Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 74.27
Liaison Konrad Schlarbaum
Submission Date Feb. 15, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Colorado Colorado Springs
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.02 / 2.00 Rob Dougherty
Director Physical Plant
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
549 Acres

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach 0 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials 1 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 119 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 120 Acres

If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):
Not included in the landscape that is managed is undeveloped land that is part of the Austin Bluffs formation. This is native and is protected as part of the LEED building projects. This also includes the impervious surfaces.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
0

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
---

A brief description of the IPM program:
An IPM program has been researched and revised for the past year and the campus will see implementation within the next year.

Organic Program

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
0.83

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:
The UCCS Farm is organic and does not use pesticides of inorganic fertilizers. It is approximately 1 acre.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Approximately 60% of the UCCS campus is native landscaping. As part of 11 new LEED buildings, significant acreage on the bluffs have been committed to no development. This is defined as native plant life allowed to grow unassisted and unchecked. UCCS encourages native and low-water landscaping to be used as much as possible when designing and constructing on campus. UCCS is a member of Plant Select® and needs to reapply for FY18. The purpose of Plant Select is to seek out, identify and distribute the very best plants for Colorado landscapes. Being a member offers us more opportunities to educate students, faculty, staff, and the community about plants that thrive in local landscapes.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Where feasible and compatible with Colorado water law, UCCS utilizes swales and diversion techniques to utilize stormwater runoff on landscaping. As well, significant work has been done to limit the effects of erosion and expansion of arroyos on the campus. Rain gardens have been employed in several locations.

A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
Leaves and grass clippings are taken to the UCCS Farm by Outdoor Services to be composted with preconsumer food waste from the Dining Facilities. Outdoor Services only takes leaves that have not come into contact with chemicals.

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
This is about planting trees for shade, on buildings, etc. Where feasible, we have installed solar lighting, such as for our campus signs, flagpoles and other installations where outside lighting is required. The Ent Center for Performing and Visual Arts minimized light pollution by installing full cut off shields and using predominately all bollard height or shorter fixtures in the Ent Center plaza and garden areas.

A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
Outdoor Services utilizes the Firewise USA™ practices for fire mitigation. All flower beds utilize non-spraying or premergent practices.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://www.uccs.edu/facsrvs/service-groups/outdoor-services.html

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
UCCS Farm https://www.uccs.edu/~farm/

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.