University of South Florida (Tampa)
OP-9: Landscape Management

The Grounds Department maintains 635 acres, of which 322 is grass and the remainder consists of garages, shrubbery and plant beds. USF Physical Plant does not treat the grass lawns. Shrubs and plant beds are treated on an "as needed basis" in compliance with EPA's "Four Tiered Approach." USF pest control products in use are approved by USF Environmental Health and Safety. http://usfweb2.usf.edu/eh&s/

The Grounds Department maintains 600 acres, of which 322 is grass and the remainder consists of garages, shrubbery and plant beds. USF Physical Plant does not treat the grass lawns. Shrubs and plant beds are treated on an "as needed basis" in compliance with EPA's "Four Tiered Approach." USF pest control products (as listed in IPM Program pdf) in use are approved by USF Environmental Health and Safety.

The USF Forest Preserve is a 769.3-acre plot of wetland and sandhill habitat. It is home to a variety of plants and animals, many of whom are threatened or endangered and also several that are fire-dependent. Part of the area is routinely burned in order to conduct research on ecological succession. The Forest Preserve has two primary functions: research and teaching. This area is organic. http://facilities.cas.usf.edu/forestpreserve/data/ForestPreserve-WhitePaper.pdf

USF has given priority to using native plant species and drought-tolerant species for many years, especially with the institutional focus on sustainability and design of LEED buildings. Recent projects feature the native landscapes, including the Patel Center for Global Solutions, the Interdisciplinary Science Center, the Park at Collins, and many other un-named campus landscape improvements. The USF Botanical Gardens provides on-going university and community opportunities for learning about native landscape plants with lectures, workshops, weekend festivals, community garden, and plant shop. It consists of 16 acres of gardens and is part of the Greenway on the USF Tampa campus. The Gardens maintain a living collection of more than 3,000 of plants, animals and natural habitats. The gardens house ongoing research in medical botany and provide opportunities for service-learning to USF students. With about 35,000 annual visitors, the gardens serve as an important outreach component of USF. Please see: http://gardens.usf.edu/

The 10-year plan for stormwater management focuses on increasing pervious area throughout the campus. In addition, the 10-year plan implements stormwater management Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect water quality on campus and beyond in downstream waters offcampus. Within the campus’ West Basin, construction of ponds 204B-North and 204B-South serve to provide additional water quality treatment prior to runoff entering Lake Behnke. These ponds will also serve to lower the peak stage elevation in existing pond 204C, thereby helping to reduce localized roadway flooding, currently occurring during certain storm events for areas draining to pond 204C. In addition, a riparian way has been added to the Central Quadrangle from MLK Plaza and the Marshall Center to a new pond southwest of Fine Arts Building, which will receive roof runoff from adjacent buildings. This feature serves to divert runoff from entering pipe networks, lower the peak stage of pond 204C, and improve water quality, while contributing aesthetic value to the Central Quad in a way that gives visibility to stormwater management and the hydrologic cycle. The stormwater system components have been added to address the changes in the land use within the campus’ East Basin. Impervious pavement has been removed from within the Greenway and replaced with stormwater ponds and open space. Wet pond 104A and dry pond 104B will serve to provide the needed stormwater treatment and attenuation. The University shall enhance the stormwater facilities and greenway system with the following appropriate design features: • Gradual and varied side slopes, • Natural aquatic plant material, • Walkways/boardwalks, • Seasonal hardwoods and native-understory plant materials, and Properly designed "feature" ponds that include retention liners and sufficient water flows and aeration to maintain a healthy environment and habitat for wildlife. see: http://www.usf.edu/administrative-services/facilities-planning/documents/master-goals-policies.pdf Increasing on-site infiltration, USF storm water policy - eliminate pollution and contaminates from stormwater run-off http://usfweb2.usf.edu/eh&s/Stormwater/index.html, compliance with FLDEP NPDES rule 62-621.00(7)(b), FAC

Grass clippings are mulched directly back into the landscape; they are not collected.

Campus landscape design incorporates drought tolerant native and adaptive plants.

While the basic open network of the campus is defined by streets and buildings, its character and the way it is perceived are determined largely by the landscape treatment of open spaces. The overall landscape intent should be to create an atmosphere of natural beauty characterized by simplicity, restraint and harmony among the various parts of the landscape. B. The objective of landscape design guidelines is to establish general criteria to be used in directing future site and building design efforts as the Master Plan is implemented. Each future project will present its own set of specific and unique opportunities and constraints. The role of the design guidelines is to assure that the specific designs implemented within the Master Plan framework are consistent with and contribute positively to the overall development and the larger context. They will be used in an ongoing design review process as an effective mechanism to guide and control the project design. The guidelines seek to foster a consistency in landscape materials, form, and organization, and will collectively result in a coherent campus environment of high quality. The following guidelines are recommended as a basis for achieving the desired campus landscape. 2.2 LANDSCAPE STANDARDS 2.2.1 Plantings New plantings and husbandry of significant existing plantings will be an important component of the future campus landscape. Plantings should be both functional and attractive and should achieve the following broad guidelines: A. Plantings should reinforce the basic structure of the Master Plan, positively shape open space areas, and be functional rather than simply decorative in defining and unifying streets, paths and open spaces. B. Tree, shrub, and hedge plantings should be appropriate to the scale, uses, and microclimate of the University setting. The use of native plants should be the highest priority in all plantings, and where possible, community associations should be established to promote attractive and sustainable plantings. C. The dominant landscape character of the campus should be one of informal naturalism. Exceptions to this include major vehicular and pedestrian axes and small courtyard spaces closely associated with buildings. The informal naturalistic approach has the advantage of allowing work to be phased over time and is readily achievable at a maintainable level of perfection, compatible with the remaining islands of native landscape, and widely accepted as an appropriate and desirable aesthetic theme. D. Broad use of plants in rows and large masses rather than in fussy, detailed plantings is recommended in principal open spaces. The use of exotic materials with unusual habit or APPENDIX F– CAMPUS MASTER PLAN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN GUIDELINES PAGE 9 OF 16 color should be discouraged. Likewise, the use of a great variety of plant in close proximity for the sake of horticultural interest is not desirable because such an approach undermines the fundamental idea of unity and restraint that is central to the plan. E. To the degree possible, landscape plans should include the use of plant species that are indigenous to the natural plant communities of the region and which promote the use of xeriscape principles. In cases where non-invasive exotic plants are used to enhance the landscape, plantings should be limited to those noninvasive species that are able to resist periods of drought and which require little fertilization and use of chemicals. F. Existing non-native invasive plants may be designated for removal from the campus grounds if such exotics are listed on the Exotic Pest Plant Council’s list of “Florida’s Most Invasive Species”. As these species are located on the campus, USF 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. In addition to these broad principles, a number of site-specific guidelines concerning new plantings should be followed. G. Street trees at the Tampa Campus along the loop road, and ceremonial entry malls off Fowler Avenue and other campus entry roadways should be native oaks and should be planted opposite one another rather than in an alternating staggered pattern. Opposite placement creates a stronger sense of order. H. At the Tampa Campus, the new Leroy Collins ceremonial entry drive should be planted with a double row of street trees. It should be designed to provide a visual setting for the Administration Building and be large enough to ensure easy and economical maintenance. At the Tampa Campus, the new Circle Forecourt in front of the Administration Building should be planted with palm trees and the plaza area adjacent to the buildings should be equipped with walkways, benches, and other special features in order to make it a useable destination for students and faculty. I. At the Tampa Campus, pedestrian corridors including Elm Drive, the northern and southern edges of the Central Lawn, and the Interdisciplinary Mall should be designed as single landscape units to insure their strength and continuity. Their design should be simple, coherent, and expressive. Tree colonnades should be used to define the corridor edges. J. Planting at building edges that face streets and campus open spaces should consist of small colorful ornamental trees in a simple mulched or lawn “terrace” around the building. In high exposure areas such as building entrances, plant materials should be selected for year-round attractiveness. K. Parking and service areas should be visually separated from major streets and visually and functionally separated from public spaces. Brick walls, fences, grading, and screen plantings are recommended as site treatment options for service areas. New buildings should be designed to orient service areas away from pedestrian circulation and building entries. L. In parking lots, islands should not be shared with light standards and trees, unless designed so that trees will not obscure lighting. M. Parking lots should be planted with trees in generously