Attached is a recommendation submitted by the EGEN SWATeam for consideration. We believe this recommendation will advance sustainability goals set forth by the 2015 iCAP.
The EGEN SWATeam appreciates any feedback resulting from consideration of this recommendation.
The eGen SWATeam submitted a recommendation to the iWG stating, "Start a project to expand the existing Solar farm, or install a new large scale solar installation in a new location."
See attached the SWATeam recommendation EGen007 Solar Farm 2.0 complete with comments from all the eGen SWATeam members.
John Marlin provided the following update: Attached are shots of woodland wildflowers beginning to emerge. The photos are at the Chi Omega planting between the English Building and Lincoln Hall. There are others that are not up yet. Other woodland plantings are in front of the Natural resources building, Burrill Hall and the north Side Lincoln Ave residence Hall.
The Chi Omega planting looks good at this point , especially the big areas on the east and west sides. There is good diversity of species, but some could be moved around to mix them in more with the geranium dominated areas. The east sides will have issues with the cone flowers that were not part of the original plan and that Red Bison helped thin last fall. We will see how the violets come up.
Those of you interested in how location impacts blooming time will want to see the timing of blooming etc at the various sites as they have different light conditions.
F&S Director of Sustainability, Morgan Johnston, asked the ALUFS SWATeam for their input regarding the forthcoming "Low Mow Zone" sign updates. She said, "I would like to talk with you about the “No Mow Zones” on campus and our efforts to better name them as “Low Mow Zones.” Brent and Ryan Welch are working on updating the locations in a map form and our F&S communicators (primarily Steve Breitwieser) are developing a message about the updated words and locations.
As part of this effort, we are also going to be updating the signs, and I am hoping to get your help with taking a look at the specific sign locations (once we have the updated map). We need a volunteer to visit each Low Mow Zone and note the
The SWATeam chair, Brent Lewis, indicated she would be included in the first spring semester meeting.
Hello,
Most of you have had some direct involvement with the LAR LLC planting that is in progress. It started last spring and now has a ~$5000 grant from the Student Sustainability Committee. The past two weeks have seen a lot of progress as plants were removed from propagation beds and transplanted to the front and N side of LAR.
Here are a few shots with some of you featured. I will make more available later to individuals.
The recent planting contains mostly woodland wildflowers that are currently dormant. the straws mark the locations so we do not plant over them during the next couple weeks. Hopefully they will survive the winter since there are other plants that go in early in the spring.
The LLC has some weeding tools and watering cans in the building that LAR students can access. We will need to water plants and do some weeding this week. If you have a break or get done before dark you might be able to do some weeding on the S side of the building. Gwenna or I may have to show you what to take out.
We are likely to have some more planting next weekend. Probably Saturday (and maybe Sunday) morning around 10. Sunday afternoon some of us will be with Red Bison at the South Arboretum Woods near the pollinatarium by Lincoln and Windsor. Any of you are welcome there.
Attached are also a couple posters showing the kinds of woodland plants that are going in.
John C. Marlin
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The files are on the main project page.
Prairie Rivers Network, the Illinois affiliate for the National Wildlife Federation, is leading an effort to support monarchs in the local region. The are also working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) on a plan for protecting monarchs in our state. IDNR is planning a statewide event in Springfield on September 9 to share the results of initial surveys.
The Champaign County Sustainability Network (CCNet) participated in the Pollinator Palooza on July 16: "Help plant milkweed at Firefighter Park, 305 S Randolph St, Champaign, Saturday July 16 from 9-12, bring gloves -- The Champaign Park District is transforming Firefighter Park (305 S Randolph) into a butterfly habitat. All City Staff are invited to help plant milkweed this Saturday from 9 am to noon. Champaign joined the Mayor's Monarch Challenge Leadership Circle to save the Monarch Butterfly. In the last 20 years, the Monarch population has declined by over 94%, shrinking from over 1 billion to just 60 million butterflies. Monarchs rely on Milkweed plants, the only plant that they can use to cocoon. The Midwest is an essential breeding ground for the annual Monarch migration from Canada to Mexico, and habitat loss has contributed to their decline."
CCNet also hosted the Pollinator Pocket Garden Tour on July 28: "Walking Tour Begins at Bresnan Center,706 Kenwood Rd, Champaign -- Moving beyond pollinator week in June and to keep the conversation ongoing, CCNET is hosting a tour with, Randy Hauser, Horticulture and Natural Areas Supervisor for the Champaign Park District to learn about "pocket gardens". This will be a great learning experience for people who love plants and want to help the pollinators and the Monarch, but only have small space for gardens."
The City of Champaign and other partners in the community such as the Champaign Park District, Prairie Rivers Network and many others have been working to preserve Monarch Butterfly habitat throughout the community. The City of Champaign joined the Mayor's Monarch Challenge Leadership Circle to save the Monarch Butterfly. In the last 20 years, the Monarch population has declined by over 94%, shrinking from over 1 billion to just 60 million butterflies. Monarchs rely on Milkweed plants, the only plant that they can use to cocoon. The Midwest is an essential breeding ground from the annual Monarch migration from Canada to Mexico, and habitat loss has contributed to their decline. The Champaign Park District hosted a number of Monarch Themed events throughout the summer focused on Monarch Butterfly education and habitat preservation.
City of Urbana staff have planted milkweed seed in landscapes at the Boneyard Creek. They have also designed a butterfly and pollinator garden to be installed south of the City Building next spring. Additionally, Mayor Prussing has signed the Wildlife Federation’s Mayors For Monarchs Pledge. In accordance with the pledge and the Mayor’s interest in supporting monarch populations, staff have assisted in the creation or enhancement of monarch and pollinator gardens with community groups at the Lierman Garden, Urbana Free Library Garden, and Downtown Garden.
Monarch butterflies migrate through the campus twice a year. Their movement is tracked online at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/monarch.html.
In 2016, the F&S Grounds crew will do only spot mowing of the designated Low Mow Zones, to control the noxious weeds and trees at the end of May or early June.
John Marlin (from Illinois Sustainable Technology Center) reported that the planting projects using SSC and ISEE grants are progressing well.
The majority of the large honeysuckle was removed from the South Arboretum Woods, mostly by the fecon machine at a cost of $20,000. Student workers (mainly NRES and ESE) are taking out the remainder with hand tools and chainsaws and finishing the resprouts and seedlings with limited applications of herbicide. The woods was actually a former research plot where many species of trees were planted in blocks very close together. A number of trees will have to be removed in order to allow for the others to grow well and to let light penetrate to the ground.
They also spent some time planting and weeding at plots at the Natural Resources Building, Burrill Hall, the Florida Orchard prairie and Lincoln Ave Residence (LAR) Hall. LAR contributed some funds toward planting.
A Boy Scout Eagle Project was conducted at the woods. They worked on three occasions removing garlic mustard and honeysuckle. The Master Naturalists have also put in quite a few hours.
Marianne Downey met with Morgan Johnston and Brent Lewis on April 20 and showed them the location recommended by David Stone for the butterfly/pollinator planting (between the Uni Gym and Hue House). Brent thought it was a good spot.
They also discussed that the Math House and the Hue House have to be demolished for the butterfly plant project at the Uni High could begin.
Marianne has asked David Stone and Japhia Ramkumar, for their advice as to the size of planting and what plants should be planted.
Uni grad and Associate Director of Facilities & Services, Morgan Johnston, and Campus Landscaping Architect, Brent Lewis, will meet the Director of Advancement at the University of Illinois Laboratory High School, Marianne Downey, at 8:30 AM on April 20, 2016, at the school’s Stoughton entrance.
Here are some useful references on Native Plants, Pollinators, and related topics.
This proposal seeks to support a prairie initiative at the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability. The institute will use its greenhouses to begin growing sustainable, native plants for use on campus. Additionally, INRS will design and plant a prairie landscape on the south side of the Natural Resource Building. This prairie will be maintained as a permanent exhibit for the public and featured during their annual open house, Naturally Illinois. A written and video instructional manual will be produced as a
learning tool as an important element of this project, which will assist the campus and others in installing and maintaining other sustainable landscaping projects. This project will thus help meet the commitments made by the campus relating to sustainable landscaping, as part of the Climate Action Plan. The Student Sustainability Committee is in favor of funding a grant in the amount of $20,000.
Sustainability committee award letter - Natural Resources Building Prairie.pdf
Sustainability committee award letter - Natural Resources Building Prairie.docx LOI - NRB Native Prairie and Woodland Pilot Garden.pdf NRB Native Prairie and Woodland Pilot Garden.pdf NRB Prairie Change In Scope.pdf Request for Revision of NRB planting project.doc Response - NRB Native Prairie and Woodland Garden.docx SSC Final Allocation Approval - Campus Tree Planting.docx SSC Final Allocation Approval - Campus Tree Planting.pdf SSC revision questions 2013 final 2 .docx Change in project scope - Natural Resources Building Prairie.docx
