Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.51
Liaison Kelsey Beal
Submission Date Oct. 31, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 2.00 Jesse Beck
Grounds Program Manager
Campus Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
536 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 112 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 0 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 0 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 112 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):

IUPUI has two gardens less than 1 acre; New York Street and Central, that are not maintained by grounds crew practices. They are organically managed by the Office of Sustainability.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
100

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

IUPUI pest control programs will follow the guidelines of Integrated Pest Management.

Prior to the application of any pesticide, the building space or exterior area is to be inspected. During these walk-around inspections, pest management applicators will note conditions (i.e., food or food waste left uncontainerized), exterior building envelope openings, and anything else that could be contributing to a pest infestation or pest control problem. These conditions will be documented and reported to Campus Facility Services personnel for corrective action.

When it is determined that a pesticide may need to be used in order to manage pests, the least hazardous material will be chosen. Additionally, prior to treatment, the plan will be shared with Campus Facility Services and Environmental Health and Safety personnel for approval to proceed with the application.

The purchase, application, storage, disposal, and documentation of all activities related to pesticide use for interior and exterior structural insect and pest control, and for insect and pest control in the campus landscape, will be managed by Campus Facility Services personnel.

Contracted and/or in-house applicators that apply Restricted Use Pesticides shall be licensed by the Indiana State Chemist Office (ISC). These licenses include, but are not limited to, the following categories as regulated by the ISC:
Interior Building Applications: 7A-Structural Pesticide
Exterior Landscape Application: 3A-Ornamental Pesticide; 3B-Turf Pesticide

Campus Facility Services personnel involved in the oversight of pesticide use will actively acquire and maintain their knowledge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the importance of using IPM methods as it pertains to human and environmental health. Additionally, they will diligently seek “green” pest control methods and plant materials that resist insect and disease problems to reduce the need for pesticide use. They will also provide oversight of applicators and monitor that contract requirements are being met.

Application records will be maintained by Campus Facility Services personnel. The application records will be supplied to Environmental Health and Safety upon request. This information includes:
Pesticide used
Target of application
Formulation
Amount of finished spray applied
Date of each application
Name of person applying pesticide


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
0

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:

While we are not reporting on an organic program. IUPUI has removed the use of all non-organic fertilizers.


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

- When constructing new buildings, existing landscape materials are moved to other areas of campus instead of simply removing them - we tree spade larger trees and relocate them.
- Construction fencing is used around trees that are to remain in place to prevent soil compaction within the drip edge of the tree.
- Preferred plants lists are provided to outside design consultants to guide their plant palette so that their design is in keeping with the overall character of the campus canopy. - Native plants are given preference when all other aspects are equal and adhere to the Indiana Terrestrial Plant Rule with new plantings.
- When possible we remove invasive species from current landscape beds.


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

- Lawn irrigation water use reductions from implementing smart systems (Smart Irrigation) utilizing weather stations and moisture monitors: conserves water by reducing irrigation and making systems more efficient. 36 out of 39 are on this system. 12 of these additionally have a solar rainwater sensor.
- Collect rainwater for irrigation: reduces potable water use
- Native plantings: reduced need for watering
- The university has switched to flower pots with a water reservoir in the bottom to reduce the frequency of watering


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

- Grounds Operation captures an estimated 95% of all yard waste into roll-off dumpsters or open-bed trucks and leaf vac boxes and ships to Ray’s Trash, Inc to be composted.
- No grass clippings are bagged.
- Part of lead debris is used in the campus's vegetable garden


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

- IUPUI has received Tree Campus USA designation every year since 2012
- IUPUI has a canopy coverage goal for the campus and is actively working to achieve that goal, with a priority on native plant usage
- Work with University Architects Office to develop sustainable standards. Reducing turf type landscape in favor of native landscapes that require less irrigation and maintenance
- IUPUI has remodeled three parking lots to include tree islands. This helps to shade the blacktop reducing heat absorbtion.


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):

- Meter snow melt product during application: reduces waste of product and application to turf
- Pretreat streets, sidewalks, and parking lots with salt brine mix: pretreatment allows for less salt to be used to melt ice and snow
- The IUPUI Campus Facility Services Grounds Operations has experimented with several non-chloride snow and ice melt products in an effort to reduce the volume of chloride based salts used for snow removal operations.
- NaCl salt brine is processed in a campus warehouse, with beet juice added. Brine pre-treatment on campus streets and parking lot drive lanes reduces the amount of NaCl road salt needed for snow removal operations.
- Potassium acetate and calcium acetate is used on the top level of our parking structures to prevent structure corrosion and eliminate the use of Cl- based ice melt products on garages.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.