Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.21
Liaison Olivia Wiebe
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Idaho
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.00 / 2.00 Charles M. Zillinger
Director – Landscape & Exterior Services
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
810 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 0 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) 200 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 200 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):

The buildings are excluded, as well as the land for the golf course as they are outside of facilities purview.


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

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

Our Plant Health Care Program (PHC) is holistic and encompasses what is best for the plants and landscape we are stewards of by using products and techniques from all avenues of landscape care.
Our concern is with healthy plants that are vigorous and attractive. We diagnose and treat problems related to pests as well as cultural and environmental factors such as overwatering, drought stress, or winter damage. We are lucky in that the Palouse Region has minimal pest problems, so we don’t have to be invasive with our pest management. One of the only treatments that we regularly apply is an injection for Dutch Elm Disease in our most valued trees, such as the Camperdown Elms. Our main focus is on prevention: selecting species to plant that are not susceptible to diseases common to this area.


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

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:

No such program exists at the University of Idaho.


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

The University of Idaho’s approach to plant stewardship includes using existing vegetation, native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controlling or managing invasive species.
Native plants are displayed where they will benefit areas of the campus landscape and serve as educational plant material sources for classes and students. There is a list of native plants that are allowed on the University of Idaho campus for various planting efforts of this type. While many regions of the United States have a wide variety of appealing native plant materials, Palouse area native plants are more limited in variety, color, and aesthetic substance, and therefore have a more limited use for the quality standard and image we are trying to maintain.


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

The University of Idaho attempts to restore and/or maintain the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus by promoting water infiltration, minimizing or eliminating the use of potable water for irrigation, and/or protecting/restoring riparian, wetland, and shoreline habitats and lost streams.


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

All grass clippings and fall leaves are either recycled back onto the turf using recycling mowers or, if collected, taken to the UI Dairy Farm for composting.

Woody tree waste is taken to the steam plant chip pile to be converted into biomass fuel for the wood fired boiler. Hundreds of tons of these types of materials are recycled yearly off campus. Leaves are collected by a street sweeper and composted at the City of Moscow’s Transfer Station. Finished compost is distributed to the community, free of charge.


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

The University’s approach to energy-efficient landscape design includes the placement and selection of shade trees and wind breaks, as well as reflective materials to reduce heat islands.


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):

Safety and effective clearing of streets and walkways on the University of Idaho campus is the primary goal for UI’s snow & ice mitigation effort. Sand and less damaging chemicals are used to provide the necessary traction needed for safe travel by pedestrians. For the streets we use rock, magnesium chloride, and salt when needed to clear major ice issues as quickly as possible to ensure the safe flow of vehicle traffic. Snow placement away from woody plant materials is always a goal during mitigation efforts. The amount of snow can change this priority though depending upon available space, resources, and the safety of our students, faculty, and staff.


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:

The size of the campus grounds and the size of campus grounds that are maintained in accordance with a four-tiered IPM plan is 200 acres plus additional acres of maintained and naturalized landscape. This does not include the golf course.


The size of the campus grounds and the size of campus grounds that are maintained in accordance with a four-tiered IPM plan is 200 acres plus additional acres of maintained and naturalized landscape. This does not include the golf course.

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.