Pomona College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Alexis
Reyes Assistant Director of Sustainability Facilities & Campus Services |
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 | 6.73 Hectares |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 0 Hectares |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 23.62 Hectares |
| Total area of managed grounds | 30.35 Hectares |
If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:
65 acres of campus are excluded from the managed grounds because it consists of building footprints and impervious surfaces.
Organic program
If reporting an organic program, provide:
The Wash and the Organic Farm do not use any inorganic fertilizers or chemical pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides. These grounds are 100% naturally maintained and have native landscaping that is original to the area.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program
If reporting an IPM program, provide:
A brief description of the IPM program:
Pomona's Sustainable Operations and Maintenance Standards state that outdoor pests shall be managed in a way that protects the surrounding environment and human health. To minimize use of chemicals and prevent pests from becoming a threat, Grounds must inspect and monitor outdoor facilities, sanitize and manage pest attractants, engage in structural maintenance, and evaluate the need for pest control. If the need for chemical controls is established, Grounds can only use substances in targeted locations on targeted species. All substances must meet San Francisco's Tier 3 hazard criteria for a least toxic pesticide, and if cleaning products are used, they must be in accordance with the College's Green Cleaning Standards. Pesticides are acceptable only if they are used in self-contained baits and placed in inaccessible locations. Indoor management of pests follows similar procedures. The EPA IPM guidelines are equivalent, as Pomona's Standards require evaluation, targeted application, prevention, and guidelines for the selection and application of pest control substances.
Optional Fields
The Pomona College Open Space and Landscape Guidelines, approved in May 2010, identify "the use of California native plants and their cultivars whenever appropriate" as a major design issue for sustainability in the College landscape. The College has been systematically increasing the variety and extent of drought-tolerant and native vegetation throughout the campus. The campus also contains a dedicated natural preserve known as "the Wash" with a variety of species of native flora.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
The campus implements stormwater management techniques which include bioswales, retention ponds, catchments, and stormwater diversion infrastructure.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
All green waste from campus operations is either composted on-site or picked up by the City of Claremont, where it is composted and used as mulch.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
The College's Grounds Department has been systematically increasing the variety and extent of drought-tolerant landscaping choices on campus, including reduced water-using grass blends for turf. Grounds strategically designs landscaping on campus to place plants that need more water in naturally wetter areas of campus and plants that need less water in drier areas. The College's irrigation system includes a variety of measures to ensure that landscaping is irrigated appropriately, including daily-updated weather data from the campus' weather system that controls irrigation systems based on predictions of humidity and precipitation, efficient Rainbird irrigation equipment, and a rain gauge shut-off that shuts down the system when more than 0.5" of rain is detected. Drip irrigation has been systematically installed where appropriate, reducing the use of spray and other sprinkler types on campus. In Summer 2009, Grounds replaced 5,148 sq-ft of spray irrigation with drip irrigation. Since 2004, the College has significantly reduced the watering schedule for campus landscaping, down to a base for two times per week (aside from athletic turf, which must be watered three to four times a week due to different maintenance requirements). Watering occurs more than twice a week when weather or other conditions require it.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
N/A
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.