University of Connecticut
OP-9: Landscape Management

Farm crop fields, pastures, natural wooded areas, walking trails, all buildings and paved surfaces.

The University uses IPM on campus. Through this management program there is no application of insecticides or fungicides. The control measures primarily used include fertilizer and broad leafweed control. Chemicals are used as a last resort. The University does not apply herbicides and pesticides preventatively, so instead application is just for infestations that may result in large economic losses if not addressed quickly. In such instances, selective pesticides that have limited effects on non-target species are recommended. This reduces the environmental impact of UConn landscape management. Additionally, past and current UConn IPM programs have educated farmers, teachers, and resource managers in the areas related to vegetables, small fruit, tree fruit, greenhouse, turf, nurseries, field crops, vineyards, home grounds, invasive species, and IPM curriculum in the classroom which is geared towards students in grades K-8. The state four-tiered IPM program, run by the Cooperative Extension through UConn, can be found here: http://ipm.uconn.edu/root/ Other grounds are maintained as turf grass, as farm production/ pasture grounds, or as wildlife habitat with minimal oversight. Info on UConn Turf grass programs can be found here: http://ipm.uconn.edu/pa_turflandscape/pa_turflandscapea_meadows.php

Spring Valley Student Farm (1 acre) Spring Valley Student Farm (SVSF) sprouted in spring 2010 from a project planted by Residential Life. Since that time SVSF has blossomed into a year-round community for eleven student farmers living in two UConn houses 4.5 miles off campus. The student farmers learn about sustainable community living, organic food growing methods and the business aspects of how food is harvested, processed and presented to the UConn dining community. As stewards and ambassadors of the farm the student farmers support Spring Valley Student Farm as an educational destination where everyone may come together to learn and grow. Spring Valley Student Farm exists as a collaborative venture between Dining Services, Residential Life, EcoHouse Learning Community and First Year Programs, the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, Office of Sustainability, and the UConn Service Learning Initiatives. Spring Valley Student Farm (SVSF) provides an opportunity for UConn students and the greater community to join together to learn about environmentally, socially and economically ethical regenerative food production through hands-on experience. The Farm allows students to gain practical knowledge and skills through experiential learning while simultaneously modeling a closed loop food model in which organic produce is grown on campus for UConn Dining Services. SVSF's 1-acre garden is on land owned by UConn that had long been maintained by Farm Services, an operational unit within the College of Agriculture, now known as the College of Agriculture, Health & Natural Resources (CAHNR). Historically, Farm Services used this land for grazing or growing feedstock, i.e., corn, hay and/or alfalfa, for UConn's farm animals. When used for growing these crops, Farm Services periodically applied chemical pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, and occasionally supplemented manure with inorganic fertilizers. These practices have been eliminated on this land, now that it is maintained by SVSF. EcoGarden Club (0.25 acres) The EcoGarden Club chooses a sustainable approach to gardening. Nutrient-rich crops are produced by preserving soil integrity with compost, reduced tillage and crop rotation. Administering water-conservation practices and using non-synthetic soil amendments and pesticides are some of the environmentally friendly gardening strategies that the EcoGarden Club practices. Our Philosophy "We choose a sustainable approach to gardening, taking into consideration each branch of our community. Together, we are creating an awareness of local foods, produced with the mindset of low environmental impact. As individuals, we are cultivating mindfulness through traditional practices. As neighbors, we are creating lasting relationships for today and into tomorrow. Our aim is to create a self-sufficient entity that coexists with nature. By preserving soil integrity with compost, reduced tillage and crop rotation, we harbor nutrient rich crops. Through water conservation and the use of organic soil amendments and pest controls, we hope to heal and protect the environment. Lastly, we provide safe, healthy produce to our local dining halls, emphasizing a short distance from farm to table." The EcoGarden Club's 0.25-acre garden is on land owned by UConn that had long been maintained by Farm Services, an operational unit within the College of Agriculture, now known as the College of Agriculture, Health & Natural Resources (CAHNR). Historically, Farm Services used this land for growing feedstock, i.e., corn, hay and/or alfalfa, for UConn's farm animals. When used for growing these crops, Farm Services periodically applied chemical pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, and occasionally supplemented manure with inorganic fertilizers. These practices have been eliminated on this land, now that it is maintained by the EcoGarden Club.

The CT State Extension Department, the Connecticut Sea Grant, the University of Connecticut NEMO Program, the UConn Center for Land-use Education and Research, and UConn’s College of Agriculture Health and Natural Resources centralize informational resources encouraging use of native plant species, and in identifying/controlling invasive species for a variety of habitat types. The Storrs campus grounds are a living arboretum that combines native and ornamental species of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Newer construction techniques are favoring the use of native species in swales adapted to the climate, including edible landscape initiatives that utilize fruit plants and herbs. Large portions of the University owned grounds (including ground where visitors frequent) are maintained as wildlife habitat and are only minimally maintained. http://clear.uconn.edu/tools/habitats/index.htm

The University of Connecticut actively works to maintain natural hydrology on campus through the implementation of Low Impact Design initiatives. As part of UConn’s Sustainable Design Guidelines, the University seeks to incorporate LID projects all over campus including, but not limited to rain gardens, porous pavement, bio-retention swales, permeable asphalt, etc. All of these projects help to infiltrate and treat storm water runoff from the urban campus in order to sustain and preserve natural hydrology. Interactive maps and information on these LID projects can be found here: https://ecohusky.uconn.edu/low-impact-development/ The University also provides significant outreach and support for other LID projects. The UConn Nemo Program through the Center for Land Use Education and Research provides instructional materials and outreach on the development and maintenance of rain gardens and bio-retention swales. More information on this outreach can be found here: http://nemo.uconn.edu/raingardens/. Finally, one of the ways in which the Landscape Master Plan aims to improve ecosystem health is by incorporating sustainable stormwater management in order to maintain the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus and improve water quality. http://media.masterplan.uconn.edu/Final/B_LANDSCAPE_WEB.pdf

All of the University’s landscape management waste is composted, some at UConn's agricultural waste compost facility, but most at a separate compost area for lawn and branch clippings and leaves. Information on the compost facility can be found here: https://ecohusky.uconn.edu/composting-at-uconn/ Organic waste produced at the Spring Valley Student Farm (SVSF) is also collected and composted on site.

UConn's LEED Gold policy for design and construction has resulted in landscaping features around buildings that reduce the heat island effect by incorporating turf grass, bioretention areas, rain gardens, and tree boxes into plazas and landscaping. UConn has also preserved old growth trees for shade at building renovation and construction sites. UConn is also gradually developing two significant "woodland corridors" planned on its north and south campus. These corridors are meant to replace paved areas with green space in order to prevent the heat island effect and protect water quality in the two watersheds that bisect the campus. UConn has also installed green roofs on several of its newer LEED certified buildings, such as Laurel (McHugh) Hall, the Storrs Hall addition and the Next Gen Dorm (Werth Tower). These vegetated roofs provide a water quality benefit but also serve as insulation to reduce the energy required to heat and cool the underlying space. These and other landscaping goals are described in the Sustainability Framework (Appendix A) to UConn's 2015-2035 Campus Master Plan. https://ecohusky.uconn.edu/sustainability-framework-plan/ UConn's policy also requires that all external lighting be full cut-off "Dark Skies" compliant to maximize efficiency and prevent ambient light pollution. Re-lamping of outdoor lighting and student and employee parking lots will be completed by the end of 2020 and will reduce CO2 emissions by 2,105 metric tons. We have installed solar powered outdoor lighting at our popular UConn Dairy Bar.

UConn follows LEED Sustainable Site standards for the landscaping aspects of its projects. The redevelopment of a major road through the north campus (North Eagleville Road) in 2017-18 employed many of these standards and has also been designed and constructed according to EPA's "Green Streets" program: A green street is a stormwater management approach that incorporates vegetation (perennials, shrubs, trees), soil, and engineered systems (e.g., permeable pavements) to slow, filter, and cleanse stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces (e.g., streets, sidewalks). Green streets are designed to capture rainwater at its source, where rain falls. A traditional street is designed to direct stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces into storm sewer systems (gutters, drains, pipes) that discharge directly into surface waters, rivers, and streams. For ice and snow, we also use a brine pre-treatment and have eliminated the use of sand, which has a deleterious effect on benthic organisms in streambeds on or near our campus and can also adversely affect air quality during the early spring months. Instead we use a treated salt aka "magic salt." It consists of calcium chloride and molasses that help it adhere to paved and concrete surfaces, thus minimizing the need for repeated applications and reducing salt usage. Calcium is less corrosive than magnesium and the molasses also helps neutralize the corrosiveness. We switched to drop spreaders on the walks so as to avoid the salt burn on turf adjacent to the walkways. We also pre-treat some of the lawn areas with gypsum to help counteract the effects of the salt. UCONN Landscape Action Plan Snow Removal Guide: Patrol area at the start of the snowfall. Spot de-icing of walks and roadways, along with plowing. Full scale de-icing of all major walks, along with plowing. Plowing of all major walks, roads, and parking lots. Continuous sanding of walkways and driving lanes.

https://www.epa.gov/G3/learn-about-green-streets