Northland College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.53 / 2.00 |
Todd
Pydo Executive Director Facilities and IT |
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 | 16.80 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 0 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 5.20 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 22 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
Northland maintains a large protected natural area (The Ravine) along Bay City Creek, seeks to reduce environmental impacts from grounds management wherever possible, and is developing goals and standards towards zero storm water discharge. This area represents approximately 80 acres of the main campus. The college owns two additional properties (Maxwell 135 acres and Olson 79 acres) that are used as natural laboratories.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
It is maintained with aeration, over seeding, dethatching and organic fertilizer.
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:
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Policy and Procedures for Landscape Design at Northland College
(Amendment to the Green Building Policy) – April 2002
This policy provides a guide for sustainable and purposeful landscape design recognizing Northland College’s mission to foster the appreciation of the interdependence of complex human and ecological systems and to show commitment to their health and wholeness.
The purpose of landscape design is to provide sustainable (community-wise and ecologically), innovative, and artistic, and adaptable changes that decrease our impact on the land and enhance and foster our educational mission. This development should utilize best management practices (BMPs) related to storm water treatment and construction as an element of demonstrating ecological management on campus. At the same time, we recognize the needs and resources of the community: accessibility, safety, aesthetics, educational opportunities through community-wide discussions and feedback over time.
The Northland College Strategic Plan and Northland College Sustainability Charter support this policy. Student and faculty participation in this process provides hands-on educational opportunities that engage the campus community in the improvement of their college campus.
Barr Engineering’s Urban Small Sites Best Management Practices Manual (www.metrocouncil.org) will be used as a guide to selection, implementation and maintenance of BMPs for storm water treatment.
Process:
The College’s commitment to sustainable and functioning landscape design will be integrated into all construction and landscape design projects.
1. The landscape design firm and the Landscape Sub-committee will meet with the campus community in order to inform the design process.
2. Design teams and the maintenance department are expected to inform themselves of the Urban Small Sites Best Management Practices Manual. This manual will aid the implementation and selection process of BMPs for storm water treatment suggested by the main landscape firm involved in planning – Barr Engineering.
3. Consultants when reviewing an area for development will collect vouchers potentially rare or endangered species to allow for review and identification by college faculty and other experts.
4. Northland College will provide a list of native plants for installation to be reviewed by all relevant design professionals. Non-native plantings will be considered if they:
a) can grow with little or no supplemental water, fertilizer or pesticide;
b) will not reproduce and escape into the wild, or
c) are appropriate for such intensively used areas as athletic fields or malls for social gatherings.
5. Designers will provide a summary of the functions of the landscape plans. This information will be communicated to the campus community with an allotted time for comments.
6. The process, maintenance, final functioning, and educational value and use of each design will be evaluated so the learning can inform the next project.
7. A monitoring plan and community feedback process will be implemented to check the function and effectiveness of each landscape design to allow for adaptive management.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Northland maintains a large protected natural area (The Ravine) along Bay City Creek, seeks to reduce environmental impacts from grounds management wherever possible, and is developing goals and standards towards zero storm water discharge.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
All organic waste from grounds keeping is either composted or mulched. Woody material is chipped and either used directly in the garden or on the landscape, or used as compost starter.
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:
We use a tiered set of de-icing chemicals and prioritize those which will have the least impact on the 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.