| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 58.64 |
| Liaison | Casey Meehan |
| Submission Date | Dec. 22, 2020 |
Western Technical College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.00 / 2.00 |
Casey
Meehan Director of Sustainability and Resilience Sustainability |
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 | 0 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 0 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 0 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
Of the 204 acres Western owns, 105 acres are not managed.
Two of our regional campuses have large sections that are not managed. Our Mauston facility is on 10 acres and consists of one campus building and parking lot residing in a stand of conifer trees. Five acres are not managed.
The Sparta Safety Training facility sits on about 160 acres. 100 of those acres are woods and prairie.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management 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:
Western does not institute blanket spraying of chemicals and we have in place strict weeding protocols whereby any weed larger than 1" is hand pulled in any planting bed.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Western's managed grounds across all campuses uses native, pollinator friendly vegetation with the exception of a few small patches of turf. There is no blanket spraying of chemicals and strict weeding protocols whereby any weed larger than 1" is hand pulled in any planting bed.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Western Technical College helps to maintain the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus. Western implements permeable pavers in several courtyards on campus. These pavers help to promote the infiltration of storm water through the surface of the pavers into the ground, cleansing and cooling the water while promoting the recharging of the local aquifers. Western also has implemented several rain gardens on campus. These gardens have been strategically placed to mitigate run off from buildings and parking lots. Also assisting with natural hydrology of the campus dealing with runoff from water is located at downspout locations. Western uses rocks at each of the downspout locations. These downspouts are directed towards either a rain garden or vegetated area, this helps water to seep into the soil at a natural pace. The water is directed away from simply flowing down storm drains in large volumes very quickly. Western has vegetated swales at its automotive building, and near the Cleary courtyard as well to help with campus hydrology. A bioswale has also been implemented along a major street near campus. Native plants which serve as animal habitats are planted in these bioswales. The bioswales help absorb rainwater and help the water naturally seep into the soil.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
The City of La Crosse picks up yard waste and trimmings from campus. These trimmings and waste are composted into mulch for city use, rather than being simply discarded.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Western has a large green roof on our Integrated Technology Center.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Western is a Tree Campus, USA designated college.
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.