Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 45.32
Liaison Jon Bartlow
Submission Date March 4, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Pittsburg State University
OP-10: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.24 / 2.00 Tonya Pentola
Physical Plant Supervisor
Physical Plant
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds::
Area
Total campus area 588 Acres
Footprint of the institution's buildings 24 Acres
Area of undeveloped land, excluding any protected areas 187 Acres

Area of managed grounds that is::
Area
Managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan 288 Acres
Managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program that includes an IPM plan and otherwise meets the criteria outlined 0 Acres
Managed organically, third party certified and/or protected 89 Acres

A copy of the IPM plan:
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The IPM plan :

Schendel Pest Services provides integrated pest management at Pittsburg State University. The service was contacted and the four-tiered IPM plan definition was reviewed. The contractor assigned to PSU verified that the the four-tiered plan was used by the service.


A brief summary of the institution’s approach to sustainable landscape management:

The University incorporates sustainable landscape methods into every new project, as well as, into redesign projects. Native plants are used whenever and wherever possible throughout campus. Rain collection and water diversion methods are used whenever possible.


A brief description of how the institution protects and uses existing vegetation, uses native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controls and manages invasive species:

Existing vegetation and tree cover is selectively pruned to promote plant health and longevity. Our on-campus arborist oversees all tree trimming. Native plants or cultivars of native plants are used whenever possible. Invasive plant and tree species are avoided or removed as needed.


A brief description of the institution’s landscape materials management and waste minimization policies and practices:

Plant debris, leaves and brush are composted on campus whenever possible. When this is not possible, materials are deposited at city recycling/composting centers.


A brief description of the institution’s organic soils management practices:

Whenever possible, soils are amended with pre-consumer compost from on-campus compost piles or mushroom compost from a local mushroom farm. Erosion of soils is limited by use of groundcover materials.


A brief description of the institution’s use of environmentally preferable materials in landscaping and grounds management:

Whenever possible the landscape department reuses plant material throughout campus. Tropical plants and some annuals are gathered into the greenhouse prior to frost to be used the following year. This effort has grown significantly over the past three years. Additionally, whenever possible, plants are propagated from the previous year’s growth to provide plantings for the next season. Planting materials and pots are reused continuously.


A brief description of how the institution restores and/or maintains the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus:

Natural hydrology on campus is maintained through limitation of runoff from adjacent hard surface areas whenever possible through use of landscape plants and ground covers.


A brief description of how the institution reduces the environmental impacts of snow and ice removal (if applicable):

Application of ice melt is limited to high traffic areas whenever possible and is limited by frequent clearing of the sidewalks during snow events. Sand and salt application in road ways and parking lots is only used during extreme conditions after plowing has occurred. Snow disposal occurs on lawn areas whenever possible to limit salts infiltration into existing water ways.


A brief description of any certified and/or protected areas:

The SE KS Biological Station includes five properties managed by the Department of Biology for the purposes of research, education, and service. These sites include the Monahan Outdoor Education Center, the Natural History Reserve, the Robb Prairie, the O'Malley Prairies, and the Sperry Home. The two main properties (Monahan and Reserve) are located in the Brush Creek watershed in Crawford and Cherokee counties of southeast Kansas. The watershed - its land and water - reflects a legacy of ecological disturbance due to coal and lead/zinc mining in southeast Kansas. The properties and the surrounding area provide opportunities for understanding the restoration process and the ecology and biodiversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (woodland, grassland, wetlands, streams, strip-mine lakes) in the context of a human-modified landscape.


Is the institution recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Campus USA program (if applicable)?:
No

The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management programs and practices is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.