Raritan Valley Community College
OP-9: Landscape Management

We maintain an organic garden. The only fertilizer used is animal waste and compost. No chemicals are used. Chemicals can be used on 6 acres of athletic fields, but this has not been done for the past 3 years. Chemicals can also be used on select invasive species. An IPM plan applies to the entire campus.

As part of the River-Friendly certification process, in 2010 RVCC developed and adopted a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan covering outdoor pest and weed management, including exterior pesticide and herbicide applications. This plan includes goals to decrease pesticide use and identifying less toxic alternatives. Other components of the plan include: a map of high, medium, and low maintenance areas and associated action thresholds; identification of local pest problems and problem areas; a list of control mechanisms; pest-specific control processes and decision trees; and record keeping sheets.

The goals of RVCC’s IPM program are similar to those of the mandated New Jersey Schools IPM program for public schools, in that the health and safety of the people on our campus are our primary concern. A strong secondary concern is the health of our local eco-system, including the campus and surrounding grounds and waterways. RVCC is acutely aware of the potential negative impact that the use of pesticides and herbicides on campus grounds may have on the local streams and the Raritan River. RVCC is highly motivated to reduce the usage of these chemicals on campus.

This IPM program is intended to reduce the health and environmental risk of our pest management activities by reducing our reliance on potentially-harmful chemicals for outdoor pest control. By moving from a reactionary pest-control process to a holistic process that includes prevention, structural and sanitary improvements, and non-chemical and low-impact treatments, we will reduce the health and environmental risk to both the people and the environment on and around our campus.

Implementation of IPM procedures will determine when to control pests and whether to use physical, mechanical, biological or chemical methods. Applying IPM principles prevents unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

RVCC shall consider the full range of management options, including no action at all. Non-pesticide pest management methods are to be used whenever possible. The choice of using a pesticide shall be based on a review of all other available options and a determination that these options are not effective or not reasonable. When it is determined that a pesticide must be used, low impact pesticides and methods are preferred and shall be considered for use first.

This plan provides details of outdoor pest identification, prevention and control processes to be used in RVCC’s implementation of IPM. It includes:
a. a definition of the IPM Coordinator role
b. an initial inventory of pest problems, problem areas, and current monitoring and control activities;
c. threshold action levels for all anticipated outdoor pests;
d. an outline of nonchemical controls that will be routinely practiced on campus grounds;
e. links to resources that provide details about the use of low-impact controls (rather than non-low-impact pesticides) for identified pests;
f. and sample record sheets for maintaining records of all IPM activity.

Under RVCCs Memorandum of Understanding with the EPA, RVCC adopted a GreenScapes policy in March 2011. This formalized RVCC's policy of planting native plant species, adopted as part of the River Friendly program in 2010. The GreenScapes policy states RVCC's goal to choose native species for at least 75% of all non-turf plants, and preferably 100%, and will not plant invasive species. So far we have managed 100% native except in some planters. We also focus on planting a lot of pollinator plants, consistent with our Bee Campus USA certification and listing as a Colossal Monarch Waystation with Monarch Watch.

The college has established no-mow areas along the pond and the stream that feeds into it. A riparian restoration project, planting hundreds of native trees and shrubs, was completed in 2019. Three rain barrels on campus collect water used to irrigate plants. Two buildings have rainwater cisterns that are used for toilet water and to water a green wall.

Grass trimmings are left on the grass, not collected. We have little waste from grounds keeping, but non-woody waste is put in a compost pile. The organic garden has compost piles where garden weeds and other non-woody yard waste can be composted. The resulting compost is used in the organic garden.

The College has a 9-acre field of native warm season grasses that is mowed once annually.

As part of the River Friendly process, in 2010 RVCC reviewed its snow and ice removal practices.

Somerset County salts the campus roads using spreaders. The grounds crew salts the parking lots using spreaders which are calibrated prior to each use. The custodial staff applies non-toxic ice melt to the sidewalks and stairs by hand or using properly-calibrated spreaders. Custodial staff have been directed to shoveled prior to applying ice melt, rather than applying it on top of compacted snow.

Under our IPM plan, soil samples of athletic fields are done every two years and the results are used to determine whether any fertilizer or lime can be applied and how much. Fertilizer is not used elsewhere on campus except for organic Holly-Tone on holly trees if their leaves yellow. Where weeds become a problem, low-impact treatment such as Avenger is used.