University of California, Santa Barbara
OP-10: Landscape Management

Started in 1995, the University of California, Santa Barbara's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advisory Committee oversees and supervises pest control on campus. The IPM Advisory Committee works to proactively minimize the use of pesticides and promote the application of IPM methods. Since its origin, the IPM Advisory Committee has banned the use of pesticides inside UCSB buildings, mandated that IPM methods be used on all University properties, and replaced pesticides with environmentally friendly products. A detailed account of the IPM Advisory Committee's accomplishments can be accessed at the link below.

Groundskeepers at UCSB continuously participate in sustainable landscape management. All of the vehicles/ carts used by the staff are either electric or compressed natural gas, products applied to the landscape are fertilizer- and herbicide-free, 90% of the Main Campus is irrigated with recycled water, grass trimmings are mulched on-site, large woody debris is mulched by the waste hauler and often returned to campus, and the staff regularly conducts audits to ensure the irrigation systems are operating at maximum efficiency. In addition, many of the groundskeepers have and are able to participate in the Green Gardener Certified Program, hosted by the Continuing Education Division at the Santa Barbara Community College. This program offers education, training, certification, and promotion of landscaping practices that improve resource efficiency and reduce pollution on landscape sites. Expenses associated with participation in this program are covered entirely by the University.

Landscape guidelines at UCSB prioritize that the perimeter of the University is landscaped with native vegetation. Native plant species are also used in landscaping around buildings and other structures. The University does place an emphasis on creating landscapes that encourage large gatherings, and although these particular areas may not always consist of native vegetation, architects are encouraged to utilize drought tolerant plants and native plants in surrounding fringe areas and where appropriate. In addition, for teaching and restoration purposes, more than 233 acres are protected and being restored to native plant communities.

At UCSB, all grounds keeping waste is collected for mulching purposes. For lawns, trimmings are directly deposited back onto the grass, a system called Grass Cycling. The trimmings of all other vegetation, such as plants and trees, are stored in a campus depository to be later used as mulch. Approximately 300-400 cubic yards per year of this mulch are used for soil and landscaping purposes.

Groundskeepers in both departments of Facilities Management and Housing & Residential Services primarily utilize pesticide- and herbicide-free products. In 2013, over 28 tons of spent coffee grounds from the University were applied directly to the landscape and planters as a soil amendment and weed barrier. In addition, UCSB regularly utilizes the compost produced by the compost facility where UCSB sends their organic material to be processed.

At UCSB, the large majority of the University's groundskeepers' vehicles are either electric or compressed natural gas (CNG). The use of gas powered equipment is limited to only a couple hours each day to minimize environmental and noise pollution. In addition, the groundskeepers regularly undergoes training from Environmental Health & Safety staff, much of which includes instructions and best management practices on using their equipment and tweaking their practices in an environmentally friendly manner.

UCSB irrigates 90% of the main campus with recycled water. Impervious surfaces are often bordered by bioswales in order to decrease runoff and promote infiltration and groundwater recharge. Examples of large impervious surfaces bordered by swales include parking lots and the library corridor. The Davidson Library corridor at UCSB is also paved with permeable pavers that allow water to infiltrate them and not run off. This feature significantly decreases stormwater runoff. It is of the utmost importance for UCSB's Environmental Health & Safety department and the Cheadle Center for Biological and Ecological Restoration to ensure and restore the integrity of the natural hydrology on campus, which is often done through testing and audits, working with groundskeepers and contractors and implementing restoration programs/ projects.

The University of California Santa Barbara is in a temperate coastal climate that does not experience drastic seasonal variation. Weather patterns of the region do not support snow or ice accumulation.

The UCSB campus is bordered by five surface water bodies: Devereaux Slough, Goleta Slough, Campus Lagoon, the Pacific Ocean, and Storke Wetlands, all of which are protected from urbanization. The 2010 Long Range Development Plan classified 237 acres of campus land as environmentally sensitive habitat area (ESHA), including UCSB's Coal Oil Point Reserve, because of the area's rarity, special role in the ecosystem, and/or because the area served as a natural buffer to more sensitive areas. The Cheadle Center for Biological and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) is tasked with the protection and restoration of many of these sensitive areas.