2.13  Conservation Element
Data and Analysis
2005-2015 Campus Master Plan Update 

           

(a)               For each of the resources identified in (1) a) identify existing commercial, recreational, or conservation uses.

From the conservation element analysis in the Master Plan approved in January 2003 by the UCF Board of Trustees, the following sub-elements were included: Air Quality, Surface Water Quality, Underground and Aboveground Tanks, Toxic Waste and Hazardous Materials, Surface and groundwater hydrology.  Additionally, though not designated by number, a section on natural areas was included.  Little specific, new information on these sub-elements was identified.   If there has been no update, readers are referred to the Conservation Element Analysis section from the prior plan.

 

(b)              For each of the resources identified in (1) a) assess the available and practical opportunities and methods for protection or restoration of those resources on University property.

 

The UCF campus  contains an abundance of significant natural resource areas many of which are protected from future development.. Areas of interest include the Arboretum, Lakes Lee and Claire as well as, an extensive forested wetland system within the southeastern portion of the campus which ultimately outfalls into the Little Econlockhatchee River. 

This campus was designed around a cypress wetland system located at the center of the campus adjacent to the student union.  The majority of the campus development activity occurs around this cypress stand in order to protect the natural beauty of this area. 

These areas provide not only habitat to a substantial wildlife population, but also offer attractive campus assets and recreational opportunities. The preservation of both the quantity and quality of these resources is vital to the function of these resources and to ensure the continued attractiveness of the campus. 

 

The University has independently developed conservation strategies for wetlands, floodplains, mitigation sites, water quality, etc., as the need has arisen over the last twenty years.  As a consequence, there are over 320 acres  of natural uplands and wetland habitats preserved in perpetual conservation easements to the St. Johns River Water Management District. There are over 200 additional acres of natural areas on campus that have  verbal commitments for long-term preservation, such as the arboretum and smaller isolated wetland areas. In addition, the campus contains an an extensive network of stormwater ponds.  These areas, in combination with the large area occupied by wetlands that are, for the most part, undevelopable, constitute a large percentage of the land occupied by the UCF campus.

 

The University should, as a priority, develop a long-term strategy for the conservation and management of these lands.  Objectives for this conservation plan should include:

 

  1. Conservation of biodiversity within the myriad of upland and wetland communities on-site,

  2. Measures to ensure the ability to manage (preferably including fire) these lands,

  3. Ways to capitalize on the research and educational opportunities afforded by these lands,

  4. Decisions on how protection will be guaranteed,

  5. Ways to capitalize on the recreational community and aesthetic benefits of conservation lands and,

  6. Measures to ensure the conservation of a viable, interconnected network of natural lands in perpetuity.

 

To initiate this plan, the University should proceed with the following steps:

 

  1. Develop a detailed map of existing conservation lands that depicts natural communities of uplands and wetlands as well as stormwater ponds and lakes,

  2. Determine what level of protection for their lands is currently in place, i.e., owned by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), conservation easements in place, verbal commitments for UCF administration, jurisdictional wetlands, etc.,

  3. Identify those lands necessary for active use by the arboretum, for stormwater storage, etc.

  4. Map the extent of habitat occupied by, and suitable for, protected species

  5. Define the area within the 100-year floodplain that is occupied by native communities,

  6. Map the regional linkages of natural communities off of the UCF campus,

  7. Assign a leader to develop the conservation strategy through analysis and consensus among interested parties,

  8. Organize a committee that includes representatives from UCF administration, UCF ecologists, environmental interest groups, arboretum personnel, recreation specialists, planners, and others as appropriate to outline issues and prepare maps of the overall conservation strategy, and

  9. Prepare a management plan for the overall proposed conservation plan.

 

(c)        For each of the resources identified in (1) a) identify known sources and rates of discharge or generation of pollution.

 

Updates to the following resources outlined in (1) a) 1-7 with regard to sources and rates of discharge or generation of pollution do not appear to be applicable in the context of this update.  No data appear to have been collected with regard to the above-mentioned resources since the previous Data Analysis updated in 1995. 

 

1.            Air Quality (Received from UCF Professor, Dr. David Cooper)

 

At this time, there is no available quantitative monitoring data with regard to ambient outdoor air quality on the UCF campus.  Ozone alerts for the Central Florida area have been issued by the State Health Department on an occasional basis since the summer of 1998.  The University is a small player in terms of overall contribution to smog in our region.  However, the institution will assist the Health Department and other agencies whenever possible to address this region-wide issue.

 

The University has a minimal number of industrial air pollution sources.  The UCF campus decommissioned its main boiler at the Utility Plant in approximately 1990, although the stack remains.  Likewise, the only incinerator on campus (for animal incineration at the Biological Sciences Building) was decommissioned and removed at approximately the same time.  The UCF campus now has no incinerators larger than small laboratory-scale units, and has small boilers at only a few buildings (individually):  Polk Hall, Student Resource Center kitchen, Biological Sciences and Chemistry.   There are also emergency generators at certain individual buildings (see attached generator list).  These generators are all either diesel (UCF standard) or natural gas.   The UCF Utility (HVAC) plant and Satellite Utility Plant both contain chillers that use various refrigerants.  Some of the older units still use CFC/ HCFC’s , while the newer ones use new generation refrigerants.  The University has not had any reported releases of CFC/HCFC refrigerants and uses certified workers whenever refrigerant recharging/ recycling operations are to be performed.

 

2.         Surface Water Quality

 

Although formal water quality monitoring is not required by a specific regulatory agency, Dr. John Osborne, UCF limnologist, has initiated the informal compilation of data by students on Lake Claire.  Data collected over a 12-month period beginning in January of 1999 were provided for our review.  However, no formal sampling methodology or quality assurance plan detailing analytical procedures were provided to facilitate interpretation.

 

While adequate nitrogen and phosphorous data were not available, existing data (i.e., dissolved oxygen, secchi, chlorophyll a, turbidity, conductivity, pH and alkalinity) suggest that Lake Claire functions as a freshwater oligotrophic system influenced primarily by groundwater discharging from the surrounding watershed.  While remnant or altered sandhill comprises a portion of the watershed, some of the surrounding watershed has experienced development (including portions of the UCF campus).  Low alkalinity, specific conductivity, acidity, and apparent nutrient availability appear to suggest that groundwater, which has infiltrated the sterile sands associated with higher elevation sandhills, influence surface water quality and account for the primary rehydration of the system. 

Apparent low nutrient availability is suggested by the results of the Secchi disk and low levels of chlorophyll a.  The undeveloped nature of the surrounding landscape helps to maintain the overall surface water quality of this lake. 

 

Finally, dissolved oxygen ranged from approximately 70 to 83 % saturation during the summer and winter months, respectively.  It would appear that dissolved oxygen tensions are maintained primarily by diffusion from the atmosphere, rather than photosynthesis from macrophytes or phytoplankton within the system.  Concentrations ranged from approximately 5.5 ppm to 8 ppm during these same months, and appear to be adequate for supporting aquatic fauna in this system.

 

No data has been received from UCF staff regarding the status of surface water quality testing administered by Dr. Wanielista within the UCF interior Cypress Dome, also referred to as Wetland #8 in the Stormwater Master Plan. 

 

3.         Underground and Aboveground Tanks (Received from representatives of the UCF Physical Plant) 

A large 140,000-gallon oil tank by the water tower was emptied in 1999.  The tank was removed and a closure assessment was performed in late 2003.  This closure is pending review per Orange County EPD.  Please see the attached Generator list dated November 2003.

 

Some of the University’s diesel generators have double-walled aboveground fuel tanks as large as 1,000 gallons.  The University remediated and closed several old underground storage tanks in the 1990’s (see tanks map in the Data Report).  Also shown on this map is the current fuel island that was installed in 1995 at the Physical Plant.  This tank island is DEP compliant.  A large 140,000-gallon oil tank by the water tower was emptied in 1999.  It is not yet closed per DEP rules pending a use decision.  Please see the attached Generator list dated January 14, 2000.

 

The previously provided tanks map need to be updated to reflect the location of generators on the list provided January 14, 2000.

 

4.         Toxic Waste and Hazardous Materials (Received from representatives of the UCF Office of Environmental Health and Safety) 

Though there is no specific update, readers are referred to the section on the UCF Environmental Management System (EMS) below.

During the period since the development of the previous master plan, several significant changes have occurred at UCF.  Following the suggestions from the previous plant, an Environmental Management System (EMS) was established at UCF. An EMS:

            Develops an environmental policy that contains the commitment of the administration, as well as of the campus stakeholders, to compliance, prevention of pollution, and continual process improvement

 

            Identifies of environmental issues and legal requirements affecting our campus

 

            Sets of objectives and targets consistent with the environmental policy

 

            Defines the structure and responsibilities for environmental activities including training, communication, documentation, operational control, and emergency preparedness and response

 

            Monitors and evaluates actions taken in pursuit of the environmental objectives and targets, including revision of these goals and targets, as necessary

 

            Reports EMS efforts to the administration.

See http://www.ehs.ucf.edu/EMS/EMSHome.html for additional information on the UCF EMS. 

UCF officially adopted the Environmental Policy shown below:

The University of Central Florida is located in a growing metropolitan area in an environmentally sensitive, relatively undeveloped watershed.  UCF is rapidly expanding, requiring increased infrastructure and services to accommodate a burgeoning student population.

As a major metropolitan research university, UCF has three broad missions-- teaching, research, and service.  Recognizing that environmental stewardship encompasses all three missions, UCF will demonstrate its commitment to sustainability by:

 

Promoting an understanding of natural resource conservation and environmental health through formal and informal education of
students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding Central Florida community;

 

Encouraging research to monitor and reduce the size of an individual’s
and an organization’s environmental footprint and to maintain and restore natural system processes;

 

Being an institutional model of environmental excellence through compliance with regulations and continually striving to minimize
adverse impacts on and improve the functioning of local and global ecological systems.

 

By virtue of its academic and engineering research activities, the University is a user of hazardous materials. All such materials are carefully monitored and regulated such that there is no indication of any prior or current toxic waste problems on the Campus property.

 

With respect to the campus ' prior land use history as a rangeland, there is no evidence that cattle dipping vats or arsenic pollution were ever present. Construction debris was also deposited into a small depressional “borrow pit” area located near the East property line of the Campus in the late 1960's (see the hazmat location map in the Data Report for detail). However, no evidence exists which would indicate that toxic materials were placed in this area is since it has been since claimed as a jurisdictional wetland by the SJRWMD.

 

The UCF Office of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) is responsible for the safe and legal disposal of all hazardous Chemicals and wastes generated by the University. Various campus departments, particularly those involved in engineering, science, or health-related research, generate hazardous Waste. EH&S contracts with licensed contractors for final disposal of these Wastes, after they are collected, profiled, and safely characterized at the Chemical Storage Building (#48). This building is shown on the attached hazmat map, as is the location of other labs and stores where stocks of hazardous materials are located.

 

The UCF Chemical Storage Building was built in 1989 at a cost of $214,500. Its original size was 1,824 gross square feet. A laboratory addition of 200 square feet was completed in 1994.  The laboratory is used by the EH&S radiation safety program.  The Chemical Storage Building is currently on the PECO capital projects list for a “Hazardous Waste Expansion” project in 2003.  This project will help EH&S keep up with new research efforts and increased amounts of laboratory space on campus.

 

 5. Summary of UCF Natural Areas Surveys

 

As part of a series of ongoing class assignments for a biology graduate course, Landscape Ecology (PCB 5328C), natural areas of the UCF lands were digitized from aerial photographs from 1939, 1967, 1972, 1984, 1994, and 1999.  The data from the 1999 map showed 45% of the main 1,415-acre part of the UCF campus (not including the 135-acre MacKay Tract or 218-acre eastern area designated as a golf course in the previous plan) to consist of natural areas.  Over half (54.7%) of this area was classified as wetlands (e.g., lakes, pond pine and cypress dominated communities); the remaining area was uplands (e.g., scrub, sandhill, and pine flatwoods communities).

Also since the development of the previous plan, two natural areas surveys were conducted on campus.  The first was conducted from September 2001 to May 2002.  The resurvey was conducted from June through August 2003.

The surveys focused on determining the status of endangered, threatened, and invasive exotic species.  Special interest plants, as determined by Drs. Taylor and Stout, as well as gopher tortoises were also included.

As a result of the 2001-2002 study, four endangered and seven threatened plant species were identified (Table 1).  Seven of these were mapped.  In addition, 53 species of invasive exotic plants were identified and 18 of these were mapped.  Those listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Control are shown in Table 2.  In all, 347 plants species were recorded on campus.

 

Table 1.  Threatened and endangered plant species identified on the UCF campus.

 

 

 

 

 

Scientific Name

Common Name

Family

Status

Mapped (M)

 

 

 

 

 

Calopogon multiflorus

Grass-pink

Orchidaceae

Endangered

M

Centrosema arenicola

Pineland Butterfly Pea

Fabaceae

Endangered

 

Garberia heterophylla

Garberia

Asteraceae

Threatened

M

Lilium catesbaei

Pine Lily

Liliacaeae

Threatened

 

Pinguicula caerulea

Blue Butterwort

Lentibulariaceae

Threatened

M

Pinguicula lutea

Yellow Butterwort

Lentibulariaceae

Threatened

M

Pteroglossaspis ecristata

Giant Orchid

Orchidaceae

Threatened

 

Sarracenia minor

Hooded Pitcher Plant

Sarraceniaceae

Threatened

M

Tillandsia fasciculata

Wild Pine

Bromeliaceae

Endangered

 

Tillandsia utriculata

Giant Wild Pine

Bromeliaceae

Endangered

M

Pogonia ophioglossoides

Rose Pogonia

Orchidaceae

Threatened

M

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Table 2.  Invasive exotic plants identified on the UCF campus.  Status of plant is in accordance with

               Florida Exotic Pest Plant Control 2001 list as being Category I or Category II.

 

 

 

 

 

Scientific Name

Common Name

Family

Status

Mapped (M)

 

 

 

 

 

Abrus precatorius

Rosery Pea / Crab's Eye

Fabaceae

I

M

Begonia cucullata

Wax Begonia

Begoniaceae

II

M

Colocasia esculenta

Wild Taro

Araceae

I

 

Dioscorea bulbifera

Air-potato 

Dioscoreaceae

I

M

Eichhornia crassipes

Water Hyacinth

Pontederiaceae

I

M

Hydrilla verticillata

Hydrilla / Waterthyme

Hydrocharitaceae

I

M

Imperata cylindrica

Cogon Grass

Poaceae

I

M

Lantana camara

Lantana

Verbenaceae

I

M

Melia azedarach

Chinaberry

Meliaceae

I

M

Nephrolepis cordifolia

Sword Fern 

Nephrolepidaceae

I

M

Panicum repens

Torpedograss

Poaceae

I

 

Pistia stratiotes

Water-lettuce

Araceae

I

 

Rhynchelytrum repens

Natal Grass

Poaceae

II

M

Ricinus communis

Castor Bean

Euphorbiaceae

II

M

Sapium sebiferum

Chinese Tallow

Euphorbiaceae

I

 

Schinus terebinthifolius

Brazilian Pepper 

Anacardiaceae

I

M

Solanum sp.

Soda Apple

Solanaceae

I

M

Urena lobata

Ceasar Weed

Malvaceae

II

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the 2001-2002 survey, the highest concentration of federally listed plant species occurred in the northwest and northeast corners of campus.  In the northwest corner, the threatened species Garberia (Garberia heterophylla) was found in great number (102 individuals), comprising fifty-seven percent of all individuals found on campus.  Not only does this sandhill community support a large population of Garberia, it also contains the last remaining substantial population of the Scarlet Calamintor Red Basil, Calamintha coccinea.  The northeast corner of campus was home to the highest number of listed species. These species included the endangered Grass-pink (Calopogon multiflorus), the threatened Blue Butterwort (Pinguicula caerulea) and Yellow Butterwort (Pinguicula lutea), the threatened Pine Lily (Lilium catesbaei), the threatened Rose Pogonia (Pogonia ophioglossoides), and the threatened Hooded Pitcherplant (Sarracenia minor).  Eighty-two individuals of the threatened Hooded Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia minor) were marked as points and two polygons of additional individuals were also marked.  During the 2003 resurvey, only four of the eleven threatened and endangered species were found.  This discrepancy partially reflects the difference in the timing of the sampling, i.e., winter/spring versus summer.  In terms of exotics, three new exotic invasive species were found in the later survey, Parkinsonia aculeata, Sapium sebiferum (I) and Sesbania punicea (II).  In general, the areal extent of the exotic plants increased over this year period.

 

The locations of tortoise burrows were mapped and classified as being active, inactive or old.  Active burrows are burrows currently being used as determined by indicators such as footprints, feces, food matter, and habitation.  Inactive burrows are burrows not currently inhabited, but retain a complete shaft and open mouth.  Old burrows are burrows which the mouth and shaft have collapsed leaving only the mound.  In the 2001-2002 survey, gopher tortoise burrows were concentrated in three main areas including the northwest corner, the southwest corner and east middle section.  The northwest corner was home to three active burrows, two inactive burrows and eight old burrows.  The eastern middle section, which included the Arboretum and Arboretum extension, was home to the most burrows with twenty-two active burrows, fourteen inactive burrows, and nine old burrows.  The southwest section of campus had no active burrows, but retained six inactive burrows and eight old burrows.  From the 2003 resurvey, there was a decrease in the number of inactive and active burrows. The majority of the burrows were found in the northwest and central east region of campus.  A dramatic lost of gopher tortoise burrows were detected in the central-west corner of campus.

 

5.            Surface and groundwater hydrology

 

No data has been received from UCF staff regarding this issue to date.

 

(d)       For each of the resources identified in (1) a) assess opportunities or available and practical technologies to reduce pollution or its impacts generated by University activities.  Investigation of emerging technologies to address these impacts is encouraged.

 

Please see answer to question (f) below.

 

(e)        An analysis of current and project water needs and sources, based on the demand for industrial, agricultural and potable water use and the quantity and quality available to meet those demands.  The analysis should consider existing levels of water conservation, use and protection, and applicable policies of the water management district.

 

No data has been received from UCF staff regarding this issue to date.

 

(f)        An assessment of opportunities or available and practical technologies to reduce university energy consumption.  Investigation of emerging technologies (i.e. solar) to address this issue is encouraged.

 

As outlined in the UCF Mission Statement, “The University of Central Florida is a major metropolitan research university that is growing and striving to provide more than just academic leadership. It will serve as a major intellectual and creative resource, forging successful partnerships with public and private enterprises and participating fully in the economic development of its surrounding community and the state of Florida.” It is, therefore, especially appropriate for an academic institution with these forward-looking goals to also be a leader in environmental design in its master planning and have an overall environmental management plan for the campus to oversee all activities from planning, development, to construction, operation and finally deconstruction. This achievement would result in a healthier environment for all members of the university, foster a more efficient and productive learning/work place and, conserve precious natural resources, and most important of all, act as an inspirational model for other academic institutions in Florida.

 

Many other universities, such as University of Florida, University of South Carolina, and Penn State, have already initiated plans to commit to sustainability (see Data Report). 

 

UCF has the ability to take a systems-wide approach that engages the whole campus community. Sustainability needs to be defined through a whole systems approach of which a broad range of environmental, technological, and cultural problems can be discussed and addressed. The University should develop its own definition of sustainability in the process to define the parameters and set the objectives for what it takes to be sustainable. In more practical terms, there needs to be some kind of management plan to create this process and monitor it —an Environmental Management System (EMS).

 

 

Environmental Performance Evaluation (EPE) for UCF

 

A.  Principal environmental aspects for each life-stage

 

Stage 1a: Site and Infrastructure Development

 

All aspects of the development of the site

·                    Ecological disturbances

·                    Provisioning of infrastructure

·                    Slope and drainage modification

 

Stage 1b: Facility development/ Service provisioning

 

All aspects of the construction of the building itself

·                    Choice of materials

·                    Choice of equipments

·                    Their delivery to the site

·                    Techniques and equipment used in construction

·                    Design of buildings (master planning and architectural elements)

·                    Site cleanup

 

Stage 2a: Facility Operations- Indoors

 

Activities taking place within the facility

·                    Energy consumption

·                    Water use

·                    Choice and use of office supplies

·                    Choice of food supplies

·                    Choice and operation of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment

·                    Recycling and disposal of paper

·                    Recycling and disposal of food waste

·                    Recycling and disposal of other debris

 

Stage 2b: Facility Operations- Outdoors

 

Activities taking place outside the facility

·                    Energy consumption

·                    Water use

·                    Maintenance of vegetation and plantings

·                    Any other activities having potential ecological impact

 

Stage 3: Facility Refurbishment, Transfer, and Closure

 

·                    Refurbishment for new uses

·                    Recovery of materials; components for reuse/ recycling


 

 

 

Recommendations

 

The Master Plan already has all the elements that represent each of the five areas of the built environment identified above. These elements include:

 

 

        The focus needs to be analyzing the five to six major categories of environmental impact for each of these elements. In order to do this, indicators should be established and data gathered and analyzed.

 

        After the analysis, changes in or addition of policies and objectives should be considered.