Middlebury College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.01 / 2.00 |
Jack
Byrne Director of Sustainability Integration Environmental Affair |
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 | 3 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 305 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 308 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
51 acres are building footprints.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
The Knoll supports a mix of perennial and annual diversified flower, vegetable, and herbs in no- or low-till cultivation. We manage fertility managed through cover-cropping, on-campus compost, and organic mulching (we do not use plasticulture). The work is primarily hand-labor and more akin to “regenerative” practices.
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:
Our main campus is managed using principles espoused by IPM. For over fifteen years, Middlebury’s landscape program has been moving in the direction of becoming as organic and pesticide-free as possible given time and resource considerations. The College has intentionally greatly reduced our use of pesticides on campus, and is committed to continuing that trend with a philosophy on the main campus that chemicals be used only as a last resort.
The College subscribes to the Integrated Pest Management approach to plant pest control. This entails the limiting of vectors for infestation and growth and includes planting resistant species, limiting monocultures, limiting the introduction of pests, and generally providing for a healthy horticultural environment. When pesticides must be applied to protect the campus beauty or the safety of students, the College employs the least toxic chemicals sufficient to meet the need.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Our selection of plant material in new landscape projects is guided by the campus Master Plan, which states: “The diversity of plant species on campus should be increased. Where possible, native plants from the Clayplain Forest, the Transition Hardwood Limestone Forest, and the Oak-Hickory-Hophornbeam Forest palettes should be utilized. These should be supplemented with additional species as appropriate for specific soil conditions and environmental stresses. Invasive introduced species should be avoided. To ensure variety and disease resistance, no more than 30% of trees on the campus should be from one family, no more than 20% should be from one genus, and no more than 10% should be from one species.” Invasive species are not planted on campus, and, where practical, removed from the landscape and natural areas.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Many areas of the campus utilize bio-retention ponds, swales, rain gardens, and a green roof on a dining hall. The no-mow zones on campus have also proven to be more effective in lessening storm water runoff than the previous lawn. Rain gardens and a green roof were utilized in the construction of the new Squash Center, as well as a green roof on the newest Solar Decathlon house. The campus also has several protected wetlands below campus.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
We mix our food waste (1 part) with woodchips (3 parts) and horse manure (1 part). Horse manure we acquire from the UVM's Morgan Horse farm for the purpose of composting. Our campus landscape debris is chipped for use in composting. We do end up purchasing wood chips occasionally.
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:
Middlebury College strives to be truly sustainable in snow and ice treatment and removal, not only from an environmental standpoint, but from and economic and social standpoint as well. We have been using a pretreatment of a liquid material called Ice Ban to limit the use of both fuel and ice melters during a snow event.
We’ve also recently switched from using salt-treated sand to an ice melter. This material is a treated salt that will aid in the melting of snow and ice on sidewalks. The treated material is less corrosive than untreated salt and works at lower temperatures. The use of the snow melt material will provide cleaner sidewalks and roads making for safer travel conditions. Studies show that there is a net environmental benefit to using treated salt compared to sand with salt when used properly. Sand has negative impacts to the environment. These include increased phosphorus loading in adjacent waterways, sedimentation buildup in catch basins, ditches and streams and air pollution issues with particulates becoming airborne. Use of salt will reduce the use of mechanical equipment on Campus, limiting fuel consumption, and less sand use will reduce the amount of spring cleaning necessary to collect residual material.
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.