Wildlife Habitat/Greenspace
Outline of information and tasks helpful for creating final proposal.
Using UK University Biodiversity How-To for guidance.
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LSU Landscape Services information
Past objectives/goals dealing with similar issues
Past completed activities dealing with these similar issues
Possible specific tasks within main objective
LSU contacts
I.
Landscape Services:
“The main campus at LSU covers more than 1,000 acres with adjacent University owned
properties of another 1,000 acres. Of this area 650+ acres are maintained to a manicured
presentation. Another 200 acres are maintained to roadside and field standards. There are
about 10,000 square feet of annual color beds on campus that require maintenance.
Mature trees count well over 5,000. “
Can I get some landscaping or improvements done around my building? Who pays
for it?
Most areas of campus are considered either academic or covered under a general funding
agreement. Improvements are possible within limited budget capabilities at no cost to
building occupants or departments. Special funding can be requested from Facility
Services to improve specific areas with a more concentrated effort. These projects may or
may not be funded based in availability of funds not under the control of Landscape
Services. For more formal and sophisticated plans, calls should be placed to Facility
Development. There, a Landscape Architect will be assigned to plan and estimate the
project. There are currently two Landscape Architects on staff within the Facility
Services group.
http://appl003.lsu.edu/facility/facility.nsf/$Content/Landscape+Services?OpenDocument
II. Past Objectives:
LSU GREEN CAMPUS INIATITIVE
The project can tie into these already-stated LSU objectives
1) Water and Waste Water: Future Goals and Objectives:
a. Work with LSU educational and research groups to plant aquatic bioremediation plants
in water shed areas.
b. Natural water filtration systems (i.e., iris plantings, grasses, etc.) should be installed at
all drainage inlets to minimize sediment discharge into the campus lakes system.
2) Campus Ground and Land Use
LSU has a large campus that encompasses numerous acres and
ecosystems and impacts an even larger regional area. The concepts
of sustainable development can be incorporated into campus design
to preserve these diverse ecosystems.
Current Actions:
• Litter removal from campus for special events included the
expenditure of in excess of 8,900 man-hours of the Landscape
Services Department personnel with assistance of Corrections
Department personnel. These man-hours are expended during and
after the actual event and extend into the following day as required to
complete the task. The Landscape Services Department’s street
sweeper is utilized heavily during the cleanup process of a special
event and extra 30 yard trash containers are staged for convenient
access. The Landscape Services Department’s street sweeper is
used regularly during the course of the year to remove the leaves, pine
straw, and other plant debris from the campus. Each Landscape
Services Department employee spends a minimum of two hours per
working day removing litter from the campus grounds, streets, and
parking lots.
• The costs associated with the removal of litter from the campus are:
Litter Pickup $153,403
Special Event Litter Pickup $ 98,648
Special Event Waste Charges $31,000
Subtotal $283,051
• Organic materials removed during tree preservation and maintenance
is utilized in the creation of mulch which is then placed underneath the
existing live oak tree plantings in and around campus.
• LSU currently implements an active Live Oak Preservation plan to
maintain a mature tree canopy over much of the campus
environment.
• Existing trees where construction is to occur are transplanted when
possible so that a mature tree canopy can be maintained on campus.
Future Goals and Objectives:
• LSU should install a variety of trees in order to insure mature tree
canopy in the future.
III. Past significant landscape/grounds projects:
1) Live Oak Preservation/Endowment
http://liveoaks.lsu.edu/
c. Survey of individual trees on campus
d. Survey on other species started but no information available
1. Who completed survey? What was involved for equipment and
funding? Is the other species survey available or incomplete?
e. Tree Preservation Plan required for new construction
2) RNR Interactive tour
http://www.rnr.lsu.edu/plantid/webtour/listsite.htm#Ur5
- RNR Building – mostly tree species
- Life Sciences yard - mostly tree species
3) Green Tiger Project
f. Originated by LSU Foundation
g. Spring Greening Day will take place on Friday, April 8, 2011 from 10:30am
am to 1:30 pm. To register, fill out the registration form (PAWS login
required). Registration is open through March 28 at 4:30 pm
The campus beautification project will utilize participation from students,
faculty and staff to improve and maintain LSU’ s campus through a day of
landscaping at the core of the LSU campus. By participating in the project,
students will experience a sense of pride and ownership as they help to beautify
our campus. The project will also educate students about sustainability efforts
and proper recycling procedures.
This program is open to all students and you can participate as an organization
or on your own. Free food and giveaways will be provided for participants,
and there will be a celebration event at the end of the day open to the public.
Should you have any questions during the registration process please contact
Sara Ross in the Campus Life office at sross7@tigers.lsu.edu or at 578-5160.
Spring Greening Day is co-sponsored by the Division of Student Life’s
Campus Life office and the Office of Facility Services in support of the
Green Tiger Project.
1. Is the Foundation still involved? What is the itinerary for this day?
What will be done to beautify?
II.
Potential specific projects within main objective:
a. Native grasses plantings, starting in low key areas perhaps
i. Where are turf areas? What grass is planted there? Beasley
ii. Current grasses vs. native grasses if applicable, is it really beneficial?
iii. Current Mowing and maintenance: what’s involved (cost, crew, time,
irrigation, equipment, fuel etc.)
b. Build a certified National Wildlife Federation Habitat
i. Where?
ii. What species are there now?
1. Surveys for mammals, invertebrates, plants, etc.
2. What’s the condition of the site?
3. Human-species interaction?
4. How can site be enhanced for wildlife?
5. Aesthetic/ recreational value too?
c. Rain Gardens
i. Near buildings? Parking Lots? Sidewalks?
V. Campus Contacts:
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Facility Services: Jay Ransom/ Fred Fellner
Hilltop Arboretum
Clegg’s
LSU Coastal Roots: Dr. Ed Bush
LSU Herbarium
LSU Entomology Catalog
Biology
Life Sciences
COA
Examples from other Universities
Arizona State
Group/Class Profile
http://www.nwf.org/campusEcology/docs/Arizona_State
_University.pdf
The Native Habitat Society is a registered student
organization at ASU that was founded in 2001 to promote
the goals of the Native Habitat Project. The student
Applied to LSU
Start Student Organization
or integrate existing one.
a. Fastest way to start activities
b. Begin with small projects and list
long term goals eventually
organization is composed of graduate and undergraduate
students from the life sciences and other disciplines.
Students serve essential diplomatic, academic,
organizational and educational roles. An advisory
committee of professors in the life sciences and arboretum
staff provide technical and administrative
Water is essential for all living organisms and this is why in
one sense conserving
water is a matter of life and death. In many areas of the
country aquifers are being
depleted faster than they can be recharged, and due to poor
conservation and
sustainability practices many negative implications have
ensued and are being addressed.
Water conservation is one facet of sustainability that has
helped spark the recent green
building and sustainable living movement. Locally,
members from the Emerging Green
Builders (EGB), along with other dedicated students at the
University, have been
particularly interested in using rain gardens to capture
stormwater run-off from campus
building rooftops. Rain gardens are a relatively new and
trendy method for capturing
stormwater run-off because they are aesthetically pleasing
and allow water to recycle
back into the natural groundwater system instead of being
evaporated or channeled into
drain systems that lead to the Kansas and Kaw Rivers.
The first campus rain garden was recently constructed on
the North West lawn of the ASRFC by members of EGB
and other volunteers (Fig. 3). The brand new 5,400 square
foot rain garden contains 2,500 plants from 23-25 select
native species, and displays a two-level limestone terrace
(Tankard, 2008). The intent and purpose of the rain garden
is to capture 100 percent of rooftop stormwater from the
ASRFC, which is estimated to accrue 1.16 million gallons
annually. The captured stormwater will provide lasting
moisture for the native plant species that are concentrated in
the rain garden; and the remaining surplus water not
absorbed by the vegetation will infiltrate back into the
watertable for future use, or drain out of a pipe to prevent
flooding and root rot. The only time water flows out the
drain pipe is when the garden reaches its maximum
saturation capacity. All of the native plant species used in
Rain Gardens
Near Buildings?
If near paved areas with heavy traffic,
Will storm water need to be treated?
LsuAg Bioretention guides
the rain garden were carefully considered and researched
before making a final decision so that the garden will
perform optimally over time. 23-25 native species were
meticulously chosen for use in the rain garden, which
include but are not limited to: daylilies, culver's root, marsh
milkweed, black-eyed susan, little bluestem, purple
coneflower, prairie blazingstar, sneezeweed, stiff goldenrod,
southern blueflag, wild geranium, indian grass, etc
(Tankard, 2008). Native plant species are desirable because
they have elaborate root systems which are adapted to the
local
c. environment and help facilitate the natural
attenuation processes involved with
decontaminating polluted storm water. Most of these native
plants have roots that extend
6 to 14 feet below the surface, making them hearty and
sustainable (F
Over the following months students will help with wildlife
surveys of the whole area (observation, identification and
recording of flora and fauna). Weekly conservation work
parties will be held on Wednesday afternoons and there will
be weekend litter picking days with the help of local
community groups. A major feature of the project will be a
new Wildlife Trail around the UEA Broad (lake) and river
meadows. There is a rich diversity of wildlife which needs
to be recorded and protected. Students will undertake the
preparation and production of a waterproof and reusable
guide to the Wildlife Trail with information about the
biodiversity and local history of the site along with
Information Boards at strategic points. Guided tours around
the trail will be provided by students on request for local
school parties and the local community. The UEA student
Wildlife and Conservation Society will join with UEA
Volunteers to encourage participation across the University
community.
The weekly work parties will be overseen by conservation
managers from the University Estates division. The
following conservation work is planned for the
Autumn/Winter season
VII.
VIII.
IX.
Coppicing shrubs and trees around the Broad
Coppicing wild goat willow encroaching on the
fen
Cutting back and coppicing woodland by
butterfly meadow
Surveys of areas needed initially,
Can be organization/service learning/volunteer
events
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XI.
XII.
Removing detritus and windblown litter in
woodland and around Broad
Litter picking in environmentally sensitive areas
Cutting back reed around river and Broad
The Wildlife Survey will be overseen be Dr. Ian Barr
(lecturer in Ecology) and students will undertake the
following tasks to assist with a major survey of the
biodiversity of the site:
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Species specific surveys including mammals, certain
common birds, bird roosts, plants, insects, fish etc.
Human -wildlife interactions
Campus usage by the public/students
Awareness of conservation issues on the campus
Computer based records organisation- a way for
biodiversity records to be submitted and organised to
record what people see
The project will be an enjoyable and informative experience
for students to be involved with, in the care and
conservation of the campus and surrounding area. We hope
the project will also bring the benefit of forming good
relations between UEA students and local community who
use the campus and surrounding lands for walking, fishing,
bird watching and picnics. Volunteers will develop new
skills in communication, conservation and ecology, wildlife
surveying and recording. The project is also a healthy,
outdoor and sociable activity which we hope will be fun for
all involved. The funding from BioBlitz will help the
project set up a Wildlife Trail and equip volunteers to
undertake the conservation and wildlife surveys.
The Potter Lake Project
Potter Lake is a traditionally special place on campus that
almost all visitors and
students have experienced at least once (Fig. 5). The beauty
of the lake attracts the attention of potential students who
come to visit the campus, offers enjoyment and relaxation
for current students and faculty, and provides lasting
memories for KU Alumni.
Unfortunately, as decades have passed neglect has played a
role in diminishing the aesthetic appeal and the overall
vitality of the lake and its ecosystem. A group of dedicated
students from the Environmental Studies Program and the
Campus Lake Restoration? (the lake on campus near
dorm)
Needs and recommendations
a. 1st hand research/surveys
b. Using Corps of Engineers and other
reports from past years
Kansas Biological Survey took notice of the long term
downward spiral and spent over one and a half years
researching the entirety of Potter Lake, so that needs could
be assessed and
recommendations could be set forth.
Documentation of the specific needs and
recommendations for Potter Lake were eventually
detailed in the Potter Lake Report (PLR) after countless
hours of research; and the report is made available at the
University of Kansas website for anyone to view.
The mission statement of TPLP is to provide green space on
campus that is beautiful and functional, to enrich the
complex Potter Lake ecosystem, and to improve its
water quality (The Potter Lake Project, 2008). Within the
Potter Lake Report (PLR) the
expansive mission statement is divided into three subcategories: 1.) hospitality and
aesthetics, 2.) ecosystem and nature, 3.) water quality.
End of Semester Goals:
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Overview of Long Term Goals – framework for more students to continue projects
Potential proposal written for Louisiana Native Plant Society scholarship – ($500 , due
July 31st ) .
This can be used to fund one of the preliminary steps (like a biological survey or native
plant seeds) of a larger goal
Plant varieties
Nurseries: Coyote Creek St. Francisville
Landscape contractor – certified NWF yards