Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 51.46
Liaison Bradley Flamm
Submission Date March 6, 2020

STARS v2.2

West Chester University of Pennsylvania
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.59 / 2.00 Bradley Flamm
Director of Sustainability
Office of the President
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area:
409 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 201 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed 104 Acres
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices 13 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 318 Acres

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:

Impervious property is excluded from the area of managed grounds. Impervious land includes: campus roads, pathways, sidewalks, parking lots, building footprints, athletic courts and track.


Percentage of grounds managed organically:
63.21

A brief description of the organic landscape management program:

Best practices of organic management include mechanical seasonal pruning. Sometimes this is combined with an application of our organic compost which is created on campus.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
32.70

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
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A brief description of the IPM program:

The goals of the West Chester IPM Plan are to minimize the impact of site management practices on the local environment, and to reduce the exposure of occupants, staff and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particle contaminants. Core elements of the IPM include: Use of least-toxic chemical pesticides, Minimum use of chemicals, Use of chemicals and pesticides only in targeted locations and for targeted species, Routine inspection and monitoring, Proactive communication.


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

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:

WCU has maintained a proactive approach to hydrology and water use. Yearly investments are made to campus infrastructure in terms of MS4 improvements. This includes the incorporation of pervious pavers, rain gardens, drainage basins. Research into salinity levels at outsources. WCU maintains a conservative approach to water use. Irrigation is limited to our Academic Quad area.


A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:

WCU maintains a composting facility for leaves, brush and organic debris. The accumulation of brush/debris is double tub ground producing a mulch which is then allowed to sit and compost. 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:
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Responses provided by Josh Braid, Grounds Manager, Facilities Division (jbraid@wcupa.edu).


Responses provided by Josh Braid, Grounds Manager, Facilities Division (jbraid@wcupa.edu).

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.