Overall Rating Bronze
Overall Score 25.45
Liaison Joseph Kantenbacher
Submission Date Jan. 30, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of South Dakota
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.81 / 2.00 Nate Steele
Director of Grounds & Landscaping
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area:
274 Acres

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides 0 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed 130 Acres
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices 30 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 160 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:
These areas include sidewalks, roads, lots, and building footprints.

Organic program

Percentage of grounds managed organically:
0

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
---

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
81.25

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
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A brief description of the IPM program:
We are working with an entomologist at the South Dakota Department of Ag and Natural Resources to release beneficial insects on campus to help control an infestation of Japanese beetles. We also use traps and lures to monitor for other insects such as emerald ash borer and velvet longhorn beetle. Further, we employ a number of cultural practices such as planting disease resistant varieties of plants be it turf, flowers, trees or shrubs.

Optional Fields 

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

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
USD uses approximately 5.6 million gallons of water annual for irrigation, from two ground water wells. Use of deep, infrequent watering practices to develop deep root systems in turf and landscape plants.

A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
Grass clippings and chippings are placed in compost for further use for incoming landscapes.

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
infrequent watering practices to develop deep root systems in turf and landscape plants.

A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Elimination of 2 stroke engines. Management practices are moving towards electric handheld tools.

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.