2.13  Conservation Element
Goals, Objectives and Policies
2005-2015 Campus Master Plan Update 

 

GOAL 1: The University shall maintain a commitment to the protection of its ecosystems and lands of significant environmental importance to ensure that these resources are protected for the benefit of present and future generations while accommodating the continued development and expansion of the campus’ built environment.

 

OBJECTIVE 1.0: The Environmental Management System Committee (EMSC) will serve as an oversight committee for the conservation element of the master plan.  Changes to the master plan will be reviewed by the EMSC.

 

OBJECTIVE 1.1: To designate environmentally sensitive lands for protection based on state and regionally determined criteria. 

 

POLICY 1.1.0: As hereby established by the adoption of this Plan, the University shall maintain, in a managed natural state, all of those sites identified for conservation on the Future Conservation Areas Map (Figure 13-1). Consistent with Future Land Use Element, except for minimal structures and improvements necessary to ensure safe access and essential support functions, there shall be no construction in these areas except pursuant to an amendment to this Plan adopted in accordance with the requirements set forth herein.

 

POLICY 1.1.1: As hereby established by the adoption of this Plan, the University shall maintain, in a natural state, all of those sites identified as conservation on the  Conservation Areas Map (Figure 13-1). New areas shall be considered for potential designation as Conservation Areas based on documented conservation values, e.g., presence of imperiled or vulnerable species or natural communities or other features of state, regional, or local concern because of declines or vulnerability to further losses. Consistent with Future Land Use Element, except for minimal structures and improvements necessary to ensure safe access and essential support functions, there shall be no construction in these areas except pursuant to an amendment to this Plan adopted in accordance with all applicable state and local requirements.

 

POLICY 1.1.2: Within two years after adoption of the master plan, the University shall coordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other appropriate state and regional environmental agencies to conduct a management study for designated Conservation areas. The scope of this study shall include, but not be limited to:

 

1.    A Geographic Information System (GIS) will be developed that includes digital overlays  depicting the location of vegetative communities and management units within designated Conservation areas;

2.    Digital overlays depicting documented locations of imperiled or vulnerable species of communities (e.g., ranked as G1-G3 or S1-S3 by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory);

3.    Identifying the University entity with responsibility for management of designated Conservation areas;

4.    A description of how each management unit will be maintained or restored;

5.    A monitoring and evaluation schedule;

6.    A plan for the removal and control of exotic plants and wildlife;

7.    A description of compatible uses; and

8.    Developing specific guidelines to ensure the protection of the natural areas in the Arboretum.

 

The adopted campus master plan shall be amended as needed to incorporate the results and recommendations contained in the management study.

 

POLICY 1.1.3:  The University hereby creates a new future land use designation of “Conservation Easement Lands” for the purposes of environmental protection of lands that are set aside in perpetuity pursuant to a recorded conservation easement.  This new designation will allow very-low impact recreational or educational uses such as hiking, non-motorized boating, bird watching, horseback riding, fishing, primitive camping and nature study, that utilize natural amenities of such sites and such other uses that are not in violation of the recorded conservation easement. 

 

POLICY 1.1.4: The University shall require that appropriate methods of controlling soil erosion and sedimentation to help minimize the destruction of soil resources be used during site development and use. Such methods shall include, but not be limited to:

Special consideration is to be given to maintaining vegetative covered areas of high soil erosion (i.e., banks of streams, steep or long slopes, stormwater conveyances, etc.).

 

POLICY 1.1.5: The University shall minimize stormwater-borne pollutants generated as a result of University operations and maintenance practices through adherence to General Infrastructure Element policies (see section 2.9).

 

 

OBJECTIVE 1.2: To conserve, appropriately use, and protect native vegetative communities and wildlife habitat.  To restrict University activities known to threaten the habitat and survival of imperiled and vulnerable species (inclusive of threatened and endangered species and species of special concern).

 

POLICY 1.2.1: The University shall maintain the natural areas within the campus as a system of interconnected wetlands and upland  preserves, as shown on the Conservation Areas Map (Figure 13-1).

 

POLICY 1.2.2: The University shall use plant species that are indigenous to the natural plant communities of the Central Florida area. In cases where non-invasive exotic plants are used to enhance the landscape, plantings shall be limited to those non-invasive species that are able to resist periods of drought and which require little fertilization and the use of pesticides.

 

POLICY 1.2.3: It is the intent of the University to remove all non-native invasive plants (whether grasses, shrubs or trees) which are identified on the Exotic Pest Plant Council's "Florida's Most Invasive Species List" from the campus grounds. The Department of Biology will periodically survey campus lands for the presence of such species and coordinate with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the UCF Physical Plant to ensure the proper removal and disposal of these exotic species.

 

POLICY 1.2.4: The University shall establish a buffer of minimally 50 feet for upland areas adjacent to identified on-campus wetland areas located within the Riparian Habitat Protection Zone (RHPZ) of the Little Econlockhatchee River.  Where feasible, the buffer will be expanded to conserve wetland function.

 

POLICY 1.2.5: Before any encroachment into the buffer established in above referenced Policy is authorized and a plan of development approved, the University shall review all available environmental and economic options (including the costs of mitigation). If this review indicates that encroachment into the buffer is the only viable option, then the University shall pursue all reasonable efforts to minimize and mitigate any unavoidable impacts.  

 

POLICY 1.2.6: Any proposed development adjacent to a designated conservation area shall be carefully sited and integrated into the existing landscape to have minimal visual impact on the area. Landscape treatment shall preserve significant existing vegetation to allow a gracious transition from developed areas to undeveloped areas to preserved areas. The existing vegetation shall serve to essentially buffer proposed development in order to maintain the natural and undeveloped character of the area. Biological and hydrological impacts to designated conservation areas shall be avoided or minimized.  

 

POLICY 1.2.7: Copies of land development criteria and standards which reflect the policies contained in the adopted campus master plan shall be provided to design consultants and appropriate University staff. The University shall standardize the construction review process to assure adherence to appropriate master plan policies.  

 

POLICY 1.2.8: In order to consider the feasibility of plant or animal species relocation elsewhere on the campus, the University's Facilities Planning Director or Physical Plant Director shall continue to provide the appropriate University department and the EMSC  four weeks minimum written notice of the pending development of an undeveloped natural vegetation site.

 

POLICY 1.2.9: Periodic controlled management burns of selected preserve areas of fire-maintained native habitat  (i.e., sandhill, upland pine, pine flatwoods, etc.) shall be conducted as budgets allow, provided that such activities follow well-accepted ecological guidelines for prescribed burning, comply with all applicable regulatory guidelines, and  include direct coordination with the UCF Administration, offices of UCF Facilities Planning, Physical Plant, Environmental Health & Safety Office, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Forestry and the fire departments of Orange and Seminole counties.

 

POLICY 1.2.10: The University shall continue to require the use of best management construction practices, including the use of soil stabilizers, silt screens, surface moisture applications and other techniques to reduce the impact of development activities.

 

POLICY 1.2.11: The University shall continue to protect and conserve imperiled and vulnerable species, including threatened and endangered species of plants and animals, and species of special concern, as required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, Chapter 39, F.A.C., and federal and state management policies relating to the protection of threatened and endangered species, and species of special concern.

 

POLICY 1.2.12: The University shall coordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to continually maintain the upland preserve located in the north portion of the campus as the gopher tortoise relocation area for tortoises that test positive for Upper Respiratory Tract Disease.  Fencing to prevent the tortoises from easily entering McCulloch Road will be established.

 

POLICY 1.2.13: During the initial planning phase of any physical changes to the campus, the University shall perform a census of wildlife and plants in the area to be affected. Plants or animals identified in the "Official Lists of Endangered and Potentially Endangered Fauna and Flora in Florida", which is updated annually by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or otherwise afforded protection by the host communities and state and federal agencies, or ranked as G1-G3 (critically imperiled globally, imperiled globally, or vulnerable globally) or S1-S3 (same, but assessed as state scale) shall be noted. Protection plans for those identified species shall be formulated consistent with those of the host communities and appropriate state and federal agencies.

 

POLICY 1.2.14: University personnel shall, when encountering listed species, follow procedures and seek consultation with the appropriate agencies as identified in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission "Wildlife Methodology Guidelines", dated January 15, 1988.

 

POLICY 1.2.15: The University shall incorporate an Arboretum Master Plan that provides for an ecologically appropriate managed landscape consisting largely of native Florida plants and several small, intensively managed gardens of non-invasive introduced plants from around the world. The plan shall also include footprints for the planned research greenhouse, and the proposed Environmental Center, both of which lie outside the SJRWMD easement.

 

OBJECTIVE 1.3: To conserve, appropriately use, and protect the quantity and quality of projected water sources.  

 

POLICY 1.3.1: The University shall move forward with the plan of replacing potable water wells located througout campus with a potable water connection to the Iron Bridge plant in Seminole County.
 

POLICY 1.3.2: The University shall explore every opportunity to plant wetland species around existing and future ponds on campus thorughout the planning period.
 

POLICY 1.3.3: The University shall explore the idea of developing a wildlife corridor connecting the wildlife habitat from the southeast portion of campus to the preserve areas on the north side.
 

POLICY 1.3.4: The University shall continue to monitor and test raw well water, destined for potable use, on a daily and monthly basis per DEP requirements.

 

POLICY 1.3.5: The University shall continue to monitor and test treated potable water on a daily and monthly basis per DEP requirements.

 

POLICY 1.3.6: The University shall to monitor periodically Lake Claire for compliance with existing standards for surface water quality.  The Biology Department shall advise the Environmental Health & Safety Department as to what parameters should be monitored.

 

POLICY 1.3.7: The University shall continue to implement a comprehensive water conservation program, to include:

  1. the use of treated wastewater effluent for an expanded campus irrigation system and chilled water system make-up water,

  2. the use of automated timers and other irrigation flow monitoring mechanisms,

  3. xeriscape landscape treatments for new building construction and new campus common areas, and

  4. the use of low flow and low flush fixtures in new building construction.

 

POLICY 1.3.8: The University shall not undertake activities on-campus which would contaminate groundwater sources or designated recharge areas unless provisions have been made to prevent such contamination or otherwise provide mitigation for such activities so as to maintain established water quantity and quality standards.


NOTE: Details concerning the physical operation of the university’s potable, waste- and storm-water systems are found in the General Infrastructure Element (Section 2.9). 

 

OBJECTIVE 1.4: To maintain or improve existing air quality on campus.

 

POLICY 1.4.1: The University shall continue to participate in and consider those programs which will maintain or improve existing air quality on campus lands. Such programs include: the area apartment shuttles, the on-campus black and gold-line shuttles, participation in local transportation management associations, LYNX connections and the promotion of bicycle and pedestrian circulation improvements.  This includes the development of bicycle paths that would connect to existing Orange and Seminole County networks to accommodate student, faculty, and staff access.  The Parking and Traffic, Master Planning, and Environmental Management Committees should hold a joint annual meeting to evaluate this subject.

 

POLICY 1.4.2: The University shall reduce mobile sources of air pollution through Transportation Element policies designed to discourage dependence on the personal automobile as the primary transportation mode on campus, and to encourage alternative modes of transportation on campus (i.e., public transit, bicycles, etc.) and alternative fuels and means of vehicular power (e.g., solar cells, hydrogen fuel cells, bio-fuels, hybrids).  

 

POLICY 1.4.3: The University shall minimize emissions of air pollutants by minimizing the storage and use of volatile and hazardous materials in campus buildings as per the UCF Environmental Management System.  

 

POLICY 1.4.4: The University shall determine the potential impacts on air quality before construction of parking facilities. Parking structures shall be designed to facilitate rapid ingress and egress of vehicles to minimize idling time, and to maximize air flow through them to eliminate pockets of stagnation where pollutant levels can build up.

 

POLICY 1.4.5: The University shall continue its indoor air quality program and shall implement a program for the monitoring outdoor air quality. The Civil & Environmental Engineering Department shall advise the Environmental Health & Safety Department of ambient air quality conditions on campus. Grants or in-house programs to periodically monitor ambient outdoor air should be sought. Failure to meet federal or state air quality standards shall result in an assessment of the probable cause and the preparation and implementation of a plan to improve and maintain air quality.

 

OBJECTIVE 1.5: The University shall continue to implement a variety of existing programs and conserve the use of energy on the campus.

 

POLICY 1.5.1: Energy conservation fixtures, air conditioning and lighting systems and other building specific energy use and management techniques shall continue to be a required element of all new buildings constructed on the campus.

 

POLICY 1.5.2: Where feasible, existing buildings shall be retrofitted with energy conservation lighting fixtures.

 

OBJECTIVE 1.6: To maximize on-campus reclamation of hazardous materials and consumer products.

 

POLICY 1.6.1: All University buildings shall be designed with facilities to accommodate collection, storage and disposal of recycled materials.

 

POLICY 1.6.2: The University shall coordinate on-campus recycling programs with those of local government in regard to materials collected, and disposal/collection procedures.

 

POLICY 1.6.3: The University shall provide on-campus facilities for the collection and storage of hazardous materials used in University operations as required by federal, state and local regulations.

 

POLICY 1.6.4: The University shall implement academic programs that promote awareness of environmental impacts of resource recycling.

 

POLICY 1.6.5: The University shall continue to enforce hazardous materials handling and storage procedures per the UCF Environmental Management System. 

 

POLICY 1.6.6: The University shall utilize only licensed hazardous waste transportation and disposal companies.