Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 60.07
Liaison Mark Klapatch-Mathias
Submission Date Feb. 24, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Wisconsin-River Falls
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.14 / 2.00 Joe McIntosh
Supervisor
Grounds Maintenance
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
783 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 30 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 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 190 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 220 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):

UWRF buildings, research plots, student garden, and two lab farms are not included in the managed grounds calculation.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
13.64

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

A brief description of the IPM program:

UWRF maintains 220 acres of turf and landscaped areas, athletic and intramural fields, shrub and flower beds, flood plains, prairies, wetlands, sidewalks, parking lots, streets, and trails. UWRF follows the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture IPM Plan, to include all of its athletic fields:
"DATCP operates Wisconsin's School IPM program to reduce the need to rely on chemical pesticides when dealing with pests on school grounds. In partnership with the University of Wisconsin Extension Entomology and Horticulture Departments, the DATCP assists Wisconsin's schools in a balanced approach to control the risks posed by pests and the risks from the exclusive use of pesticides. Some pests can carry allergens, bacteria, viruses or cause venomous stings. Pesticides are toxic chemicals that should be used only when it is clear that practical, non-pesticide methods will not be able to control the pest problem.

In an IPM approach, considerable effort is also put toward preventing pest problems by controlling conditions that may attract and support pests. For example, to control an infestation of pavement ants in a classroom, placing ant baits (pesticides) in areas inaccessible to children, or applying gel baits to baseboards might be effective control options. However, Wisconsin schools have experienced repeat problems because pesticides alone, do not usually achieve long term control. Some schools have also received complaints when repeated, frequent application of a pesticide takes place in areas where children are present every day.

For long-term pest control, it is essential to identify why the infestation arose in the first place. Non-chemical controls such as sealing cracks and crevices to prevent access, improving sanitation around food preparation, waste/recycling storage areas, and limiting where food can be eaten will help prevent the problem. IPM addresses the cause of the problem (food scraps and crumbs throughout the building) to avoid the development of the symptoms (the ant infestation).

Depending on the type of pest(s), condition of school facilities, resources, and commitment of the administration and staff, IPM plans take many forms. We can assist your school in customizing an IPM plan that meets your needs and is flexible.

We offer free on-site pest management consultation, and on-site and off-site IPM training sessions for your school staff, so your school personnel can gain the skills needed to maximize pest control while minimizing pesticide risks to students and staff."
-Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection


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

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:

The student organization called SALSA maintains a research plot of about 2800 square feet. They use organic fertilizers and green compost on it, but the garden itself is not included in our managed grounds.


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

Because irrigation is lightly used in most areas of the campus grounds, native grasses and plants are used as the primary focus of landscape plantings. The Campus Mall Plan designed in 2013 also pays very close attention to the stormwater opportunities as well as the use of native plants exclusively. It is very mindful of the operation and maintenance of said area.


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

The campus has installed several rain gardens and detention ponds to allow storm water infiltration. We also had a project to clean out a detention pond that was installed 20 years ago in N lot and had silted full. With the construction of the new Falcon Center two large retention ponds were created to hold runoff for the parking lots and the building. The parking lots also included vegetative swales to capture and infiltrate stormwater.


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

Most lawns are mowed with mulching mowers to reduce grass clippings. When clippings are picked up (sometimes on the athletic fields) they along with leaf litter, leaves and other herbaceous material are composted on campus and the compost is reused in campus


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

We try when possible to use local and native material in our landscaping. For example when we rebuilt the seating tiers at the Amphitheater several years ago we salvaged the limestone and have used it in several campus landscaping projects. We also try to use primarily native plantings in our campus landscapes.


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):

In 2009 UWRF began using liquid magnesium chloride on walks to reduce the amount of sand/salt usage. In 2011, a storage building for salt/sand was constructed to house all sand and salt in a covered building and will greatly reduce the potential leeching of salt and sand into the South Fork of the Kinnickinnic River. Due to a more aggressive plowing schedule and better snow removal equipment, the campus has reduced it's salt/sand usage by 50% in the past 5 years.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

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.