Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.02
Liaison Beth Klein
Submission Date Feb. 25, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

State University of New York at Cortland
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.65 / 2.00 Matt Brubaker
Energy Manager
Facilites Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
798.30 Acres

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach 129.50 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials 544.90 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 64.40 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 738.80 Acres

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):

Excluded areas are areas occupied by buildings and impervious surfaces.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
17.53

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

The IPM plan has been uploaded as part of this report.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
73.75

A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:

We have a large amount of educational land designated as preserved land where the habitat is generally left as is for purposes of land habitat preserve and the resulting educational benefits of preserved ecological habitat. This land is "managed" in the sense that we monitor its natural health, but take care as to not disturb the natural processes present.


A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:

The campus has developed a Campus Tree Committee and also worked closely with local arborist over the years to develop standards for purchasing and design of landscaping.


A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:

We mow/mulch leaves in fall and have our own compost heap for grounds materials. The college food service composts all food waste.


A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):

Landscape materials management and waste minimization has been focused on mulching waste materials for direct composting. This has greatly reduced waste and transportation costs commonly associated with waste disposal.


A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:

The campus has many no-mow zones totaling approximately 4 acres and additional low maintenance landscape areas of an additional 4 acres.


A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):

Since 2005 campus started the use of non-salt products for ice control.
Recently purchased a more efficient salt spreader for both road and sidewalk plowing equipment. This allows for the salt distribution to be remotely adjustable (in-cab) per site road conditions to minimize salt use. Also use of grit materials in place of salt when possible.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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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