Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 54.81
Liaison Jennifer McLaughlin
Submission Date May 26, 2023

STARS v2.2

South Dakota State University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.13 / 2.00 Jennifer McLaughlin
Sustainability Intern
Facilities and Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area:
512.10 Acres

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 40.76 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed 280.11 Acres
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices 0 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 320.87 Acres

If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
Roughly 191.23 acres of parking lots, sidewalks, building footprints, and other non-vegeted areas are excluded from these areas managed.

Organic program

Percentage of grounds managed organically:
12.70

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
Organic landscapes are typically those managed for habitat use. The campus has these landscapes on the periphery of campus as well as in the central campus in a few select areas. These areas are not sprayed with herbicides or pesticides, they are not fertilized. Fertility is managed with carefully selected species and by allowing detritus and plant material to decay and incorporate into soil structures. Hand weeding or mechanical removal of weeds is used when appropriate.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
87.30

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
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Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Many of our most valuable plants on campus are our trees. Trees are carefully protected during construction activities and planned around whenever possible.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
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A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
Landscape materials, such as plant chippings and tree clippings are composted at the city of Brookings Landfill and the compost is then given for free to local residents

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
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A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
We choose regionally adapted and native plants for our planting beds on campus. Proper design is critical to achieving a sustainable landscape that does not require heavy inputs.

Soil is protected on construction projects whenever possible to avoid disturbing the existing structure.

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.