Occidental College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Sustainability
Office Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Management |
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 | 70 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 | 48 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 118 Acres |
If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:
Fiji Hill, located at the top of the campus, is a 40 acre parcel of land that is not regularly managed by the Grounds staff.
Organic program
If reporting an organic program, provide:
Landscapes reported as "managed organically" include Fiji Hill, the Olive Grove, Solar Array, Academic Quad, the FEAST Garden, and other areas that do not use any synthetic or chemical fertilizers or pesticides/herbicides. The only campus areas treated with any fertilizer or pesticides are atheltic fields.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program
If reporting an IPM program, provide:
A brief description of the IPM program:
Optional Fields
40 acres of our campus are completely natural landscapes, with native vegetation. Invasive species are removed whenever they are identified.
We have a comprehensive tree management plan that protects the health, well-being, and value of our campus trees.
We are locally obtaining free mulch to use throughout our grounds to improve the soil and health of our landscape.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
We have a Corrugated Metal Pipe (CMP) Sand Filter System that captures rainwater, filters out debris and hydrocarbons, and allows the storm water to percolate into the ground.
We also incorporated a bioswale at the front entrance to the campus. Most storm water runs down to this area of the campus, so the bioswale captures rainwater instead of letting it run off campus.
The landscape near the Hameetman Career Center was redone recently to more effectively manage stormwater and reduce irrigation use. The landscape was a hillside full of non-native vegetation. In the re-landscaping, terraces were incorporated to slow the flow of stormwater by saturating one level before flowing onward to the next. Also, drought-tolerant, primarily native plants replaced the non-native vegetation. At the hill's apex, an oak woodland was developed.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
Grass cuttings and fallen leaves are provided to the FEAST garden towards their compost piles.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
N/A
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Not applicable.
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.