Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.83
Liaison Alex Roman Gonzalez
Submission Date March 10, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Cincinnati
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 2.00 Daniel Hart
Sustainability Coordinator
Planning + Design + Construction
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
194 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 194 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 0 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 0 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 194 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 (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):
N/A

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
100

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
The IPM plan covers fertilizer use, herbicide use, and insect control in turf and ornamental beds. Use of chemical controls is reduced as much as possible. Various cultural practices are incorporated to reduce the need for chemicals.

Organic Program

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
0

If reporting an organic program, provide:

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:
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Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
UC works hard to maintain optimum soil health as a basis for plant stewardship on campus. We have minimum standards for tilth, and we avoid use of dyed mulches. opting instead to use double-shredded hard bark mulch or (preferably) our own wood chips. Invasive plant species are not included in any of our landscape design; 90% of our built environment is thought through using native plant species as the primary element.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Water management on our campus is a critical component. We have retention takes and a storm-water management plant. We employ xeriscapic landscaping, and opt for drought-tolerant and disease resistant species whenever possible to minimize the need for irrigation. When we do have to irrigate, we use non-potable water whenever possible--collecting it from our chillers and cooling towers and recycling it.

A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
UC stores our wood waste as woodchips and they are recycled into our landscapes whenever possible (primarily with naturalized areas, not around buildings).

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 (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
Hardscape is plowed or shoveled to ensure safe pedestrian travel routes which are then treated with the minimum amount of salt to ensure continued safety. In selected areas, on granite or limestone, calcium chloride and calcium magnesium acetate are used instead of salt.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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.