| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 78.48 |
| Liaison | Patrick McKee |
| Submission Date | June 20, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Connecticut
OP-10: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.34 / 2.00 |
Sarah
Munro Sustainability Coordinator Office of Environmental Policy |
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds::
| Area | |
| Total campus area | 3,319.54 Acres |
| Footprint of the institution's buildings | 111.63 Acres |
| Area of undeveloped land, excluding any protected areas | 2,792.31 Acres |
Area of managed grounds that is::
| Area | |
| Managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan | 228.52 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 | 165 Acres |
A copy of the IPM plan:
The IPM plan :
The University uses IPM on campus. Through this management program there is no application of insecticides or fungicides. The control measures primarily used include fertilizer and broad leafweed control. The University does not apply herbicides and pesticides preventatively, so instead application is just for infestations that may result in large economic losses if not addressed quickly. In such instances, selective pesticides that have limited effects on non-target species are recommended. This reduces the environmental impact of UConn landscape management.
Additionally, past UConn IPM programs have educated farmers, teachers, and resource managers in the areas related to vegetables, small fruit, tree fruit, greenhouse, turf, nurseries, field crops, vineyards, home grounds, invasive species, and IMP Curriculum in the Classroom which is geared towards students in grades K-8.
The state four-tiered IPM program, run by the Cooperative Extension through UConn, can be found here:
http://ipm.uconn.edu/root/
Other grounds are maintained as turf grass, as farm production/ pasture grounds, or as wildlife habitat with minimal oversight.
Info on UConn Turf grass programs can be found here:
http://www.turf.uconn.edu/
A brief summary of the institution’s approach to sustainable landscape management:
The University is working to develop and further implement the Landscape Master Plan around sustainable landscape principles. The plan is currently still proposed, but many of its provisions are in place. The three overarching principals associated with the Landscape Master Plan include creating a sense of place, defining campus precincts, and improving upon ecosystem health.
http://paes.uconn.edu/MasterPlan/Final/B_LANDSCAPE_WEB.pdf
http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/docs/development/Sustainability%20Framework%20Plan.pdf
A brief description of how the institution protects and uses existing vegetation, uses native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controls and manages invasive species:
The CT State Extension Department, the Connecticut Sea Grant, the University of Connecticut NEMO Program, the Uconn Center for Land-use Education and Research, and Uconn’s College of Agricultre Health and Natural Resources centralize informational resources encouraging use of native plant species, and in identifying/ controlling invasive species for a variety of habitat types. The Storrs campus grounds are a living arboretum that combines native and ornamental species of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Newer construction techniques are favoring the use of native species in swales adapted to the climate, including edible landscape initiatives that utilize fruit plants and herbs. Large portions of the University owned grounds (including ground where visitors frequent) are maintained as wildlife habitat and are only minimally maintained.
http://clear.uconn.edu/tools/habitats/index.htm
A brief description of the institution’s landscape materials management and waste minimization policies and practices:
All of the University’s landscape management waste is composted at the UConn compost facility. This includes lawn and branch clippings and leaves.
Information on the compost facility can be found here:
http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/recycling/compost.html
A brief description of the institution’s organic soils management practices:
Currently the University doesn’t utilize organic soils management, but UConn Facilities is looking to implement organic management for some of the lawn areas in the East Campus areas.
A brief description of the institution’s use of environmentally preferable materials in landscaping and grounds management:
UConn uses treated salt, similar to what people call magic salt. It has some calcium chloride in it and molasses.
The University also switched to drop spreaders on the walks as to not inject the turf with the material to avoid the salt burn. UConn also pre-treats some of the lawn areas with gypsum to help counteract the effects of the salt.
A brief description of how the institution restores and/or maintains the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus:
The University of Connecticut actively works to maintain natural hydrology on campus through the implementation of Low Impact Design initiatives. As part of UConn’s Sustainable Design Guidelines, the University seeks to incorporate LID projects all over campus including, but not limited to rain gardens, porous pavement, bio-retention swales, permeable asphalt, etc. All of these projects help to infiltrate and treat storm water runoff from the urban campus in order to sustain and preserve natural hydrology. Interactive maps and information on these LID projects can be found here: http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/development/lid.html
The University also provides significant outreach and support for other LID projects. The UConn Nemo Program through the Center for Land Use Education and Research provides instructional materials and outreach on the development and maintenance of rain gardens and bio-retention swales. More information on this outreach can be found here: http://nemo.uconn.edu/raingardens/.
Finally, one of the ways in which the Landscape Master Plan aims to improve ecosystem health is by incorporating sustainable stormwater management in order to maintain the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus and improve water quality.
http://paes.uconn.edu/MasterPlan/Final/B_LANDSCAPE_WEB.pdf
A brief description of how the institution reduces the environmental impacts of snow and ice removal (if applicable):
We use treated salt here, similar to what people call magic salt. It has some calcium chloride in it and molasses.
We switched to drop spreaders on the walks as to not inject the turf with the material to avoid the salt burn. We also pre-treat some of the lawn areas with gypsum to help counteract the effects of the salt.
UCONN Landscape Action Plan Snow Removal Guide:
Patrol area at the start of the snowfall.
Spot de-icing of walks and roadways, along with plowing.
Full scale de-icing of all major walks, along with plowing.
Plowing of all major walks, roads, and parking lots.
Continuous sanding of walkways and driving lanes.
A brief description of any certified and/or protected areas:
UConn developed the Hillside Environmental Education Park (HEEP) as a preservation area composed of about 33 acres of wetlands and 31 acres of uplands. The HEEP was developed as part the remediation of an old landfill on campus and has since become an area that provides numerous research and study opportunities in topics such as invasive species management, wildlife management and habitat enhancement, wetlands mitigation, vernal pool creation and management, etc. For more information on the HEEP project: http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/development/heep.html
An additional 101 acres of conservation land, including several wetland habitats, has extended the HEEP in the last year with the construction of the new entrance to the University. More information about the expansion and the habitat and species protection measures that were undertaken during this project: http://today.uconn.edu/2015/12/safety-for-salamanders-and-other-wildlife-species/
The University of Connecticut also manages a 580 acre tract of continuous forest area on the northeast side of the main campus at Storrs. While not technically a protected area, the UConn Forest provides research and educational benefit in addition to providing a large area of natural habitat and biodiversity. The Fenton forest tract also provides hiking and other recreational opportunities for the students and community. More information on the UConn Forest can be found here: http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/development/parks.html
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.