Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.46
Liaison Winnie Mulamba
Submission Date March 13, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of South Florida St. Petersburg
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.01 / 2.00 Brian Pullen
Sustainability Planner
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
62.40 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 0.40 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 62 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 62.40 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):
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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:

The USFSP IPM includes sections on Pest Identification, monitoring the population, developing goals, and putting the IPM to work with evaluations. Details can be seen in the attached document.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
0.64

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:

We have two small areas on campus that are managed in accordance with organic land management practices. The total area of these combined areas in less than half an acre. One site is our Butterfly Garden which is not treated with any chemical fertilizers and has been designated by the National Wildlife Federation for developing an area trying to enhance the native bee and butterfly population.

Furthermore, the other site is our organic permaculture garden containing native fruit trees and perennial vegetables. Both site are maintained by our Garden Club.


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

Part of USFSP's Master Plan:
Objective 8.5. Protect identified native vegetative communities.
Policy 8.5.1. USFSP shall protect any identified jurisdictional native vegetative
communities from proposed development activities. These
jurisdictional areas based upon the most recent Department of
Environmental Protection criteria will be delineated prior to any
proposed development.
Policy 8.5.2. USFSP shall use plant species that are indigenous to the natural
plant communities of the Tampa Bay area. In cases where noninvasive
exotic plants are used to enhance the landscape, plantings shall be limited to those non-invasive species that are able to resist
periods of drought and which require little fertilization and the use
of pesticides.
Policy 8.5.3. USFSP shall maintain and improve existing vegetative communities
through the removal of ecologically undesirable vegetation. It is the
intent of USFSP to remove all non-native invasive plants (whether
grasses, shrubs or trees) which are identified on the Exotic Pest
Plant Council's "Florida's Most Invasive Species List" from the
campus grounds. As these species are located on the campus,
USFSP shall coordinate with the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection and other appropriate governmental
entities to ensure the proper removal and disposal of these exotic
species.


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

From USFSP Master Plan
Policy 7.3.1. USFSP should identify the stormwater detention systems within the
plaza or underground vault areas as "no build" zones.
Policy 7.3.2. USFSP should implement a regular stormwater facility maintenance
program to ensure adequate water quality and design capacity of the
facilities.
Objective 7.4. Maintain and protect the natural drainage patterns and hydrological
patterns of the USFSP campus.
Policy 7.3.3. USFSP should coordinate, as appropriate, with the host community
regarding the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) program.
Policy 7.3.4. USFSP should mitigate University-generated stormwater and
minimize stormwater-borne pollutants through the implementation
of a system of Best Management Practices (BMPs), which includes,
but is not limited to:
• Incorporating stormwater management retention and detention
features into the design of parks, commons, and open spaces,
where such features do not detract from the recreational or
aesthetic value of a site.
• Use of slow release fertilizers and/or carefully managed
fertilizer applications timed to ensure maximum root uptake and
minimal surface water runoff or leaching to groundwater.
• Educating maintenance personnel about the need to maintain
motor vehicles to prevent the accumulation of grease, oil and
other fluids on impervious surfaces, where they might be
conveyed to surface and ground waters by runoff, and the need
to regularly collect and dispose of yard debris.
• Avoid the widespread application of broad spectrum pesticides
by involving only purposeful and minimal application of
pesticides, aimed at identified target species.
• Coordinating pesticide application with irrigation practices to
reduce runoff and leaching into groundwater.
• Use of turf blocks and non-impervious surface treatments to
minimize impervious surface area and reduce the flow of runoff
pollutants.
• Incorporating features into the design of fertilizer and pesticide
storage, mixing and loading areas that are designed to prevent
or minimize spillage.
• Pursue licensing for grounds superintendents and staff to use
restricted pesticides and to ensure that fertilizers will be
selected and applied to minimize surface water runoff and
leaching to ground water.
Policy 7.3.5. It shall be the policy of USFSP that no stormwater discharges may
cause or contribute to a violation of water quality or quantity
standards in waters of the State. Post-development rates of
discharge shall not exceed pre-development rates. Additional
treatment must be provided since USFSP discharges into
Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW).
Policy 7.6.3. USFSP shall continue a water conservation program as follows:
• Use of reclaimed water for irrigation.
• Require the use of xeric landscaping techniques, including the
maintenance or installation of selected vegetative species, low
irrigation and compact hydrazone concepts, shall be required
for all new building and ancillary facility construction.
• Install a sub-metering system on existing and new facilities to
be able to monitor accurately the amount of water being utilized
in the various facilities.
• The University shall create an awareness program of water
usage utilizing the information above.
• The irrigation system shall be upgraded to be controlled by a
computerized, rain-sensitive system.
• Use of collected stormwater or building "gray" water for
landscape irrigation purposes shall be explored.
• Use of efficient low water volume plumbing fixtures in new and
renovated University buildings is being implemented


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

USFSP collects all landscape waste and sends it to a center where it is mulched and composted.
Existing non-native invasive plants may be designated for removal from the campus
grounds if such exotics are listed on the Exotic Plant Council's list of "Florida's Most
Invasive Species". As these species are located on the campus, USFSP staff shall
coordinate with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other appropriate
governmental entities to ensure the proper removal and disposal of these exotic species.


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):
---

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.