| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.23 |
| Liaison | Merry Rankin |
| Submission Date | Sept. 1, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Iowa State University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.89 / 2.00 |
Cathy
Brown Assistant Director of Campus Physical Planning Facilities Planning and Management |
Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
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 | 1,595 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) | 200 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 1,795 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):
Woodland 200 acres
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
The University uses integrated pest management practices; staff is trained to scout and monitor pests and diseases, to avoid the use of pesticides unless there is an economic impact from a pest population i.e., the loss of a plant or tree and target pest control to specific problem or area. Cultivation practices, such as mulch, are used as an initial strategy to promote plant vigor and reduce weed growth. Cosmetic damages to a plant are accepted if there will not be long term effects.
This practice involves:
1. Proper knowledge and ID of target pest and life cycles.
2. Closely monitoring and scouting for pests and population.
3. Application of controls that are most effective and when populations warrant.
4. Control measures that do not injure non-target organisms or the environment.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
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:
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
The university employs best management practices for the care and protection of plants. This includes selection of native or plants selected for hardiness and environmental conditons. Plant care includes mulching, pruning, staking and watering as needed to establish the plants. Plants are purchased from regional sources.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
Campus Services unit composts all leaf and landsape debris as part of the university compost operation. Grass clippings are mulched in place during the mowing operations. Tree debris is mulched for reuse on campus landscape beds. Major tree logs are directed toward the TreeCycle program, where wood is logged and sawn for reuse in furniture classes, specialized furniture fabrication or directed to Iowa Prision Industries to create specialize memorabilia for resale. Additionally, organic waste material from university greenhouses is composted. One hundred percent of landscape waste is mulched or composted on site.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
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):
Campus Services uses snow removal strategies to minimize the impact to the environment while providing for the safety of humans as they move through the campus during the winter months. The strategies include: a. Up to date weather forecasting services to provide for timely staff response to storm conditions. a. Up to date weather forecasting services to provide for timely staff response to storm conditions. b. Removal ASAP to reduce need for treatment c. Use of tractor mounted brooms on walks to remove more snow residue. d. Use of ice melt coated with beet juice to reduce corrosion, increase effectiveness, and amount needed. Applied at 1/3 ice melt and 2/3 sand to walks. e. Salt brine applied before snow event. f. Rock salt applied to streets and lots after snow event 50% sand, 50% salt. g. Installed porous and pervious paving systems which decrease ice build-up and minimizes the eed for snow melt materials.
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 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.