Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 76.45
Liaison Ryan Ihrke
Submission Date Oct. 17, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Green Mountain College
OP-27: Rainwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Glenn LaPlante
Director of facilities
Maintenance
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution use Low Impact Development (LID) practices as a matter of policy or standard practice to reduce rainwater/stormwater runoff volume and improve outgoing water quality for new construction, major renovation, and other projects?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s Low Impact Development (LID) practices:

Current practices include a buffer zone around the Poultney River (which borders campus), vegetated swales, and some pervious parking lots.


Has the institution adopted a rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, or strategies that mitigate the rainwater runoff impacts of ongoing campus operations through the use of green infrastructure? :
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, and/or strategies for ongoing campus operations:

GMC's landscaping plan approved in March, 2011 includes several initiatives to improve
stormwater management on campus. The plan proposes rain gardens to accept roof spout gutter flow, consideration of pervious pavements as well as rain water collection and re-use systems. Stone and vegetated swales will be used to prevent stormwater runoff. A buffer zone by the Poultney River also aids in these efforts.


A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
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Rainwater harvested directly and stored/used by the institution, performance year:
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A brief description of any rainwater filtering systems employed by the institution to treat water prior to release:
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A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
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A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:

Gravel paving is used in the lower parking lot nearest the river. This is one of the largest parking lots on campus.


A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
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A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:

Zen gardens made of porous gravel were created in front of the library in 2014. In 2013, a healing rain garden was installed in back of the former wellness center through a student project.


A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
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A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):

The athletic fields and main parking lot contains vegetated swales to manage stormwater.


A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:

The Poultney River Buffer Zone, alongside the Poultney River, is a natural area preserve on the Green Mountain College campus. It occupies land within 35 meters of the annual high-water line.

The buffer zone was approved by the College in 1997 to improve stream habitat, reduce bank erosion, restore floodplain forest, provide a corridor for movements of animals and plants, reduce overland flow of non-point source pollution from agricultural fields and other land uses, protect scenic and recreation values, and provide field sites for courses at the College.


The website URL where information about the institution’s rainwater management initiatives, plan or policy is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.