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Environmental Quality and Land Use
IU Bloomington operations, including built infrastructure, transportation, energy, central heating, and landscaping, have a direct impact on our natural environment. Local air quality, water quality and ecosystems are altered by these operations. The Environmental Quality and Land Use Working Group is committed to advancing the IUB campus toward the implementation of more sustainable land use practices to mitigate these negative effects.
Strategic Plan and the Working Group | Back to Top
The IU Task Force on Sustainability (IUSTF) created the Environmental Quality and Land Use Working Group in 2007 to address issues of land management and environmental quality on the IUB campus and in the surrounding community. With the establishment of the IU Office of Sustainability in 2009, the IUSTF transitioned into the Campus Sustainability Advisory Board (CSAB). The Environmental Quality and Land Use Working Group continues its research and programming as one of seven CSAB working groups. This section addresses the mission, strategic plan and membership of this group.
Through research, self-reporting, and adoption of environmentally sensitive land-use practice we seek to help IUB use resources sustainably and improve environmental quality and to protect the health of citizens on campus, in Bloomington, and beyond.
Strategic Plan
The Environmental Quality and Land Use Working Group has identified five categories of focus: (1) the integration of environmentally-friendly design into Campus Master Planning, including “smart growth” and “new urbanist” approaches,(2) the implementation of non-toxic Integrated Pest Management strategies, (3) overall campus ecological health, (4) the development of green chemistry management within academic laboratory chemical use, as well as within non-academic functions such as custodial work and (5) the expansion of watershed protection projects, especially around the Jordan River, the predominant stream that runs through the IUB campus.
| Keith Clay* | Co-Chair, Faculty (Biology) | clay |
| Mike Jenson | Co-Chair, Director (EHS) | mjenson |
| Gil Agarwal | Senior Mechanical Engineer (UAO) | gagarwal |
| Chris Craft | Faculty (SPEA) | ccraft |
| Michael Dorsett | Environmental Health and Safety Specialist (EHS) | mjdorset |
| Brent Emerick | Golf Course Superintendent (Athletics) | bemerick |
| Burnell Fischer | Faulty and Director of Undergraduate Programs (SPEA) | bufische |
| Diane Henshel | Faculty (SPEA) | dhenshel |
| Rex Howard | Environmental Health and Safety Specialist (EHS) | rehoward |
| Bill Jones | Faculty (SPEA) | joneswi |
| Chris Kohler | Laboratory Safety Manager (EHS) | cekohler |
| Jim Koryta | Senior Mechanical Engineer (UAO) | koryta |
| Mark Lame | Faculty (SPEA) | mlame |
| Heather Reynolds | Faculty (Biology) | hlreynol |
| Mike Schrader | Staff (Physical Plant) | mschrade |
| Mia Williams | Director of Landscape Architecture (UAO) | miawilli |
* Stepping down in fall of 2011.
IUB has made significant progress in the enhancement of campus environmental sustainability through improving land quality and land use practices. IUB has successfully completed (or is in the process of completing) the following projects:
- The remediation of two hazardous waste sites: the Range Road Coal Ash Pile and the Range Road Shooting Ranges, where contaminated hazardous waste, soil, and ash was capped on-site to eliminate leaching of rainwater
- IU Research and Teaching Preserve: the designation of over 1000 acres of university land as preserved areas; the land serves as outdoor laboratories for academic research and classroom initiatives that are also accessible to the public
- The significant reduction of pesticide use in campus grounds-keeping and landscaping efforts
- To improve the local water quality of the Jordan River, IUB has re-routed sanitary sewers and locked down manhole covers
- GIS Tree Canopy Study, Summer 2007: Brandon Schmitt identified what kinds of data were currently available in IU’s GIS data systems and what types of questions the data answered regarding tree canopy cover, stormwater systems, proximity of potential building sites to utilities and other infrastructure, and other planning and environmental functions. He also collected new data and performed an analysis of peer progress to determine the usability of their data for making planning decisions at IUB that are environmentally sustainable.
- Jordan River Study, Summer 2007: Nancy Arazan explored prospects for improving protection of the ecosystem, including possibly, erosion control measures, cultivation of native plants on river banks, wetlands, and reconfiguring built-up and landscaped areas adjacent to the river. Her final product included a draft pre-feasibility study for improving protection of the river ecosystem.
- Griffy Lake Watershed, Summer 2008: Neil Sahu identified some of the major issues within the IU Griffy Lake Watershed (IUGLW) related to sustainability. Special attention was given to documenting the current state of the watershed, examining existing management practices, and identifying management priorities within the IUGLW.
- Campus Tree Inventory/Geographic Information System (GIS), Summer 2008: Rich Thurau continued work on the campus tree inventory. He made significant progress inventorying and performing analysis, reaching the 4,000 tree mark on the IUB Campus.
- Campus Tree Inventory, Academic Year 2008-2009:Scott Byrne continued inventorying the 10,000+ trees contained in the University Architect’s database. Continuation of this project was vital to assessing the health and benefits provided by this important asset to the Bloomington Campus.
- Campus Tree inventory, Summer 2009: Trevor Hagedorn continued the work of three previous interns inventorying trees on the IUB campus.
- Prairie Restoration and Labyrinth Development, Summer 2009: Zach Brown and Marie Buckingham focused primarily on the research and development of a methodological restoration plan. Based on this research and further assessments, the plan they created was specialized to the specific characteristics of the given site.
- Native Landscaping, Summer 2009: Wes Kocher focused on enhancing the use of native and locally adapted landscaping to decrease costs and reduce the need for fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation. Specifically, he developed an implementation plan to restore, protect, and scientifically monitor the Dunn Woods, an at-risk area of campus threatened by euonymus.
- Campus Wetlands Inventory, Summer 2009: Anya Hopple conducted an inventory of wetlands located on the IUB campus. She classified the wetlands based on their ecological health and integrity and provided recommendations for potential future uses.
- Wetland & Stream Inventory of IUB and the Five Regional Campuses, Academic Year 2009-2010: Kari Metcalf is working with the Department of Environmental Health and Safety to complete the campus wetland inventory started last summer by an IUOS intern. Her project includes the addition of campus stream inventories. The indentified wetland areas will provide IU with complete knowledge of its water resources for future planning, construction, and mitigation activities.
The following websites provide background on land use and environmental quality issues:
- EPA resources on wetlands
- EPA site on green landscaping and native planting
- National Invasive Species Information Center resources for Indiana
- Southern Indiana Cooperative Weed Management Area
- EPA resources on ground water and drinking water
IUB and the IU Office of Sustainability are working to take immediate steps toward long-term improvements in environmental quality and land use. Recommendations and future initiatives require the support of Indiana University and its constituents. Proposed recommendations include:
- Planting native plants in riparian zones and throughout the campus landscape (raingardens and other bioretention strategies), creating no-mow zones in riparian buffers, developing wetlands, and installing porous (pervious) pavement to mitigate stormwater runoff effects
- Reduction in the use of toxic chemicals in non-research areas (custodial work)
- Creating incentives for professors in research labs to reduce or find alternatives to toxic chemical use
- Increase in use of recycled and reused materials in building projects (to help earn potential LEED points)
- IUOS Environmental Quality and Land Use Working Group to become directly involved in master planning to advocate sustainable future planning for IUB campus
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