Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.49
Liaison Cody Friend
Submission Date Feb. 13, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Nebraska at Omaha
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.06 / 2.00 Sarah Burke
Sustainability Coordinator
Student Affairs
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
683 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 10 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 340 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 350 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):

Landscape services cares for approximately 350 acres of turf and landscaping planting beds on campus. The other 333 acres owned by UNO are our two preserves and the footprint of our buildings and impervious surfaces).


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

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
---

A brief description of the IPM program:

Landscape Services goal is to provide a safe, healthy, and attractive campus. A staff of dedicated professionals ensures the campus green spaces and hard surfaces are appealing and usable in every season.

The landscape crew provides exterior pest control and disease management in turf, trees, and shrubs. They do this during the growing season, only if the problem becomes too difficult to manage, using natural, environmentally-friendly methods. Custodial Services manages the interior pest control. Both departments us an integrated pest management control program to reduce negative human and environmental impact.

Landscape Services has not used insecticide on the turf for years. If trees and shrubs are needing treatment, that service is contracted out to a local vendor.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
2.86

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:

10 acres on campus are exclusively managed only with ecologically preferable materials, with no use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. The products used by Landscape Services on these areas are Omagrow and Milorganite (both are organic products with Omagrow being a product created in Omaha).

For the rest of campus, Landscape Services works to manage our grounds using natural, environmentally-friendly methods. However, if the problem is too difficult to manage, other products may be used (inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, etc.). Insecticides have not been used on the turf for a number of years.


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

Fescue and Buffalograss have replaced Bluegrass as the turfgrass of choice. Native tallgrass planting has been added in place of traditional turfgrass.


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

Retention ponds and rain gardens have been added throughout campus. The law requires retention ponds and rain gardens to be installed for all new construction of parking lots and buildings. UNO has approximately 50 gardens on campus. At Baxter Arena (North Side), there is 2,400 square feet of porous concrete installed.


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

Tree branches and yard waste is collected and taken to a local tree service where it is mulched/composted and returned to UNO for landscaping use.


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

All Bluegrass has been replaced with drought-tolerant fescue, removed in favor or xeriscaping or native tallgrasses, or has at least has its associated irrigation largely reduced.


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):

Corn-derived de-icer has replaced salt for use on circulation roads in the winter.


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.