George Mason University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Approximately 316 acres of naturally forested areas on our campuses are excluded from this calculation because they are not often disturbed (and therefore minimally maintained) to preserve naturally occurring processes within them.

Mason manages several gardens on campus without the use of inorganic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides including the Potomac Heights Vegetable Garden, the Innovation Food Forest, and the School of Art garden. However, due to their small size, Mason has not completed the certification process for them.

Mason's Grounds Program utilizes an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) throughout all its managed spaces. Formal inspections are performed monthly to inspect all groups, determine the severity of any infestation and apply controls at acceptable levels. Whenever possible, biological controls, such as the use of benign horticultural oils, will be used. Additionally, consideration will be given to the presence or absence of natural predators, the appropriate timing of applications, and life-cycle of the pests.

For Mason’s buildings, the plan includes inspections to identify any infestations; sanitation to clean inside and outside the facilities; mechanical control to repair any structures and equipment; educating individuals to keep pest conditions at a minimum; and modifications to environmental aspects (such as light, temperature and oxygen levels) to reduce pest population growth.

Mason’s Design Manual states that the majority of all new plants will be native or cultivars of native plants. Mason Grounds has limited the use of invasive, exotic plants on campus.

The University created a Reforestation Guidelines document, in 2012, to dictate the required quantities and the correct species that are allowed to be installed for both Fairfax and Prince William campuses. As a result, Mason completed 2 reforestation projects in 2012-2013. Both of these sites include only native trees and shrubs and are currently being maintained to ensure their success. There are at least five other sites across campus that have been identified as potential candidates for reforestation.

The university also maintains an accredited arboretum, initiated in 2015 and accredited by ArbNet (Level II) in 2021: https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/biology/facilities-centers/arboretum

The east part of Mason Fairfax Campus is located within the Pohick Creek watershed with a segment of Rabbit branch and few unknown tributaries running through the Mason’s land. The west part of the Fairfax Campus is located within the Lower Bull Run watershed. The East Fork Popes Head creek and few unknown tributaries pass through the West campus. The Science and Technology campus in Manassas, VA is in the Rocky Branch-Broad Run Watershed with tributaries to Cannon Branch passing through the campus.

Wetlands are located within Mason’s boundaries.

Mason Land development administers for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit at the university. MS4 permit regulates the stormwater surface runoff on the Fairfax Campus at Fairfax County and the Science and Technology Campus at Prince William County.

On water use, none of the streams and ponds are for recreational use purposes. University’s policies prohibit swimming and fishing in the water resources on campuses. The Fairfax Campus gets it potable water from the Fairfax Water. The Science and Technology campus gets it potable water from the Prince William County Service Authority. No wells are in the campuses.

Mason strives to reduce, reuse, and recycle its waste as must as possible. For example, selective trees or branches that fall onto a roadway or sidewalk are removed, chipped, and returned to the forest to continue their decomposition process. Trees that fall in the forested areas are left in place to provide additional nutrients and habitat for the diversity of plants and animals who reside there. In the fall, Mason Grounds remove leaves from walkways, parking lots, roads, etc and chip and placed into a large leaf compost pile. This pile is used throughout the following spring and summer for nutrient-rich organic mulch for trees and other plants across campus. Lastly, all grass is cut and left in place to enrich the existing grass with usable organic matter.

In 2007 Mason's Board of Visitors pledged to design all new construction and major renovations to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standard or its equivalent. Mason has implemented several energy-efficient landscape designs including light-colored roofs, green roofs, open-grid pavement, and positioning buildings to take advantage of passive solar design.

In a 2023 revamp of the University's design manual, it is noted that landscape lighting and fixed irrigation systems are NOT preferred.

George Mason University follows the protocol of the Virginia Department of Transportation for the removal of snow and ice for the roads. Mason makes an effort to prudently manage the use of salt, sand, and chemicals to effectively remove the snow and ice, in consideration of limited state financial resources. In addition, for sidewalks, Mason uses magnesium chloride which is less corrosive, less abrasive, and less toxic to plant and animal life and surrounding waterways.