| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 38.03 |
| Liaison | Bradley Flamm |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Bradley
Flamm Director of Sustainability Office of the President |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
409
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 | 209 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) | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 209 Acres |
If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:
Building footprints and student gardens are not managed by grounds.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program
100
If reporting an IPM program, provide:
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A brief description of the IPM program:
The approach within the Grounds Department is; Identification, Intervention/Action Thresholds, Evaluation, Assessment, Documentation/Tracking. Our spraytecks use this approach in turf management as well as being required by PA State law to document everything that goes into the ground, or is removed.
Pest populations are dealt with on a per problem basis where the solutions are both specific and general, and do not include the use of pesticides. Most pest populations are controlled through seasonal bed maintenance and turf maintenance.
Organic Program
0
If reporting an organic program, provide:
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Optional Fields
There exists an abundance of biodiversity of plant and animal species at WCU, especially in the Gordon Natural Area. Concerned students and staff take great care in preserving these living treasures. In 2007, 506 species of plants were observed in the Gordon Natural Area. Some tree species you may encounter include tulip poplar, beech, Norway maple, flowering dogwood, and red maple. Today, the Gordon mainly consists of beech trees, but tulip poplars are estimated to become the predominant tree species in the coming years. Currently, a tree restoration project is underway called TreeVitalize. The goal of the project is to restore the upper plain of the Gordon, which has been demolished by deer, with native trees. Students and staff maintain the trees by watering them and measuring their growth.
Some native flowers and shrubs include may-apple, spice bush, jewel weed, and Virginia creeper. A number of invasives threaten the Gordon such as garlic mustard, oriental bittersweet, mile-a-minute weed, and multiflora rose. In 2007, 162 or 32% of the 506 species of plants were non-native with 7 being state-listed species and 42 considered highly invasive.
Currently, a project supported by DCNR has been underway to study how deer and non-native invasive plants influence native plants. You can observe these fenced in demonstration areas when visiting the Gordon Natural Area.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
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A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
WCU maintains a composting facility for the 25 tons of leaves which fall on the campus in the autumn. This compost is later sifted and added to topdressing as soil amendments.
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):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.