Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.15
Liaison Victor Udo
Submission Date Sept. 16, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Bucknell University
OP-10: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.47 / 2.00 John Testa
Grounds and Labor Supervisor
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds::
Area
Total campus area 446 Acres
Footprint of the institution's buildings 23 Acres
Area of undeveloped land, excluding any protected areas 67 Acres

Area of managed grounds that is::
Area
Managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan 0 Acres
Managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program that includes an IPM plan and otherwise meets the criteria outlined 350 Acres
Managed organically, third party certified and/or protected 0 Acres

A copy of the IPM plan:
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The IPM plan :

We practice IPM on approximately 350 acres of our campus. The first step in our IPM program is to use appropriate measures to discourage the development of unwanted pest populations. Secondly, we routinely monitor our turf, trees and shrubs for any potential threats. Thirdly, we evaluate the need for any intervention with a pesticide product. Because of the continued bee research on campus we only use pesticides when it is absolutely necessary. If pesticides are required to control a pest population we will use the least toxic product at the lowest recommended rate. Our goal is to reduce or minimize risks to humans and the environment.


A brief summary of the institution’s approach to sustainable landscape management:

Our sustainable landscape goal is to provide a functional, aestheticaly pleasing, cost-efficient, environmentally friendly campus. We try to balance our intense management of athletic fields and centrally located high visibilty areas with limited or zero intervention in the remaining areas. All of our landscape decisions include discussions of the environmental impact and “doing the right thing”. Our current sustainability program includes, but is not limited to: composting yard waste, mulching mowers, IPM, irrigation efficiency, appropriate plant selections, mulch production, preservation of historic trees, green roofs, rain gardens and bioswales. In addition to our departmental sustainability goals we receive valuable input concerning landscape sustainability from faculty, staff and students.


A brief description of how the institution protects and uses existing vegetation, uses native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controls and manages invasive species:

We recently developed a comprehensive, campus wide, tree management plan that will be implemented by our certified arborist. New construction includes the LEED landscape requirements for certification points. Several areas of the campus, under the direction of the Biology Department, are being naturalized. Those areas include the steep slopes in the Grove and the Miller run stream banks


A brief description of the institution’s landscape materials management and waste minimization policies and practices:

Currently, we collect, tub grind and compost our tree trimmings and brush into usable mulch. Also, we compost our leaves and yard waste which is used as a soil amendment for planting.


A brief description of the institution’s organic soils management practices:

We use a natural fall fertilizer (NatureSafe) of our athletic fields and high visibility turf areas. We practice grass cycling on all our turf areas. All of our inorganic fertilizers are slow release and no or low phosphorus which reduces nutrient runoff.


A brief description of the institution’s use of environmentally preferable materials in landscaping and grounds management:

We use a natural fall fertilizer (NatureSafe) of our athletic fields and high visibility turf areas. We practice grass cycling on all our turf areas. All of our inorganic fertilizers are slow release and no or low phosphorus which reduces nutrient runoff.


A brief description of how the institution restores and/or maintains the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus:

Our current construction and campus expansion (approx 50 acres) includes several acres of rain gardens, bioswales and green roofs. The majority of campus is not irrigated. We collect rainwater for hand watering of trees, shrubs, perennials and annual flowers. The six athletic fields that have irrigation are monitored daily and irrigation is on an as needed basis


A brief description of how the institution reduces the environmental impacts of snow and ice removal (if applicable):

We use power brooms to remove snow and ice on all of our paths. The brooms remove most of the frozen material which reduces the need for ice melting products.


A brief description of any certified and/or protected areas:

The Bucknell University Environmental Center grounds are managed organically and are protected but not certified.


Is the institution recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Campus USA program (if applicable)?:
No

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.