Vassar College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.87 / 2.00 |
Cora
Kenfield Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Total campus area:
1,000
Acres
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 | 832 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 75 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 25 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 932 Acres |
If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:
Within the main campus where grounds are managed there are 68 acres of buildings and other impervious surfaces.
Organic program
89.27
If reporting an organic program, provide:
Much of the campus has been shifted to a "mow and grow" approach that just focuses on mowing the grass once a week during the growing season. These lawns do not have any chemical or inorganic products applied to them. This fits with our certification as a Tree Campus USA and the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary campus program.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program
8.05
If reporting an IPM program, provide:
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A brief description of the IPM program:
In buildings, habitat and food are eliminated, traps are used to monitor pest populations, before spraying, minimum amounts of pesticide are used. In lawns and athletics fields, turf health is promoted with organic fertilizer, compost topdressing, and overseeding. Weed load is monitored. Spraying is only used when necessary
Optional Fields
Major landscape plantings are recommended by the landscape architecture consultant Michael Van Valkenberg Associates (MVVA), which also developed our current landscape master plan. As part of the master plan, MVVA stressed the use of native plants in our landscape, and has made specific recommendations that follow these guidelines.
Plans have been developed and adopted for implementation of invasive vine removal and the establishment of naturalized areas on campus.
Plans have been developed and adopted for implementation of invasive vine removal and the establishment of naturalized areas on campus.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Soil probes and close monitoring of the weather allow the Grounds team to keep track evapotranspiration and therefore allows irrigation to be adapted as the situation calls for it. On the athletic fields, watering is done early in the morning so as to limit water loss to evaporation.
Rain gardens across campus help limit stormwater and nutrient runoff.
A multiyear research study monitors the 2 streams that run through campus for water quality and have been aided through the ongoing restoration of an native wetland garden that had first been established in the 1920s.
Rain gardens across campus help limit stormwater and nutrient runoff.
A multiyear research study monitors the 2 streams that run through campus for water quality and have been aided through the ongoing restoration of an native wetland garden that had first been established in the 1920s.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
Vassar mulches all waste from groundskeeping at a site on the Vassar Farm & Ecological Preserve (on campus), after which it is utilized in the community gardens and running trails as topdressing.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
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A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
For stairs and entranceways Vassar uses Magic Minus Zero, a product of Sears Ecological Applications in Rome, NY (local business). The Magic Minus Zero product has earned the EPA Design for the Environment award because it is less corrosive, will not harm curbside grasses and plants, leaves no residue, is safe for people to handle, and releases far less chloride than either plain salt or calcium chloride.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.