Thompson Rivers University
OP-9: Landscape Management

107 acres of TRU's land is unmanaged, and 29.5 acres account for the footprint of buildings, roads, sidewalks and other impermeable surfaces on campus, which totals 136.5 acres (136.5 + 198.5 = 335).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Details for this section regarding TRU's IPM program and figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds were provided by TRU's head Groundskeeper, Robert Van Leeve.