| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.61 |
| Liaison | Tracy Edwards |
| Submission Date | June 12, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Frostburg State University
OP-10: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.41 / 2.00 |
Gregory
Partsch Landscape Tech./Supervisor Physical Plant Department |
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds::
| Area | |
| Total campus area | 262.20 Acres |
| Footprint of the institution's buildings | 11 Acres |
| Area of undeveloped land, excluding any protected areas | 80 Acres |
Area of managed grounds that is::
| Area | |
| Managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan | 71 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:
The IPM plan :
Frostburg State has three main managed areas: Athletic Areas, Planting Bed Areas, and Common Areas that follow the four-tiered IPM system. The Athletic Areas follow an intense system of IPM with no thresholds of acceptable damage, constant monitoring of pests, and preventative cultural/chemical controls. The Planting Bed Areas use a more cultural form of IPM with medium economical thresholds and use heavy monitoring and cultural preventative practices, and moderate chemical controls. The Common areas use an IPM program with high thresholds, intermittent monitoring, and mostly cultural preventive measures with very little chemical control.
A brief summary of the institution’s approach to sustainable landscape management:
The University is a member of Tree Campus USA since 2012 and promotes sustainable landscape design and management including planting of trees that don't need water, planting of native tree species, and a goal to increase tree canopy cover to 40%. The newest landscaped areas by the Gira Center are low maintenance natural plantings that are watered through rainwater collection systems that reduce run-off.
A brief description of how the institution protects and uses existing vegetation, uses native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controls and manages invasive species:
Frostburg State University promotes the use of native plants on campus. The campus arboretum is a haven for all plants native to Western Maryland. The University is a member of Tree Campus USA, with a focus of using trees native to the North Eastern United States. Several departments recommend the use of native plants during the review stages of new construction, and will require the use of natives in new construction as part of the Tree Campus USA guidelines. The University restricts the planting of invasive species on campus. Also there has been several mass planting of native trees on campus during the last few years.
A brief description of the institution’s landscape materials management and waste minimization policies and practices:
Frostburg State University does meet these criteria. Almost all grass clippings are mulched and returned to the turf. The remaining collected grass clippings are taken to an area where it is mixed with other collected material such as leaves, old mulch, sticks, and branches. The material is not mixed regularly because it is used as fill.
At this time Frostburg State University does not chip wood debris prior to mixing it with other debris.
A brief description of the institution’s organic soils management practices:
There currently are no formal organic soils management practices.
A brief description of the institution’s use of environmentally preferable materials in landscaping and grounds management:
Frostburg State University uses naturally occurring and natural materials almost exclusively.
A brief description of how the institution restores and/or maintains the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus:
Water quality ponds which allow for rain water to sink into the soil have been built over several areas on the campus. Green (living) roofs have been completed over the past couple years including our newly constructed LEED Gold Gira Center.
A brief description of how the institution reduces the environmental impacts of snow and ice removal (if applicable):
FSU has begun to use a salt substitute that is less destructive to concrete and less toxic to vegetation, however, usage is not campus wide at this time. Also the outdoor staircases adjacent to the Gira Center are heated thus eliminating the need for salt.
A brief description of any certified and/or protected areas:
Our campus arboretum is protected by FSU as a natural area.
Is the institution recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Campus USA program (if applicable)?:
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management programs and practices is available:
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.