Sustainable Grounds Development
Framingham State University Closing the Loop Image Credit: 2012 Microsoft Corporation Imagery
Kate Cholakis & Laura Rissolo May 2012
What are the implications of maintaining a high-input landscape?
Ecological Functioning
Highly Manipulated Environment
How do we bring ecology into a highly-manipulated landscape?
How can we guide change? Regeneration
Change is already happening on campus‌
Sustainable Grounds Development
Framingham State University
Closing the Loop Image Credit: 2012 Microsoft Corporation Imagery
Kate Cholakis & Laura Rissolo May 2012
Project Structure Preliminary Design Phase • Researching context • Identifying sites for potential projects • Analyzing existing conditions • Generating planting schemes and maintenance strategies Presentation Goals • Introduce sustainable landscaping • Create a dialogue Next Steps • Site-specific Planting and Maintenance Plans
Project Goals How to introduce ecological function to a highly manipulated landscape‌
LAND
Define Landscape Experience Improve Sustainability
FSU COMMUNITY
Improve Grounds Maintenance Efficiency
Integrate Ecological Function Reinforce Regional Identity Landscape Stewardship Undertake Pilot Projects
All goals are tethered to people and to the land.
What is Sustainable Landscaping? Aligning land use practices to support the continual change and rhythm of natural systems. How do we do this? •
•
•
•
Recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental and social systems, and making imaginative and responsible decisions. Striving toward self-sustaining landscapes that require minimal resource inputs (fertilizer, pesticides, water, labor) Managing for biodiversity to promote resilient landscapes that can recover quickly from disturbance. Fostering a culture of landscape appreciation, informed by knowledge about the true cost of our choices.
Context
Context What is Context? • The study of patterns of change in the landscape and in the needs and desires of the community • The study of this change across scales and over time Types of context relevant to FSU • GEOLOGICAL (connections to soils, vegetation, human land use) • ECOLOGICAL (corridors: greenways, water systems) • SOCIAL (campus history, changes in community interests)
Eventual Site of FSU 1894
Why Context? Understanding environmental conditions as well as human use patterns and aesthetic expectations helps create meaningful places of lasting stewardship. Studying context will guide change at FSU.
Image Credit: USGS
Geological Context The FSU campus is located on a glacial drumlin. Drumlin: an elongated hill resulting from melting, receding glacial ice. Drumlins run parallel to the direction of ice flow.
Image Credit: www.geography-site.co.uk
There are a number of drumlins in Framingham.
FSU GLACIAL DRUMLINS OF FRAMINGHAM
Image Credit: www.natureofframingham.blogspot.com
Image Credit: www.bostongeology.com
Geological Context
FRAMINGHAM SURFACE GEOLOGY
Geologic history influenced the distribution of soil throughout the landscape. Drumlin soil typically has thin topsoil (A Horizon) atop glacial till •
Glacial till consists of unsorted material deposited by the glacier
•
Variable particle sizes - sand, silt, clay, boulder are mixed
FSU
Coarse deposits including gravel Fine Deposits including very fine sand, silt, and clay www.natureofframingham.blogspot.com Thin till – thin layer of sand, silt, and a little clay
Thick till – thin layer of sand, silt, and a little clay Image Credit: www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/iceages.html
Areas of abundant outcrop or shallow bedrock
What are the implications of the college occupying such a unique site?
E N W
S
Geological Context: Soils Deep top soil creates ideal growing conditions for many plants… However, dense glacial till and a silt-clay layer contribute to poor drainage, possibly resulting in excess runoff.
8”- 6’ TOP SOIL
Boulder
GLACIAL TILL – DENSE SAND AND LOAM, 20% GRAVEL
8”- 25’
GLACIAL TILL – SILT AND CLAY
> 25’
BEDROCK
> 25’, < 50’ below surface
Image Credit: GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING REPORT, March 2011
Geological Context: Soils To better understand soil properties at FSU, the team performed Soil Samples. • •
Sampled three representative plots Submitted to UMASS Agricultural Extension WOODLANDS
Baseline - assumed to be one the least chemically manipulated areas on campus • Soil pH 5.1
TURF AREAS
Seasonally fertilized and limed to raise pH to maintain high quality turf • Soil pH 6.7
GARDEN BEDS
Receive inadvertent fertilization/lime • Soil pH 6.7
How does this continual manipulation of soils relate to patterns in vegetation?
Ecological Context: Vegetation Researching the landscape’s history revealed: •
The site was originally cleared of all vegetation for agriculture.
•
Land use to serve the needs of an educational institution has altered the site vegetation and ecology.
Design Challenge: The soils and vegetation of the landscape have been highly altered. This requires adopting a different method than restoring a plant community that once existed.
Image Credit: UNH Dimond Library_unh.edu
Ecological Context: Vegetation The Society of American Foresters (SAF) has generated Forest Vegetation Zones that suggest the types of forests: • Present prior to European settlement • Likely to develop in this area in absence of disturbance FSU is located between two zones, the
Transition and Central Hardwoods. •
Image Credit: wataugawoodproducts.com
These zones consist largely of different types of oak trees, pines, and hickories.
Image Credit:SAF
Ecological Context: Vegetation Some of these species are present on the FSU campus in the form of : â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘
Canopy trees under-planted with lawn. Low-grade woodlands towards the periphery of campus are unmanaged, fragmented, and show signs of stress.
Canopy tree types provide insight into the potential species for the understory layers on the FSU campus.
Ecological Context: Vegetation In addition, invasive species further manipulate the ecological characteristics of the landscape. Invasive species are non-native plants that have spread into native, disturbed, or minimally managed plant systems (plant biology, lack of natural predators). Invasive plants displace and reduce the diversity in native plant populations worldwide.
Invasive species are present in both unmanaged and landscaped areas at FSU, compromising the health and visual appearance of the landscape.
Image Credit: 4-control.com
Ecological Context: Corridors What larger-scale factors influence the ecology of the site? Image Credit: 2012 Microsoft Corporation Imagery
Zooming out helps us identify corridors of movement, suggesting how people, resources, plants, and animals move across the landscape. • • •
Major vehicular corridors and commercial sprawl Hydrology (water corridors) Potential wildlife corridors
Ecological Context: Corridors Vehicular Corridors • • • •
FSU is adjacent to I-90 and Route 9 Roadways provide transportation of FSU community Campus parking lots are an important amenity Local retail centers provide access to goods and services
Image Credit: 2012 Microsoft Corporation Imagery
A high percentage of impermeable surfaces: • Affects water quality • Fragments habitat Impervious roads, paths, parking lots, and even turf grass can contribute to non-point-source runoff. Image credit www.framinghamma.gov
Ecological Context: Corridors Nonpoint Source Runoff and Water Quality •
Nonpoint source pollution comes from multiple sources (as opposed to a single outfall pipe connected to an industrial plant).
•
Impermeable surfaces accelerate the movement of these pollutants.
•
Runoff can carry contaminants into nearby surface waters and/or washes them into aquifers
•
What are the impacts of this pollution?
Residential runof •Oil & Gas •Antifreeze •Fertilizer •Pesticides
Image credit: millcreekwaterdshed.org
Image Credits: millcreekwaterdshed.org cfpub.epa.gov
Urban runof •Oil & Gas •Industrial waste •Cleaning products •Paint & Solvents
Ecological Context: Corridors Impact on Hydrological Corridors •
The Sudbury River, at the base of the Framingham drumlin, is part of the larger Sudbury-Assabet-Concord watershed.
•
Many stretches of the watershed routinely fail their water quality standards and experience extremes of water flow.
•
Urban runoff from impervious surfaces contribute to water quality problems in Massachusetts waterbodies (SuAsCo Watershed Assessment Report)
Framingham
All towns (including Framingham!) within the watershed contribute to the health or degradation of the river. Image credit: www.suasco.org
Ecological Context: Corridors FSU Campus Existing Conditions
Ecological Context: Corridors Storm Drains
Ecological Context: Corridors Storm Drains and Water Movement
Ecological Context: Corridors How can FSU contribute positively to water quality? • •
FSU is uphill from reservoirs, aquifers, and wetlands (approx. 400’) Stormwater runoff from the site drains into Sudbury River & Baiting Brook
Baiting Brook Sudbury River
Mitigating runoff from the site could decrease flooding pressures downstream and help protect water resources
Right: Natural Resources Map with a 500’ radius
Image Credit: GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING REPORT, March 2011
Ecological Context: Corridors Wildlife Corridors FSU also has the opportunity to contribute to efforts to improve biodiversity within the watershed. SuAsCo Watershed Community Council Greenway Plan â&#x20AC;˘ The greenway links sites (patches) that are important areas for habitat â&#x20AC;˘ FSU is just beyond the proposed Greenway (greenway is in orange)
FSU
How does mitigating runoff and supporting biodiversity in the region translate to an improved campus identity?
Image Credit: www.suasco.org
Social Context: FSU History Building upon the social context towards an evolving landscape identity. •
•
May Hall 1904 – The Normal School
1800s - The land atop the FSU drumlin was maintained for agriculture (stone wall Maynard Rd.) 1839 - The college was founded as the Nation's first public university for the education of teachers.
Today, despite the campus’s proximity to busy roads, people comment on the college’s feeling of quiet New England.
Image Credit: UNH Dimond Library_unh.edu Image Credit: cardcow.com
There are two traditions (public education, pastoral sense of place) that contribute to the social context and character of today’s campus landscape.
Social Context: FSU History FSU also has expanded upon these traditions by embracing sustainability. • Climate Action Plans & signing Gov. Patrick’s proposal for state schools to decrease their energy footprint • Dedication of University President Timothy Flanagan and the student Green Team
Image Credit: 2010 Gateway and Threshold Report, Richard Burck Associates
Accomplishments: • New Gateway, North Hall (LEED Certified, rainwater collection, native plants, geothermal) • 50 year-old power plant will be converted from oil to natural gas (3rd state facility to do so) • FSU is 1 of 22 colleges in Massachusetts added to Princeton Review’s list of 311 green colleges in the U.S. Leading to…the present interest in sustainable landscaping.
Image Credit: FSU
How can the landscape and university co-evolve to meet sustainabilitydriven goals?
Rethinking Practices
Shifting Current FSU Practices Existing Practices The landscape is meticulously cared for. This attention to detail has preserved moments of true beauty within the campus. The campus is maintained with conventional landscape maintenance practices. • Turf grass and ornamental plant beds require frequent inputs and labor. • These planted areas do not function ecologically and do not connect people with native plants evocative of this region. The community has become disconnected from the rich ecological context and regional identity…
Current FSU Landscape
ogspot.com
HIGH MAINTENANC E
LOW MAINTENANC E Maintenance
Ecological Integrity LIMITED ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY Landscapes that are labor and input intensive tend to be low in ecological integrity due to the presence of monoculture lawn grasses and ornamental plants.
MAXIMIZED ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY Landscapes that are minimally manipulated by people tend to have greater ecological integrity, due to the increased diversity and layering of plant species. These plants are part of a self-regulating and maintaining system, where nutrients are recycled into the soil.
Current FSU Landscape HIGH MAINTENANCE
LOW MAINTENAN CE
Maintenance
Ecological Integrity MAXIMIZED ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
LIMITED ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
Majority of the campus: • Low plant diversity • Limited native species
Disturbed woodland on slopes surrounding the campus
Current FSU Landscape HIGH MAINTENANCE
•
•
The highly-maintained campus contrasts with the disturbed woodlands – these zones lack transitions. Much of the campus receives an equal amount of maintenance. Less visible areas with difficult access are frequently mowed.
Key Neighboring Developed Land Unmaintained “Wild” Woodland Frequently Maintained Land Highly Maintained
LOW MAINTENANCE
Maintenance
Majority of the Campus
Ecological Integrity LIMITED ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
Disturbed Woodland on Slopes Surrounding the Campus MAXIMIZED ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
Land Use and Maintenance Intensity Surrounding FSU
How can we shift the view of landscape elements from that of decorative around buildings to that of functional in regards to architecture, regional ecology, and university programming? How can that shift translate into less maintenance?
Design Strategy
Degree of intervention for installation
Applying an Ecological Gradient to the FSU Landscape
Scheme 1: Adaptation (invasive plant removal and replacement)
HIGH MAINTENANCE
LIMITED ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Scheme 3: (woodland Ecological gardens, rain Edge gardens, miniature (Transition meadow) Zone)
Maintenance
Ecological Integrity
Least
LOW MAINTENANCE
MAXIMIZED ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
Most
Applied Schemes
Scheme 1: Adaptation
Maintenance
Ecological Integrity
Adaptation requires the least amount of intervention with the existing landscape while still supporting ecological functioning.
Three Methods for Adaptation
Image Credit: Michael Van Valkenburgh
Invasive/High-Maintenance Plants
Canopy Trees
Underplantings for Canopy Trees
Scheme 1: Adaptation High-maintenance/Invasive plants: High-maintenance plants: • Do not display vigor in the landscape • Require additional inputs, not suited to site conditions • Require frequent pruning to maintain form Invasive Plants: • Planted before considered invasive • Compromising the ecological integrity of lesser maintained areas For this intervention, invasive and highmaintenance plants will be matched with appropriate alternatives.
Scheme 1: Adaptation Underplantings for Canopy Trees Current conditions: • Weed suppression is currently achieved through the use of bark mulch and manual weeding (labor and cost intensive) Proposed conditions: • In natural systems weed suppression is achieved through plant competition. Benefits: • Reduce maintenance, manual weeding, irrigation • Reduce long-term mulching expenses and labor in the spring (upfront cost of plants/installation) • Improve aesthetics • Increases the infiltration of rainwater, maximizes recharge and reduces run-off that results in erosion and flooding • Provide cover for wildlife
Scheme 1: Adaptation Adaptation: Mulch The case for non-natives • Long history of cultivation has proved the species to be innocuous: it does not spread beyond the garden to pose any threat to regional ecosystems • Suited to the site conditions - fills a niche that has no available native substitute, salt tolerance, tolerance to pollution • Plants are in sync with the textures, colors and sequences common to the local indigenous flora
Eragrostis spectabilis, Purple love grass
.
Viola sororia, Common blue violet Geranium macrorrhizum, Big root geranium
Scheme 1: Adaptation McCarthy Center Hillside Existing Conditions • Multiple, isolated shrubs require frequent hedging •
Large quantities of mulch required
•
Number of shrubs and steep slope make maintenance difficult
•
Barberry - a Massachusetts listed invasive plant
•
Surrounded by high-input turf grass
Scheme 1: Adaptation McCarthy Center Hillside
Quad
Site Opportunities •
Reinforce campus identity with a pronounced entry to the campus
•
Relate the space to the campus quad and spine
•
Build upon landscape history by integrating/repairing the existing stone wall
Campus Spine
Campus Gateway
g Lot n i k r a P r Visito
Existing stone wall
Scheme 1: Adaptation McCarthy Center Hillside Design Components •
Increase diversity through the addition of native plants
•
Re-use of existing plant material when appropriate
•
Replace invasive barberry with native shrubs
Visitor Parking
Dining Hall
Image Credits: Weston Nurseries, acornfarms.com
Scheme 1: Adaptation McCarthy Center Hillside Design Components â&#x20AC;˘
Replace mulch with groundcover plants
â&#x20AC;˘
Replace lawn with low-mow fine fescue, mown 2-3/per year
pleasantrunnursery.com
Image Credits clockwise from upper left: Weston Nurseries, North Creek Nurseries, Weston Nurseries, kallima.sk, North Creek Nurseries, North Creek
Scheme 1: Adaptation McCarthy Center Hillside Design Components •
Reduction of maintenance – hedging, mulching, mowing
•
Plants selected to minimize fall/spring clean-up
Image Credits from left: L. Rissolo, North Creek Nurseries, North Creek Nurseries, nativeplant.com North Creek Nurseries
Scheme 1: Adaptation Image Credit: Digging Dog Nursery
McCarthy Center Hillside Design Components •
Creation of an attractive gateway adjacent to the frequently visited campus center and proximal to major commuter and visitor parking • Stone wall at base of hill announces arrival • Walk through the garden space creates more enriching experience • Flowering trees create rhythm • Seasonal interest relates to FSU calendar • Early spring • Spring/Early Summer • Fall Stone wall • Winter gateway
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Nature-Inspired Associations Gardens based on aesthetic/biological patterns found in nature •
•
•
Plant selection: guided by existing conditions and groups of plants that naturally grow together (associations/polycultures) Plant arrangement: guided by natural distribution patterns – Dense groups of one species – Interwoven drifts of species – Uniform sprinkling of many species
Gardens as Nature-Inspired Associations
Image Credit: desingnewjersey.com
Distribution patterns
Image Credit: MontclaireWildlife.com
Image Credit: Cotonmanor.co.uk
Landscape layering
Plant Structure: guided by layers that characterize ecosystems (tundra, woodland, pine barren)
Image Credit: Ben Kimball
Maintenance
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations
Ecological Integrity
EPA
Hortla.wsu.edu
Three Types of Nature-Inspired Associations
Meadow
Rain Garden
Woodland Garden
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘
Mimics the layers and structure of the deciduous woodland Relies on natural cycles of decomposition
Plants for Deciduous Woodland Understory
Nature-Inspired Association: Woodland Garden:
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Layers and Structure of Deciduous Woodland
Hort.uconn.edu
CANOPY TREES • Existing mature trees on campus • Understory plants can support the health of trees and create pockets for new tree seedlings
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Layers and Structure of Deciduous Woodland
Flickr
Flickr
Rick Darke
SMALL TREES • Small, more shade-tolerant understory trees • Lower the scale of the forest to the human level • Finer detail than canopy trees (bark, blooms, branching)
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Layers and Structure of Deciduous Woodland
Smith
Wildfower.org
LARGE SHRUBS • Shade-tolerant understory shrubs, 3-12’ • Higher species diversity underneath smaller understory trees • Multi-stemmed, add horizontal dimension • Evergreen shrubs add structure throughout the winter, escape cover for birds
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Layers and Structure of Deciduous Woodland HERBACEOUS • Provides living mulch • Stabilizes soils • Retains moisture in the soil • Stabilizes temperature extremes
Image Credits clockwise from top: pbase.com, missouriplants.com, North Creek Nurseries, North Creek Nurseries, North Creek Nurseries, North Creek Nurseries
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Layers and Structure of Deciduous Woodland GROUND LAYER • Leaf litter and plant debris does not need to be picked up • Decaying material is recycled into the soil
Image Credit: Bioweb.uwlax.edu
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Peirce Hall/Athletic Center Pathway
Site Challenges •
Juniper bed requires too much maintenance and has been infiltrated by undesirable plants
•
Limited diversity (cherry trees, juniper, and turf grass)
•
Steep slope results in drainage concerns (erosion damage) towards the base of the slope
•
High-maintenance (hand weeding and mowing)
Juniper bed
Eroding Slope
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Peirce Hall/Athletic Center Pathway Site Opportunities â&#x20AC;˘
Transforming an alley that connects the Campus Quad with an administrative/faculty parking lot into a lush woodland garden
â&#x20AC;˘
Creating an inviting gateway and transition into the campus.
Campus Quad
Woodland Garden Gateway Faculty/ rative Administ ot Parking L
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Peirce Hall/Athletic Center Pathway Design Components The ground layer of the site is replaced with: •
Low-maintenance fine fescue lawn Diverse, textured Species prefer poor soils, and are droughttolerant Fine fescues need less mowing A perennial is added to the grass mix for visual interest
Image Credit: NPIN
Image Credit: Stockseed.com
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Peirce Hall/Athletic Center Pathway Design Components The ground layer of the site is replaced with: •
Leaf mulch in plant beds Mimics natural mulch of woodlands Leaves are collected, shredded, and added directly to beds Uses existing resources (leaves) Saves money spent on mulch
Image Credit: Cladrastis.blogspot
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Peirce Hall/Athletic Center Pathway
Image Credit: Van Bloem
Design Components The herbaceous layer consists of: •
Image Credit: NZ Plant Pics
Erosion Control “Rain Garden” Deeply rooting grasses and perennials tolerant of differing moisture levels Plants chosen for erosion control to stabilize slope Requires only yearly pruning, leaf mulching, and occasional removal of sediment Dead stems can be left for the winter for visual effect and wildlife value
Image Credit: Gardner’s Eden
Image Credit: Zotolli (Wordpress)
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Peirce Hall/Athletic Center Pathway
Image Credit: Plant Places.com Image Credit: PNW Flowers
Design Components The herbaceous layer consists of: •
Woodland Understory Semi-aggressive perennials are interplanted with juniper to replace weeds Juniper moves into an herbaceous layer of low-growing perennials and ferns that form a “living mulch” (weed barrier) Requires yearly pruning and leaf mulching; occasional weeding
Image Credit: Wikimedia
Image Credit: White Flower Farm
Image Credit: Missouri Plants
Scheme 2: Nature-Inspired Associations Peirce Hall/Athletic Center Pathway Design Components The shrub and small tree layer consists of: •
•
Versatile shrubs - Aronia spp. (chokeberries) Berries and foliage are visually stimulating during all seasons, serve as food source for birds Bloom in spring, complement cherries Fall foliage complements witchhazel Small understory specimen tree Unique branching serves as focal point against brick wall backdrop Complex flowers add detail and texture to the space Small stature (15’) lowers scale of the space, creating a pedestrian-friendly gateway Witchhazel flowers in November, when few other plants are in bloom
Image Credit: UCONN
Image Credit: UCONN
Image Credit: Rick Darke
Image Credit: Meridian Schools
Scheme 3: Ecological Edge Ecological Edge Semi-wild, lightly managed plant communities form a visual and ecological transition between lawn/open space and woodland • Merge the more tended landscape with the less tended landscape • Link ecosystems • Improve diversity Maintenance is reduced within this edge, because the edge occupies less active parts of the campus • Maintenance involves invasive plant monitoring and occasional cutting
Maintenance
Ecological Integrity
Scheme 3: Ecological Edge Two Types of Ecological Edges
Image Credit: Harold Ross Art (Wordpress)
Woodland Edge
Image Credit: TTOR
Pasture Grass Meadow
Scheme 3: Ecological Edge Ecological Edge Pasture Grass Meadow • Zones located within less active areas of campus, towards the perimeter Benefits: • Higher root/shoot ratio to reduce erosion and manage stormwater on slopes • Reduce maintenance Cultural acceptance: • Accented by wildflowers to enhance experience • Maintaining height appropriate for cultural acceptance
Scheme 3: Ecological Edge Athletic Center Hillside
Site Challenges • Lawn grass on steep slopes demands frequent and strenuous maintenance •
Limited diversity: the site consists only of lawn grass.
•
Site along service road – area low visibility, viewed by people in vehicles
•
Erosion results from drainage outflow from the administrative parking lot.
•
Japanese knotweed stand across the road
Quad
Admin. Parking Lot
Turf Servic e
Road
Steep Slopes Viewed by people in vehicles
Scheme 3: Ecological Edge Athletic Center Hillside Design Components: • Lawn-to-meadow conversion project reduces maintenance and erosion. •
Micro-grading creates swales and berms to slow water that also double as maintenance terraces. (next slide)
•
Flowering perennials are planted along swales; species are chosen to enhance aesthetics and increase diversity.
Maintenance: • Monitor and control tactics for knotweed across the street. •
Mowing/weed trimming 1-3 times per season.
Scheme 3: Ecological Edge INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE STRATEGIES Swales and berms slow water and double as maintenance terraces.
Flowering perennials are plugged in areas disturbed during grading; species to enhance aesthetics
Cut turned over Stabilized with Cut for landscape pin swale and planting
Undisturbed turf
Scheme 4: Wildlands Woodland Stewardship FSU’s location in an urban environment and this landscape’s history of land use have resulted in habitat degradation. • Low quality woodlands • Invasive species colonization Conservation Making small interventions to support health and vigor in this environment: • Reduce the spread of invasive plants by controlling them in the periphery • Manage stormwater, decrease erosion • Contribute to larger ecological corridors
Maintenance
Ecological Integrity
Key Neighboring Developed Land Unmaintained “Wild” Woodland Frequently Maintained Land Highly Maintained
Land Use and Maintenance Intensity Surrounding FSU
Degree of intervention for installation
Incorporating schemes that fall along various locations of the gradient serves to… • Balance ecosystem needs with concerns for aesthetics and maintenance • Integrate ecological function within a formal landscape • Increase diversity, achieving the goal of a sustainable, resilient landscape with a unique sense of place.
SCHEME 4
LOW MAINTENANCE
SCHEME 3
LIMITED ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
SCHEME 2
HIGH MAINTENANCE
SCHEME 1
Design Strategy
MAXIMIZED ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
Least
Most
Different schemes require differing levels of intervention with the landscape. This process will require continued observation and adaptation of the strategy. Rethinking landscape management and guiding change at FSU is a community effort and a community opportunity.
Questions for Discussion • How can student groups/academic departments be involved in the implementation and maintenance process? • Tracking progress • Monitoring for invasive species • What are strategies for informing the community of the transition taking place in landscape maintenance? • Educational signs • Artwork Image Credit: National Wildlife Federation
Image Credit: Onondaga Community College
Image Credit: Stacey Levy