Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 69.72
Liaison Jim Walker
Submission Date June 6, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of Texas at Austin
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.94 / 2.00 Jim Carse
Manager, Landscape Services
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area:
917 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 867.76 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed 44.30 Acres
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices 4.94 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 917 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:
research land, housing and dining apartments, ranch land, un-maintained woodland.

Organic program

Percentage of grounds managed organically:
94.63

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
Only organic products used, with the exception of fire ant insecticide in child-care areas, and herbicide applied to stumps of invasive species

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
4.83

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
1) set action thresholds, 2) monitor and identify pests, 3) prevent or remove conditions that attract pests, 4) control

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
We strive to maintain an attractive and sustainable campus landscape. We do this by planting native and adapted species, and controlling invasive species; performing industry-tested maintenance practices; building and maintaining healthy soils; and enforcing a tree protection and mitigation standard.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
We operate a centrally controlled smart irrigation system which reduces water waste; and we strive to utilize reclaimed & rain water where applicable.

A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
We create leaf mold compost from campus trees and recycle leaves in turf areas; we repurpose tree debris into mulch and mill campus trees for use in campus buildings or new construction.

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
We strive for sustainable designs on all capital projects by use of our design and construction standards & specifications https://pmcservices.utexas.edu/DCS-Division-32-EXTERIOR-IMPROVEMENTS

A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Tree Campus USA since 2008 - https://facilitiesservices.utexas.edu/divisions/support/urban-forestry

SITES Gold status for Dell Medical School landscape 2017

pollinator gardens registered as monarch habitat.

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program 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.