Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 40.16
Liaison Jennifer Bodine
Submission Date April 23, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Weber State University
OP-10: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 2.00 Jennifer Bodine
Sustainability Specialist
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds::
Area
Total campus area 504 Acres
Footprint of the institution's buildings 34.10 Acres
Area of undeveloped land, excluding any protected areas 229.70 Acres

Area of managed grounds that is::
Area
Managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan 240.20 Acres
Managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program that includes an IPM plan and otherwise meets the criteria outlined 0 Acres
Managed organically, third party certified and/or protected 0 Acres

A copy of the IPM plan:
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The IPM plan :

In 2008, Weber State University created an IPM coordinator position in the Landscaping Department to create and oversee an Integrated Pest Management program for the University.

The first step taken by the IPM coordinator was the creation of a pesticide application log to help WSU track the use and cost of pesticides each year. After employees became accustomed to this process, the IPM coordinator introduced and implemented the following four-tiered approach to Integrated Pest Management:

1- Set Action Thresholds

An action threshold is a percentage of pests to be tolerated in a particular area without taking any action to control them. The idea is that we cannot kill one hundred percent of the pests in nature so we allow a certain percentage to exist unchecked

The IPM coordinator set WSU's action thresholds as follows: ten percent for trees and shrubs, five percent for flower beds and turf, and one percent for extremely high visibility and marketing areas.

2- Monitor for pests

Not every bug or weed in a landscape needs to be controlled as many are completely harmless to plants and people. Some such as lady bugs are actually beneficial to a plant.
Through monitoring, WSU first correctly identifies a potential pest before it becomes a problem and then takes appropriate action. This decreases the amount of pesticides WSU has to use which saves money and reduces harmful environmental impacts.

To aid in this process the IPM coordinator created an IPM Landscape Monitoring Field Data Sheet and trained staff on how to use it effectively.

3- Preventive cultural practices

WSU's Landscape Department believes that the best defense is a good offense, so their primary focus is on preventing a pest from ever getting out of control. Prevention is accomplished by first trying to select varieties of plants that are best for our growing conditions and the location of the planting and then great care is taken in the planting of that plant. WSU's Landscaping Department also tries to select pest resistant cultivars. These measures, along with proper sanitation of the plant sight, (no dead leaves and excessive weeds) help to maintain healthy plants. After all a stressed plant is a vulnerable plant.

4- Control.

If a pest exceeds acceptable levels, the first control method to be used is mechanical control. This can be as simple as picking the bugs off of an infested plant, putting up insect barriers, using traps, or even vacuuming the plant.

If the infestation persists WSU then employs biological controls. These include predatory insects, naturally derived chemicals, microorganisms such as bt, or other entomopathogenic organisms.

If all these steps fail to control the outbreak, then WSU uses an application of non-restricted chemicals. Weber State does not use restricted chemical pesticides unless extraordinary circumstance dictate it. Using restricted chemicals requires the approval of the IPM coordinator and the Landscape Department manager.


A brief summary of the institution’s approach to sustainable landscape management:
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A brief description of how the institution protects and uses existing vegetation, uses native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controls and manages invasive species:
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A brief description of the institution’s landscape materials management and waste minimization policies and practices:

Weber State University's composting program is implemented as follows:

1- Cut the grass, trim the trees and grind the branches, or cut the fall cuttings.

2- Haul to composting area and dump it in the correct labeled pile

3- Take from the pile and layer into one 30 ft x 10 ft pile (add 4 parts “Brown” to 1 part “Green”)

4- Water while building the pile to a consistency of a rung out sponge

5- Measure temperature every other day to see if pile is at 150 degrees

6- If at temperature, turn pile (put sides in the middle and put middle to the outside and water again to prior consistency)

7- Turn pile every two weeks until pile has quit reaching temperatures and decomposed (may take 4 months to break down completely)

8- Use decomposed material in flower beds and pots and in the turf


A brief description of the institution’s organic soils management practices:
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A brief description of the institution’s use of environmentally preferable materials in landscaping and grounds management:
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A brief description of how the institution restores and/or maintains the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus:
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A brief description of how the institution reduces the environmental impacts of snow and ice removal (if applicable):
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A brief description of any certified and/or protected areas:
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Is the institution recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Campus USA program (if applicable)?:
Yes

The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management programs and practices is available:
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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.