| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 36.37 |
| Liaison | Melanie Knowles |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
Kent State University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.91 / 2.00 |
Melanie
Knowles Sustainability Manager Facilities Planning and Operations |
Total campus area:
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 | 514 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 227.90 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 639.10 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 1,381 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
Wetlands, dense woodland areas on the periphery of campus.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
Mechanical means of removing invasive species.
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:
Use of Integrated Vegetation Mangement-promotion of desirable, low growing, stable plant communities to control larger invasives. Identification of pests and invasives. Mechanical removal if possible. Single species targeted herbicide and pesticide usage only on an as needed basis (examples:knotweed, buckthorn, phragmites poison ivy, grape vine, EAB, calico scale). Eliminating cultural practices that promote weed and pest issues (compaction, mowing heights, hydration, fertility, mulching and composting).
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
The Facilities and Operations department coupled with the Office of Sustainability work to employ healthy and safe environments in which to study and learn. The campus has been a certified Tree Campus USA every year since the programs inception. The university has actively sought out solutions to try to keep as much canopy cover over the university while progressing forward with several major construction initiatives. Facilities Planning and Operations and the Sustainability office work hand in hand with several faculty members to provide students with a live-in learn-in environment which affords them immersion into the surroundings in which they reside and study.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
The university has 16 irrigation systems that focus on high priority landscapes and lawns. The majority of campus grounds and lawns are not irrigated.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
The university has worked toward utilizing native trees, shrubs and flowers into new construction projects. Decreasing the amount of bare bed space by either bed reduction or proper plant spacing/selection has reduced the amount of chemicals being applied. The university makes ther own compost and mulch to reuse in landscape applications and improve the overall health and vitality of the living landscape.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
When possible, the university uses native plants in the landscape to reduce the amount of water and chemicals needed to keep the plants healthy. During recent construction projects, project managers have worked side-by-side with the campus Tree Advisory Board in order to try to preserve canopy cover by sound tree preservation techniques.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Rocks and other landscape materials have been utilized to prevent erosion of valuable topsoil and cleaner stormwater free of sediments. The monitoring of 25% of all catch basins on campus each year allows us to see which areas are posing threats. The operations team works closely with students and faculty to monitor salt levels in our stormwater, with several on-going projects. The university makes their own compost and mulch to reuse in landscape applications and improve the overall health and vitality of the living landscape.
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.