East Carolina University
OP-9: Landscape Management

TOTAL CAMPUS AREA: Dawn Pilgrim-Dunn
Main Campus = 396.36 acres (IPM)
Health Science Campus = 214 acres (IPM)
West Research Campus = 631 acres (organic)
North Rec Fields = 129 acres (conventional, chemical-based)
Coastal Studies Institute = 199.91 acres (IPM)
Otter Creek Natural Area = 70 acres (organic)
Greenhouse site = 6.7 acres (IPM)
CSLC = 14.8 acres (conventional, chemical-based)
DSLC = 16 acres (conventional, chemical-based)
Millennial Campus = 537 (not managed)

Total Campus Acreage (2,214.8 acres) - Building Footprint (175.2 acres) = 2,039.6 acres

2,054.8 acres - Impervious Surfaces (400 acres) = 1,639.6 acres

1654.8 acres - 537 acres (Millennial Campus - not managed yet) = 1,102.6 acres

The West Research Campus consists of a few small buildings, a road and parking lot, and very minimal areas around the buildings which are maintained through conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices. The majority of the property is pocosin wetlands, which require very little management and no use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides. The wetland area is only managed through periodic controlled burns on a rotating basis and dependent on weather patterns.

Otter Creek Natural Area (OCNA) is a property that was gifted to the university back in the 1980s. It was used for the first 20 years or so by departments for research in geology, hydrology, biology, ecology, ichthyology, etc. From the early 2000s until about 2020, it was basically abandoned. Over the past 2 years, the University sustainability Manager has been taking groups of students out to the site to reestablish the trail system. We have now opened OCNA back up for research and class trips as well as use by our Adventure Leadership Program for outdoor recreational opportunities.

See attachment.

IPM Managed Lands: 817 acres
Main Campus = 396.36 acres
Health Science Campus = 214 acres
Coastal Studies Institute = 199.91 acres
Greenhouse site = 6.7 acres

ECU Grounds Crew has developed a Tree Management Plan. Tree bags are used to retain moisture around newly planted trees. Controlled burns take place at the Voice of America (VOA) or West Research Campus as needed from year to year during the months of November through February. As part of our effort to continue our designation as a Bee Campus USA, we have also been planting many more native shrubs and pollinator gardens.

List of rain water cisterns at ECU:
a. Croatan – 10,000 gallons
b. Smith-Williams Center – 15,000 gallons
c. (2) Grounds Services – 5,000 gallons/each
d. Building 43 – 3,000 gallons
e. West Research Campus – 3,000 gallons
f. Main Campus Student Center - 13,000 gallons
g. North Recreation Complex - 15,000 gallons
h. HSC grounds shop – 10,000 gallons

BMP’s on campus:
a. Constructed Wetland - Belk Parking Lot
b. Bioretention Area - Carol Belk
c. Bioretention Area - Rec Center
d. Bioretention Area - Umstead Hall
e. Bioretention Area - Croatan
f. Permeable Pavers and Tree Box - Jenkins Art
g. Permeable Pavers - Starbucks Parking Pad outside Brewster
h. Permeable Pavers - 14th Street parking lot
i. Permeable Pavers - Student Plaza Drive
j. permeable pavers – HSC Brody picnic area
k. permeable pavers – Life Sciences Building
l. Permeable Asphalt - Scott Hall
m. Wet Pond - Ross Hall
n. Wet Pond - West Grounds Complex
o. Wet Pond - Service Learning Center in Ahoskie
p. Wet Pond - Service Learning Center in Lumberton
q. Constructed Wetland - Service Learning Center in Brunswick
r. Stormwater Retention System - Main Campus Student Center
s. Sand Filter - Jones Courtyard
t. Bioswales - Jones Residence Hall
s. Constructed Wetland (renovated existing dry pond) - Athletics Complex

North Recreational Complex Ponds: These are retention ponds that collect the water from the roads, walks, parking lots and the fields. They are then used to irrigate the landscape at the complex, including the fields. It is on the IQ system to maximize water use.

Small limbs are chipped and reused as mulching material on campus. Other tree debrisis taken to the county landfill where it is mulched and made available to residents for free. Wood and stumps from cut down trees are given to the Art Department to fire their kilns. HSC Grounds Services began a compost pilot project for leaves and grass clippings in October 2022. We have also introduced organic Humic growth solution on campus. An organic Liquid, Humic growth solution is a soil conditioner designed to aid in breaking down organic matter. It increases moisture retention in the soil and enhances nutrient uptake. This product will lessen the need for synthetic fertilizers.

The ECU Construction Guidelines contain recommendations for using vegetation to provide windbreaks as well as preserving large trees on-site to maintain shade cover of buildings.

Rain Bird IQ Irrigation System:
IQ systems have been installed at: Jones Hall, Messick Theatre, Austin, Clement Hall, HSC Brody Connector, HSC Student Center, Ross Hall, Family Medicine, ECU Heart Center, Life Sciences Building, the campus Mall, Student Health, Old Cafeteria, Mendenhall, Science and Tech, and Todd Dining Hall. ECU has over 50% of all irrigation controllers on the IQ system.

This system will allow the University to save a significant amount of water by running multiple zones at one time. In addition, the system will identify and shut off the water to leaks while the system is running. This will prevent wasted water and possible safety concerns with a blowout. All clocks will be able to be controlled from one place. Selected individuals will have the capability to turn on and off systems from their house. The system, through a weather station, will calculate the evapotranspiration (ET) rate for a day and only water the fields as needed. This will certainly help our cause when we have another drought and the State wants us to cease all watering. The most recent addition to our Rain Bird IQ Irrigation system was equipment to put the mall on the system and this project used Energy Carry-Forward Funds from the State.

Data Source:

John Gill, Grounds Director and Landscape Architect