| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 83.87 |
| Liaison | Yolanda Cieters |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2024 |
Seattle University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.99 / 2.00 |
Yolanda
Cieters Associate Director CEJS |
Total campus area:
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 | 32.75 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 0.25 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 33 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
--The footprint of SU's buildings, impervious surfaces, and areas that are not regularly managed or maintained accounts for 17 acres.
--Total area of managed grounds = 33 acres (20 acres vegetated grounds; 13 acres paved)
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
99% of SU's grounds is managed in accordance with an organic program and an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) System; 1% is inorganic allowing some synthetic fertilizer for natural turf soccer field.
The shift to sustainable landscape practices began in 1979 with the implementation of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. Our IPM program differs from many others in that chemical pesticide applications are not considered a viable last option. Only OMRI rated products are used on the campus grounds and are used only as last resort. We use a combination of methods that focus on total plant health, particularly at the soil level, to maintain our grounds.
Description of the organic landscape management:
--Weed suppression, not eradication: weeding is performed by hand, sometimes by burning
--Compost top-dressing
--SU compost and wood chip mulching: mulch and soil is only organic; compost mulch is generated by the university or purchased from Cedar Grove
--Centralized control of irrigation and monitored water use
--Responsible Plant Selection
--Beneficial Insect Release
--Nutrient cycling
--Compost Tea application
--Encouraging Beneficial Insect and Bird Populations
--Pest and disease control is achieved through pruning and plant replacement with resistant plants; also application of biological control. Other controls must be OMRI certified and are used only as last resort.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
Please note that 100% of SU's managed Grounds are in accordance with an IPM Program: 99% of the managed grounds are managed using organic materials; 1% of the managed grounds use conventional landscape management practices (but still including the IPM principles and techniques)
--See SEATTLE UNIVERSITY GROUNDS SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE MANUAL:
https://www.seattleu.edu/media/grounds-landscaping-and-atheltic-fields/sustainable-grounds-management/SustainableLandscapeManagementOperations.pdf
--See the attached copy above of the "Sustainable Landscape Maintenance Procedure"
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
--See SEATTLE UNIVERSITY GROUNDS SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE MANUAL: https://www.seattleu.edu/media/grounds-landscaping-and-atheltic-fields/sustainable-grounds-management/SustainableLandscapeManagementOperations.pdf
--In 2023, Seattle University Obtained Platinum Green Grounds Certification: https://www.rewildyourcampus.org/green-grounds-certification
--Native, drought-tolerant, and edible plants are our campus standard.
--2017-present: In 2017, Grounds introduced Service Learning as a component of engaging university community, especially students in improving campus landscapes.
Examples from AY2020-2023: Student service learning involvement in:
•Sustainable Landscape Management
•Edible Campus Initiative
•Grounds Communications (Content Creator for Newsletters)
•Tree Campus Higher Education designation submission
•Design, build, install "Flag Pole" campus raingarden (2022-2023)
•Tree planting and landscape renovation by student groups at SU
For more details on these and other student experiential learning in SU sustainable landscaping, please see STARS credit AC8-Living Laboratory -> Grounds
--2015-present: In 2015, Grounds established an internship for students that facilitates learning about urban agriculture. The "Edible Campus Initiative" focuses on integral ecology of multiple systems of growing edibles highlighting food security and justice issues. Students are encouraged to take an active role in growing food for harvest and donation supporting social need for food security and helping care for others.
Student interns engage in leadership opportunities working with campus Gardeners learning organic greenhouse management, starting veggies from seed, transplanting, organic plant and pest management, harvest, coordinated harvest donation.
The edible campus is a sustainable urban agriculture tool for teaching others, a springboard for rethinking broken food systems, and an incubator for inventive ideas about food security for future generations. By designing edibles into the existing gardens, we are encouraging students to identify and harvest food in their own backyard.
--2008–present: The grounds Vi Hilbert Ethno Botanical garden is an outdoor classroom for indigenous plants and the Lushootseed language (that has been preserved by elder Vi Hilbert).
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
(1) See SU's Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan (in SEATTLE UNIVERSITY GROUNDS SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE MANUAL:
https://www.seattleu.edu/media/grounds-landscaping-and-atheltic-fields/sustainable-grounds-management/SustainableLandscapeManagementOperations.pdf):
• Creation of a “Surface Water Pollution Prevention Plan” which shall be reviewed and approved by the City of Seattle prior to acquiring the Clearing and Grading permit.
• The contractor shall have on staff a Certified Erosion and Sedimentation Control Lead who shall be on site or on call at all times and who shall perform regular site inspections and write an inspection report or checklist which shall be attached to the site log book.
• Site turbidity and pH monitoring shall be conducted as outlined in the NPDES permit
• Silt Control Measures which include filter fabric fencing, diversion swales and berms, straw bale check dams, mulch, and polyethylene sheeting cover for exposed soil
• Temporary Storm Water Runoff Control
• Measures to keep streets clean shall include wheel cleaning stations at site exits and measures to clean campus and public streets if they become fouled
• Slope erosion control measures
• Protection of drain inlets
• Control of pollutants to include vandalism protection, covering of chemicals and liquids, maintenance of equipment and vehicles to prevent spills, application of fertilizers and pesticides
• Control of de-watering water
(2) SU has six rain gardens. See here for more information:
https://www.seattleu.edu/grounds/significant-gardens/rain-gardens-of-su/
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
--See the attached copy above of the "Sustainable Landscape Maintenance Procedure" -> Section "Landscape Waste Diversion"
--Please see SEATTLE UNIVERSITY GROUNDS SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE MANUAL:
https://www.seattleu.edu/media/grounds-landscaping-and-atheltic-fields/sustainable-grounds-management/SustainableLandscapeManagementOperations.pdf)
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Trees are planted to shade buildings and a passive-cooling study was conducted to determine how we may further cool buildings during the summer while reducing our energy load.
New designs and plantings feature trees and shrubs that tolerate hotter drier summers and wetter winters in an effort to reduce landscape water consumption through irrigation.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.