

CLC employs a host of sustainable landscape management practices in addition to the campus farm and natural areas restoration. In 2016 CLC officially opened its apiary with 7 beehives. A CLC student is working to get BeeCampus USA status for the college. The Horticulture Dept Chair is currently working to get our campus arboretum accredited. CLC conducts prescribed burns as part of its habitat restoration program.


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 Landscape Management Plan is a draft, scheduled to be complete in summer 2017.


The Landscape Management Plan is a draft, scheduled to be complete in summer 2017.

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.