| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 85.50 |
| Liaison | Breeana Sylvas |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2022 |
University of California, Merced
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.97 / 2.00 |
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 | 991 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 35 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 1,026 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
The footprint of buildings were excluded from the managed grounds figure provided.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
Currently, campus development is limited to about 274 acres within the 1,026 acre campus site. The land that is currently not part of campus development is managed without the use of any chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides, or rodenticides. Six-hundred thirty three (633) acres of the undeveloped campus is actually grazed by organic dairy farmers who follow the National Organic Program.
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:
The University IPM Plan includes the following components:
1) Prevention for animal and plant pests: limiting food, shelter and water sources, implementing proper plants, cultural practices.
2) Monitor: maintain a log which contains data of pest populations observed at specific campus locations. Pest identification - properly identify the target pest in order to provide best control methods.
3) Action Thresholds: set action thresholds to determine tolerable damage and best control methods.
4) Control/Management methods: utilize control methods which include; cultural, mechanical, physical, biological and chemical means. When chemical control methods are used, the least toxic material shall be chosen.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
The University utilizes both formal and naturalistic landscape designs on campus. Priority is given to the use of indigenous plant species and regional native plant species appropriate to the site, climatic and design conditions.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
The campus is committed to collecting 100% of its storm water on campus with two retention ponds eliminating storm water and irrigation run off from campus development and keeping the original water that would have absorbed into the pervious ares where buildings are now standing into retention ponds on the campus site that recharges local ground water to help retain the original hydrology.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
All waste from grounds keeping, including grass trimmings is collected by a third party and composted.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
The campus uses an Evapo-transpiration (ET)-based controller from Tucor on our irrigation system. ET is a combination of water lost from plant material through evaporation (from the ground) and transpiration (from the leaves, etc.). The system is programmed with a base ET rate that dictates how long to run and how much water is put down. The ET rate is a function of local climate zone and the type of plant material being irrigated (e.g. turf grass will have a different ET rate than shrubs). Our controller is linked to a weather service that looks at the previous day's ET rate for our area and automatically makes adjustments to the sprinkler run times as required.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
The campus does not have snow and ice.
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.