| Overall Rating | Platinum - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 88.31 |
| Liaison | James Gordon |
| Submission Date | May 31, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Thompson Rivers University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.38 / 2.00 |
James
Gordon Environmental Programs and Research Coordinator TRU Office of Environment and Sustainability |
Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
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 | 103.32 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 | 62 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 165.32 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):
63 acres of TRU's land is unmanaged, and 21.68 acres account for the footprint of buildings on campus,
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
TRU uses an Integrated Pest Management Plan which recognizes the importance of planning to prevent organisms from becoming pests, followed by identification, monitoring and injury thresholds related to pests or problems. Once action is determined to be necessary, strategies for managing problems may include biological, physical, cultural, mechanical, behavioral and chemical controls. When a chemical control is employed, the least toxic pesticide is chosen. Spraying of insecticides is only used as a “last option” when survival of plant material is threatened, and only directed against the target problem/population, and never used as a preventative measure. In addition, the Campus Sustainability Action Plan includes the task of further reducing pesticide use in years to come.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
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:
All of TRU's organic yard-clippings are brought to City sites for composting. This quality compost is then bought back for use in flowerbeds and as top-dressing and for other landscaping needs. No chemical fertilizers are used, and an organic plant-growing program will be implemented when funds become available. Only organic mulches are used as well.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
The new TRU Campus Strategic Sustainability Plan requires that all new landscape design or disturbances must include provisions that protect native vegetation. This includes the protection of existing Ponderosa Pine and their drainage patterns. In addition, TRU Grounds staff attempts to incorporate native vegetation where possible.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
All irrigation water is potable and is supplied through the city's state-of-the-art water filtration system. Water use is controlled by a computer program/weather station in order to water only what is required for specific plants and turf areas. Also, natural areas on campus are protected as wildlife corridors.
A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
TRU grounds staff separates any garbage from compostable plant material and takes it to City of Kamloops composting sites (approximately 200,000 lbs. annually). In addition, TRU purchases quality compost from the city for topsoil when planting and backfilling.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Two green roofs on the House of Learning building not only reduce heating and cooling demands on those buildings, but also provide habitat for wildlife, reduce the urban heat island effect, and assist in storm water management.
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):
The TRU Facilities staff only uses environmentally safe ice-melt substances to melt ice when neccessary: Ice Fighter Plus from Zep (“people, pet and environmentally safe to use”), and Eco Melt. Here are other snow and ice removal measures ( as reported by Facilities staff on the TRU Facilities website, http://www.tru.ca/facilities/coreservices/snow_control.html):
Provision for snow clearance and ice control for the University is provided for through a contract with a snow removal contractor. Whenever possible, snow and ice control activities will be scheduled during campus off-hours to minimize disruption to routine TRU educational and operational activities. The aim is to have all roads, parking lots and sidewalks snow and ice-free by 8:00 a.m. on each "school" day.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.